US Secretary of State Welcomes Central Asian Leaders in Washington, Calling It New Era in Mutual Relations

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has hosted a welcome reception for Central Asian delegations at the State Department’s Benjamin Franklin Room in Washington, D.C., marking what he described as a new era in relations between the United States and the five nations of Central Asia under the C5+1 diplomatic format.

In his remarks, Rubio highlighted that US foreign policy under President Donald Trump remains rooted in national interests, but he stressed that diplomacy flourishes when those interests align with partners abroad, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

“When your national interest and our national interest are aligned, that’s when we have to pursue partnerships and create deep ties,” he said, emphasizing that such alignment exists across multiple areas with the countries of Central Asia.

The Secretary of State pointed to economic development as a major shared goal, underscoring opportunities for American businesses to expand into emerging Central Asian markets while recognizing the region’s drive for sustainable growth.

“You don’t just want to be a source of energy or minerals. You want to use that responsibly to build out other sectors of your economies so that you provide long-term opportunities for your people and further develop,” said Rubio.

Rubio also acknowledged that US engagement in the region had declined in recent years, noting that the last high-level summit of this kind took place a decade ago. He framed the current gathering as a chance to reestablish Washington’s strategic presence in a region often overshadowed by global challenges.

“We oftentimes spend so much time focused on crisis and problems - and they deserve attention - that sometimes we don’t spend enough time focused on exciting new opportunities,” he noted.

Signaling a deeper commitment, Rubio announced plans to visit all five Central Asian states in the coming year.

“... I think it’s an exciting opportunity and a new era in our relationship in Central Asia... I intend to do everything I can from my office at the White House, and I intend to make sure we keep really good records on all of this for the Archives,” Rubio added.

Earlier, the US Department of State, in partnership with the Kennedy Center, will host the C5+1 Tenth Anniversary Business Conference, further underscoring the renewed momentum in US-Central Asia cooperation.