ROME, October 27. /Dunyo IA/. Political scientist, Central Asia Analyst at the NATO Defense College Foundation and Analyst at the Italian Institute for Asia (ISIA) Fabio Indeo, in an interview with Dunyo IA, commented on the outcomes of the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Uzbekistan, which took place on October 18-20^th:

- Visit of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Uzbekistan marks another step toward strengthening bilateral relations between Tashkent and Washington.

Cooperation, dialogue and mutual trust between the two nations continue to evolve, opening up new opportunities for engagement in key areas: business, trade, investment, critical minerals and rare earth elements, nuclear energy, security and advanced technologies.

Launch of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue in Samarkand demonstrates a mutual interest in developing mutually beneficial cooperation. Marco Rubio arrived in Uzbekistan at the head of a delegation representing American companies interested in joint projects in the mining and manufacturing sectors.

Critical minerals hold particular strategic significance, and cooperation in this area will allow both sides to gain economic and geopolitical advantages. The memorandums signed in 2024 and 2026 establish a foundation for attracting U.S. investments into the development of Uzbekistan’s mineral and raw material potential, as well as for implementing projects in raw material extraction and processing. This will facilitate the formation of alternative supply chains for refined products: Uzbekistan will strengthen its economy and geopolitical standing, while the United States will be able to diversify its supply of critical raw materials.

Uzbekistan and Central Asia are becoming strategic partners on the international stage due to political stability, energy and mineral reserves, an advantageous geographical position for developing transport routes, and promising consumer markets.

Strengthening ties between Uzbekistan and the United States holds significance for the entire region as well, particularly within the framework of the “C5+1” format. The United States has been developing this regional cooperation platform since 2015, raised it to the presidential level in 2023, and is also promoting the “B5+1” trade and economic initiative. These processes attract the attention of other international actors as well, including Italy, confirming the growing role of the regional format as a model for cooperation.