The leaders of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have locked in their attendance for a high-level summit with the US president on November 6, but three of their regional counterparts remain undecided.
This partial confirmation highlights the complex diplomatic balancing act the Central Asian nations must perform. The leaders of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have not yet announced their plans.
The Washington summit is a key part of a new “Great Game” in which the US, China, and the EU are all competing for influence in Russia’s traditional backyard.
The war in Ukraine has accelerated this trend, pushing the C5 to seek a wider range of international partners.
The region is strategically vital, possessing vast natural resources and the potential to be a key land bridge for trade between Asia and Europe, making it a prize for competing global powers.