One can note the increased US interest in the C5+1 format, which was established ten years ago. While Trump did not show much interest in the five „tents“ during his first presidency, given his stated intention to return the Afghan airbase at Bagram, the Americans will increase their presence there. The region is also important to them given the growing US confrontation with Russia and China. On the eve of the Central Asian leaders' visit to Washington, Trump's special envoy for the region, Tashkent native Sergio Gore, and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau visited the region.
One gets the sense that the Americans are thoroughly engaged in the region in all areas: economic cooperation, political interaction (with careful advocacy on security issues), and humanitarian cooperation. It is against this backdrop that the agreements of the century announced during Trump's recent meetings with Presidents Tokayev and Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of the UN have emerged.“ Summit - launch of production of 300 US locomotives in Kazakhstan and sale of 22 Boeing
Uzbekistan - appears to be impressively
US investment projects are the „carrot“ for advancing US military-political objectives. All countries in the region receive Pentagon grants for „border reinforcement“, while Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan also receive grants for counter-terrorism measures. US chambers of commerce and industry are increasingly active in the region - in Kazakhstan they are „setting the business agenda“ for the Investment Climate Commission, chaired by Prime Minister Olzh Beketov. Significantly, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who arrived at the summit today, met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and the head of the American Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Uzbekistan.
The Americans are working with the region through humanitarian cooperation. Since the 1990s, the U.S.-Central Asia Business Foundation, later transformed into the U.S.-Central Asia Education Foundation, has operated in five countries, providing grants to prominent individuals from the region to study in the United States. Flagship U.S. universities are also active in the region, with Americans shaping the educational agenda: the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) and the International University of Central Asia, founded by the former deputy minister of education of Kyrgyzstan and led by an American.
It is worth noting that the former rector of AUCA, American Andy Wachtel, led Narxoz for several years and now works in Tashkent. Many universities have active „American corners“ whose graduates are supported by Americans in their careers. Traditionally, representatives of the region have spoken of a multi-sectoral approach and the absence of a political component in the upcoming summit. However, it seems important for the Americans to use economic tools to advance their political agenda in the region.
Anna the Great