For the first time, U.S. President Donald Trump hosts the leaders of all five Central Asian nations at the White House, signaling Washington’s boldest move yet to counter Russia and China’s influence in the resource-rich region. The meeting focuses on rare earth minerals — crucial to global supply chains — as the U.S. seeks to reduce dependence on Moscow and Beijing. Central Asia, home to vast uranium, copper, and gold reserves, now finds itself at the center of a three-way power struggle. Through the “C5+1” framework, the U.S. aims to deepen economic ties and create trade routes that bypass rival powers.
