Washington: The United States has announced a major diplomatic initiative aimed at strengthening its foothold in Central Asia, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming plans to visit all five Central Asian nations in 2026. The move underscores Washington’s renewed interest in a region long considered within the spheres of influence of Russia and China.

Rubio made the announcement during a reception at the U.S. Department of State, attended by the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. He declared his intention to personally visit each of the five countries next year, saying, “I personally intend to visit all five. I know it would probably be a week-long trip, but we’ve got to work on that and make it happen together.”

This will mark

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