Central Asia: The Battlefield of Washington-Russia Competition

US President Donald Trump welcomed the leaders of five Central Asian countries—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—at the White House. Washington aims to strengthen its influence in a region where Russia has played a dominant role for many years, reports Reuters.

Central Asia, home to approximately 84 million people, boasts significant reserves of uranium, copper, gold, rare earth elements, and other strategic resources.

The C5+1 format, established in 2015, includes the US and the five Central Asian states with the goal of enhancing cooperation in the areas of economy, energy, and security.