Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are the first of the five Central Asian nations to confirm their leaders’ attendance at a planned November 6 summit with the US president in Washington.
The participation of the leaders from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan has not yet been announced, highlighting the cautious approach of the C5.
This US-hosted event is the latest in a series of high-level meetings for the region. The C5 presidents have already met with leaders from China, Russia, and the EU this year.
This flurry of diplomacy is driven by a global competition for influence in the resource-rich region, especially as Russia’s traditional dominance has been challenged.
The US is now stepping up its engagement, seeking to build stronger economic and political ties with the five nations.