U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced his plans to visit all five Central Asian countries in 2026 as part of efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to deepen engagement with the resource-rich region, according to media reports.
Speaking at a welcome reception for Central Asian delegations held at the State Department’s Benjamin Franklin Room in Washington, D.C., Rubio said the upcoming visit aims to strengthen diplomatic and economic cooperation with the nations of Central Asia.
“I personally intend to visit all five countries in the coming year. So I know it would probably be a week-long trip. So we’ve got to work on that and make that happen together,” Secretary Rubio stated.
He added that he plans to hold meetings with the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to underscore Washington’s commitment to expanding collaboration across various sectors and to highlight the strategic importance and abundant resources of the region.
Rubio’s forthcoming visit is expected to mark a new chapter in U.S.–Central Asia relations, emphasizing mutual interests in regional stability, economic growth, and energy cooperation.