Uzbekistan and the United States sign 54 agreements worth about $12 billion during Rubio’s visit, spanning minerals, energy, transport, finance and technology

Uzbekistan and the United States signed 54 agreements worth about $12 billion during Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Samarkand. The agreements cover critical minerals, energy, transport, finance and technology.

Rubio is leading a delegation of more than 200 American business leaders for talks with Central Asian foreign ministers. Uzbekistan also joined NASA’s Artemis Accords on space exploration, becoming the 77th country to sign. Washington is expanding its economic presence in resource-rich Central Asia to diversify critical mineral supply chains and compete with Chinese and Russian influence.