Leaders of five former Soviet republics in Central Asia were received at the White House, where economic and military partnerships were discussed, including Kazakhstan's accession to the Abraham Accords.

On Thursday, the leaders of five former Soviet republics in Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan – were received at the White House by Donald Trump. This meeting marks the first time Trump has met with these leaders, in the context of the U.S. seeking to strengthen its economic and military partnerships in the face of Russian and Chinese influence. Trump emphasized the importance of strategic minerals from this region, acknowledging the immense potential of these countries.

Kazakhstan announced that it will join the Abraham Accords, a step considered a real progress by Trump, although the country already has relations with Israel. Trump also announced a trade agreement with Uzbekistan, which will involve significant investments in key sectors. The region's abundant natural resources, such as uranium from Kazakhstan and gold from Uzbekistan, attract the attention of Brussels and Washington, which want to diversify their supply of rare metals. This region, with a population of approximately 80 million, is strategically located between Russia, China, Iran, and Afghanistan, countries with tense relations with the West.