The United States has invited all five leaders of Central Asia for a landmark summit on November 6, but it faces uncertainty as three of them have yet to confirm.
While the presidents of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have announced they will attend the meeting with President Donald Trump, the leaders of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have remained silent.
This hesitation highlights the immense pressure on the C5, who must balance their ties with Russia and China against the new overtures from the West. The White House has also not officially commented.
The summit is part of a wider scramble for influence. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has weakened its position, prompting the US, China, and EU to all step up their engagement.
The region is rich in natural resources and is key to future East-West trade routes, making it a critical focus of global geopolitical maneuvering.