Rubio expresses interest in visiting Kazakhstan after G20 summit

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed interest in a full visit to Kazakhstan soon after the G20 summit in Miami. The issue was discussed on October 19 during talks in Samarkand with Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi, where the sides also considered prospects for expanding trade and American investment.

According to Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry, the meeting took place on the sidelines of the Central Asia-US (C5+1) ministerial meeting. The foreign ministers discussed increasing trade turnover, implementing joint investment projects and attracting American technology. Tleuberdi named energy, critical minerals, digitalization, transport and logistics as priority areas of cooperation.

The sides confirmed their intention to strengthen the expanded strategic partnership. However, no new investment agreements, specific sums or project timelines were announced. No date has yet been set for Rubio's visit. The same day, Rubio also held talks in Samarkand with Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev, covering US sanctions, visa restrictions for Kyrgyz citizens, trade and investment.