Rubio’s Uzbekistan trip underlines Central Asia’s hunt for diverse partners

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is arriving in Samarkand for talks with Central Asian ministers at the C5+1 summit, running from Saturday through Tuesday. The meeting signals a more pragmatic, transactional US approach to the former Soviet region, without speeches on democratisation or human rights. After independence in 1991, Western countries tied investment, technology and international recognition to political and economic reforms. Central Asian leaders are seeking diverse partners amid the influence of nearby powers, including Russia, China and Iran.