Trump’s ‘C5’ Power Play: US Bids to Counter Rivals in Central Asia

In a significant geopolitical power play, US President Donald Trump is set to host the leaders of the five Central Asian nations (C5) for a summit in Washington. The event is reportedly scheduled for November 6.
This move is a direct American response to the shifting power dynamics in the resource-rich region. The leaders of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have confirmed their attendance, signaling their willingness to engage with the West.
The summit comes as Russia’s traditional dominance over the five former Soviet states is being actively questioned following its invasion of Ukraine. This has created a strategic opening that other powers are rushing to fill.
China and the European Union have both intensified their diplomatic outreach, hosting their own C5 summits in June and April, respectively. Russia also held a meeting with the leaders earlier this month.
The US is now making its own assertive bid for influence, aiming to secure its economic and security interests in a region that is not only rich in rare earths but is also striving to become a key logistics corridor for East-West trade.