A historic moment: Biden proposes dialogue for Central Asia’s energy security

The United States plans to increase security funding for Central Asia and begin a dialogue to help the five countries in the region extract minerals and enhance energy security.

At the first C5+1 summit at the highest level, US President Joe Biden did not rule out the possibility of a visit to one of the Central Asian countries. The visit, if it occurs, will be the first of it’s kind.

A historic moment

US President Joe Biden said, welcoming the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to New York, “This is a historic moment.”

“We are building on years of close cooperation between Central Asia and the United States, a cooperation that depends on our shared commitment to sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. In my opinion, these principles are more important than ever. Today, we take our cooperation to new heights,” Biden told the heads of five countries in the region between Russia and China.

The White House said that Biden pledged to continue cooperation on border security, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement issues.

The United States, as the Biden administration has indicated, is interested in creating a more favorable business environment for trade and investment by American private companies in the region’s economy. Washington announced plans to launch a business platform in addition to the C5+1 diplomatic platform. The United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, is expected to organize a ministerial meeting in Central Asia in October “to discuss concrete actions that will promote inclusive and sustainable economic development.”

The United States proposed opening a dialogue with five countries in the region to develop huge mineral reserves in Central Asia.

“We are discussing the possibility of a new dialogue on critical mineral resources to strengthen our energy security and supply chains for years to come,” Biden said.

The White House noted that these efforts are part of US support to attract investment and develop the Trans-Caspian Corridor, a trade route from China to Europe via Central Asia and the Caucasus, bypassing Russia.

The volume of cargo transportation along the Caspian Sea Route (Middle Corridor) tripled in 2022, and in the period from January to July of this year, it almost doubled compared to the same period in 2022. This happened after Moscow’s large-scale military invasion of Ukraine and the imposition of anti-Russian sanctions. The resulting redirection of part of the flow of goods from China to Europe bypasses Russia.

“The Global Infrastructure and Investment Partnership will work to enhance regional economic integration and resilience,” the Biden administration said.

Areas of cooperation

The President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, said that cooperation in the US-Central Asia format is one of the important areas of Bishkek’s foreign policy.

He pointed out that this diplomatic format should aim to enhance mutual understanding and trust, ensure security and stability, and create favorable conditions for expanding trade and economic cooperation.

According to the presidential press service, Japarov raised the issue of mining and energy resources and said that Kyrgyzstan supports the participation of foreign partners, including American companies, in the region: “We are ready for broad international cooperation in key areas such as green economy, hydropower, information technology, employment, and education.”

Japarov also noted that it is impossible to discuss security in Central Asia separately from the situation in Afghanistan.

Kyrgyzstan also expressed its interest in establishing peace and stability in Afghanistan and maintaining good neighborly relations with this country.