Rubio plans Central Asia visit, backs lifting trade restrictions

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday, June 3, that he intends to visit Central Asia in the second half of 2026, outlining Washington’s continued engagement with the region.

Speaking during a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rubio also confirmed that President Donald Trump’s administration supports repealing the Jackson–Vanik amendment, a Cold War-era provision that continues to restrict US trade relations with several countries in the region.

“We believe that this would be useful,” Rubio said, referring to the proposed repeal.

Rubio added that the planned trip would include a meeting in the C5+1 format, which brings together the United States and five Central Asian nations — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The framework has served as a platform for dialogue and cooperation between Washington and the region since around 2015.

The visit, if confirmed, would mark a renewed diplomatic push by the United States in Central Asia, where economic ties and regional security cooperation have become increasingly prominent in recent years.

By Tamilla Hasanova