US and China Compete for Central Asian Influence as Rubio Seals $12B in Deals

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio led a 300-strong business delegation to Samarkand, securing at least 54 deals worth $12 billion with Central Asian states, signaling a US push to counter Chinese economic influence in the region. The visit, which included talks with all five Central Asian foreign ministers, marks a notable US diplomatic and commercial offensive in a region traditionally dominated by Russia and China. The durability of these deals and their impact on regional alignment remain uncertain.

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