The key facts

  • US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Uzbekistan; a ministerial meeting in the C5+1 format is planned in Samarkand
  • Reuters notes the region's wealth of natural resources and Washington's interest in trade and economic cooperation; AFP — the expansion of the US strategic presence
  • According to Dunyo's assessment, the extensive coverage of the visit reflects Central Asia's growing role in US foreign policy

Rubio's Visit and the C5+1 Meeting in the Focus of Foreign Media

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to Uzbekistan and the meeting in the 'Central Asia — US' (C5+1) format planned in Samarkand have attracted the attention of foreign media, the Dunyo news agency reported. Outlets including Reuters, AFP, Yahoo News, Barron's, Eurasia Review, MSN, TV5 Monde and Internazionale are covering the visit in the context of growing US diplomatic activity in Central Asia, expanding economic ties with the countries of the region, and strengthening strategic partnership.

Emphases of Reuters and AFP

Reuters drew attention to the region's wealth of natural resources and Washington's growing interest in developing trade and economic cooperation. AFP, for its part, noted that the United States seeks to strengthen relations with the countries of the region by expanding its strategic presence in Central Asia.

Expectations for the Meeting in Samarkand

Foreign media are paying particular attention to the ministerial meeting in Samarkand in the C5+1 format. The United States and the five Central Asian states are expected to discuss common priority areas of cooperation. According to an assessment cited by the Dunyo agency, the extensive coverage of the visit in the international press reflects Central Asia's growing role in US foreign policy.