On Nov. 6, 2025, a key moment in U.S.–Central Asia relations took place in Washington, where leaders from all five republics— Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan—gathered for talks with President Donald Trump. The C5+1 format, established in 2015, had never been implemented with such vigor until now. With this initiative, the United States once again demonstrated its commitment to partnership and stronger relations with every nation around the world.

Seeking to escape Russia’s strong influence and the lingering conflicts rooted in Soviet-era border divisions, the Central Asian countries are striving to harness their own resources and unlock the prosperity hidden within their territories to strengthen their geopolitical significance. To achieve these goals, the Trump administration and its America First agenda could become a valuable ally for those states.

It is no secret that Central Asia is among the world’s richest regions in rare earth minerals, oil, and natural gas. Consequently, this is far from the first time these states have sought to export their energy resources to Europe and beyond. Their involvement in Eurasia’s energy landscape began with the well-known Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline project.

However, their participation remained limited due to the strong political influence of Russia and Iran, both of which opposed the development of alternative routes that would bypass their territories. As a result, a country like Turkmenistan has consistently faced political pressure, price manipulation, transit monopolies, and obstacles to developing alternative export routes from both Russia and Iran.

It appears that, following Trump’s involvement, the utilization of natural resources in the region could proceed more smoothly for the Central Asian states. On Nov. 7, the U.S. Department of State released a Joint Statement of Intent on Economic Cooperation between the United States and Turkmenistan, which says that both countries “recognized the mutual benefits of expanding and diversifying international markets for Turkmen natural gas. It was emphasized that after Turkmenistan concludes ongoing cooperation with Azerbaijan on the delimitation of the Caspian seabed, Turkmenistan intends to consider the possibility of implementing the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline Project.”

This development could be a true game-changer for the future of Eurasia. If countries like Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are able to export their energy to European markets, Russia’s energy monopoly, long used as a tool of leverage over America’s allies, would be weakened. Despite frequent claims that Trump is not supportive of allies, he is actually the first leader in recent years to demonstrate genuine concern and made steps forward to the future of Europe’s energy security.

Central Asia, as a geopolitical entity, cannot operate in isolation without reliable energy and trade routes. Initiatives such as the TRIPP (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity) through Armenia, the Trans-Caspian Pipeline, which received a green light from Trump, the Trans-Caucasus pipelines, and the Anaklia Deep Sea Port are essential for the region’s full integration into global markets.

Although the Anaklia project remains stalled due to Chinese interference in the Black Sea, the Trump administration has pursued an unprecedented strategy to advance peace in the Caucasus and to enable broader participation of American businesses across the region. That is why the U.S. is to set up working groups with Armenia and Azerbaijan to work on TRIPP details, aiming to pick up the pace on the establishment of a land corridor, as the report says.

The first sign of a successful implementation of this process was a permission from Azerbaijan to allow commercial goods intended for Armenia to transit through its territory. Based on the Jamestown Foundation, Azerbaijan’s decision to allow the transit of goods destined for Armenia through its territory marks a gradual improvement in relations between the two sides.

Another example of unlocked cooperation between the Central Asia and Caucasus is Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s eager willingness for Azerbaijan to enter into C5+1 format, considering Azerbaijan as a natural part of Greater Central Asia. This should not be merely a symbolic gesture but a practical example of cooperation that fosters growth and prosperity in that part of the world. Azerbaijan can play a truly crucial role in advancing the geostrategic interests of the United States. If Central Asian partners engage more actively in energy cooperation with the West, Azerbaijan becomes the indispensable link, the only feasible corridor capable of hosting and transiting goods and energy through Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, and onward to Europe.

If we look at the history of recent decades, Trump is the first leader since the opening of the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline in 2005 who has made a serious effort to advance the U.S. goal of enhancing and diversifying global energy and goods supplies. Although it may take several years, much like the project mentioned above, it has the potential to positively influence global energy markets, strengthen the energy independence of key U.S. allies, and enhance the security of critical regions across Eurasia.

As someone who is deeply familiar with the political and economic turmoil surrounding the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline project in my home country of Georgia, I can say that Trump’s efforts in Central Asia and the Caucasus truly represent a generational strategy, one that also advances the peaceful resolution of conflicts in regions as complex and unstable as these.

In conclusion, the meeting in the C5+1 format clearly illustrates what former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Carla Sands often emphasizes: “America First doesn’t mean America alone. It means building durable alliances with strong, sovereign partners who stand on their own feet.” Indeed, through such cooperation and by unlocking the economic and energy potential these countries possess they can truly become a self-sustaining, resilient, and reliable coalition for the United States in Eurasia, a region destined to face constant challenges and ongoing power competition.

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