House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia Ranking Member, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, and Chair, Congressman Bill Huizenga, on October 20 sent a letter to President Trump urging him to convene a C5+1 Leaders’ Summit in Washington, D.C. on the 10th anniversary of the diplomatic forum.
They call on him to convene a C5+1 Summit in Washington to mark the 10th anniversary of the diplomatic forum that brings together the United States and five Central Asian countries.
Established in 2015, the C5+1 forum is a multilateral platform for U.S. cooperation with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The U.S. has participated in its meetings annually since its inception.
In the letter, the Congress members emphasized that the anniversary presents a unique opportunity to strengthen ties with Central Asia and advance U.S. strategic interests in the region, including in security, economic development, soft power, and governance.
"The president’s personal involvement in a C5+1 summit could turn the 10th anniversary into a significant diplomatic moment and set the course for U.S.-Central Asian relations in the next decade," the letter reads.
The lawmakers also urged the administration to prepare tangible outcomes and agreements from the summit that would bolster longstanding areas of cooperation with Central Asia.
Tajik President’s participation in recent "Central Asia – U.S." summit
On September 19, 2023, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon attended the “Central Asia – U.S.” leaders’ meeting in New York. This marked the first summit of its kind with Central Asian presidents.
In his speech, President Rahmon expressed confidence that the outcomes of the meeting would enhance cooperation under the “Central Asia – U.S.” format. He also highlighted Tajikistan's readiness to expand cooperation in sectors such as economics, transport, energy, communications, and sustainable development.
Rahmon underscored the priority of green economy initiatives, hydropower development, and Tajikistan’s participation in global climate change and glacier melting efforts.
He also focused on regional security issues, including combating terrorism, extremism, and the illegal drug trade, as well as the situation in Afghanistan, stressing Tajikistan’s role in providing humanitarian aid, including electricity and food supplies, to its neighbor.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of a Declaration of Heads of State, outlining key areas for further collaboration between Central Asia and the United States.
The “Central Asia – U.S.” format (C5+1)
The “Central Asia – U.S.” format, also known as C5+1, serves as a platform for dialogue and joint efforts between the U.S. and the five Central Asian nations. It was established after the first meeting of foreign ministers in Samarkand in November 2015, and prior to the presidential summit in September 2023, it operated at the foreign ministers’ level.
Key areas of discussion in this initiative include security, economy, and environmental issues. The most recent meeting of foreign ministers from the Central Asian states and the U.S. under the C5+1 framework took place in Astana on February 28, where the parties discussed expanding trade and economic relations both within the region and with the U.S.
