Politics · United States · 3 hrs ago
Rubio visits Uzbekistan and India to build US ties in the region
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has travelled to Uzbekistan and India to strengthen ties with countries in Central and South Asia.
In Uzbekistan, he will meet ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, alongside a delegation of 200 business leaders.
The former Soviet republics have long-standing links with Russia, while China is their main trade partner and has secured energy deals across the region.
The US wants closer relationships and access to energy and important minerals, including rare earths.
After Uzbekistan, Rubio is due to visit Mumbai and Jamnagar in India, where he will promote business ties.
US officials say a trade deal with India is close, after months of negotiations.
Rubio’s focus on these visits has drawn criticism because wars and other conflicts remain active, but his department says he is involved in those issues behind the scenes.
Marco Rubio travelled to Uzbekistan and was due to visit India to promote US economic and security ties in Central and South Asia.
He arrived in Samarkand on Oct 18 to meet officials from the C5+1 group.
The trip drew criticism from some who said the US secretary of state was prioritising less difficult visits over pressing foreign policy issues.
The State Department said Rubio was involved in major conflicts and that diplomatic work often takes place outside the public spotlight.
Rubio said the timing was chosen to allow Central Asian leaders to meet and that the US needed to build longer-term relationships.
- Who
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He was travelling with a US delegation.
- What
- He visited Uzbekistan and was due to visit India to promote US economic and security ties with Central and South Asia.
- When
- He left Washington on Oct 17, 2026, and arrived in Samarkand on Oct 18.
- Where
- Uzbekistan, including Samarkand, followed by India.
- Why
- The trip aimed to build US relationships and promote economic and security ties in the region.
Critics of Rubio’s travel schedule
US State Department
Focus of the trip
Critics of Rubio’s travel schedule
Critics said Rubio was favouring politically safer visits while pressing foreign policy matters remained.
US State Department
The department said Rubio was involved in major challenges and had to consider them as part of a broader strategic picture.
Public role
Critics of Rubio’s travel schedule
Critics questioned his absence as the public face of several major issues.
US State Department
The department said his responsibility was not to create a public profile around every challenge, and that important diplomatic work often happens outside the spotlight.
Rubio spoke to reporters before leaving Washington and said the timing reflected when the delegations were available.
Rubio arrived in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to meet officials from the C5+1 group.
Rubio was due to visit India.
- Trip destinations
- Uzbekistan and India
- Arrival city
- Samarkand, Uzbekistan
- Regional group
- C5+1: the United States and Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan
- Trip purpose
- Promote US economic and security ties with Central and South Asia
- Secretary of state trips abroad
- 31st trip, according to AP
4 sources
What people are saying
One of the things that suffers is the strategic visits — you’re always visiting someplace where there’s a crisis or there’s a problem, or you’re going because there’s a conference, but there’s countries you’d like to get to because we want to build our relationships with them.
Some of the most consequential diplomatic work takes place outside the public spotlight.
perfectly encapsulates the decadence and degeneracy of the contemporary US foreign policy establishment