Donald Trump has pledged to strengthen US relations with the five countries of Central Asia “like never before”.

He made the commitment at the November 6 C5+1 summit at the White House that brought him together with the five presidents of Central Asia.

“I understand the importance of your region,” Trump told the leaders of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan at a working dinner. Describing Central Asia as “an extremely wealthy region”, in a reference to its natural resources, he also remarked: “Sadly, previous American presidents neglected this region completely.”

The US leader said Uzbekistan and the US at the summit inked agreements worth $100bn over 10 years, saying it was an "incredible trade and economic deal".

"No other president of the United States of America has ever treated Central Asia the way you do," Uzbek leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev told Trump, adding that he was “the president of the world and that "in Uzbekistan, we call you the president of peace."

"You are a great leader, a statesman sent from above to restore common sense and the traditions that we all share and value," said Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov told Trump that Kyrgyz-American relations centred on investment, tourism, hydropower, the digital economy, artificial intelligence (AI), the IT sector and ensuring security and stability.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon said that in developing cooperation between Tajikistan and the Central Asian countries with the United States, peace, stability and sustainable security are "the fundamental basis of all economic and trade relations".

Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov said that he was "confident that the decisions taken within the framework of the summit will contribute to the further expansion and development of multifaceted cooperation between Central Asia and the United States".

The Kremlin in a comment on the summit accused the US of trying to “tear” Central Asia away from Russia.

Ben Godwin, head of analysis at PRISM, a strategic intelligence firm in London, told RFE/RL that the summit’s focus on Central Asia’s mineral wealth was part of a longstanding strategy from the region’s leaders to win Washington’s attention.

"The Central Asians are absolutely using the critical minerals angle as their leverage point to get more engagement from the United States on other issues that are more important to the region and the local economies,” he said.

"In the 2000s, it was the War on Terror and oil and gas. Then there was a decarbonisation era where many new projects in Central Asia were centred around renewable energy. Now it's the role of critical minerals in national security.”

Kursiv reported Gracelin Baskaran of the Center for Strategic and International Studies as saying: “As China and Russia entrench their control over the region’s mining, processing and infrastructure systems, Washington is seeking to establish a tangible foothold through targeted strategic projects.”

Deals between US parties and Central Asian counterparts were announced in relation to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Below are country-by-country snapshots covering most of the headline-making deals:

Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan signed an agreement to develop the North Katpar and Upper Kairakty tungsten deposits with US-based Cove Kaz Capital Group. It will own a 70% stake, with Kazakhstan’s state company Tau-Ken Samruk, a subsidiary of the country’s sovereign wealth fund, owning 30%. The US Export-Import Bank submitted a letter of interest for $900mn in financing for the investment.

Kazakhstani airline Air Astana said it intended to purchase 18 long-haul Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners for around $7bn.

American agricultural equipment giant John Deere won some plaudits at the summit for a previous decision to localise production of agricultural machinery in Kazakhstan through a partnership with AgromashHolding KZ. John Deere has a $2.5 bn strategic partnership agreement with Kazakhstan under which at least 3,000 agricultural machines are to be produced over five years.

Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan announced an agreement to produce rare earth elements (REEs) with Denali Exploration Group and an agreement to implement rare earth projects with Re Element Technologies.

Tashkent also expanded an agreement to purchase 14 long-haul Boeing aircraft to 22 aircraft.

It also announced the purchase of American agricultural equipment with a value of $300mn from John Deere. Half the order will be made up of cotton harvesters.

In trade, Uzbekistan has committed to buying soybeans and cotton from the United States, and has signed up to plans to access American drip irrigation technologies.

Tajikistan
Tajikistan announced it would acquire 14 modern aircraft from Boeing, with Somon Air to purchase Dreamliner and 737 MAX models.

Tajikistan also signed a $32.5mn cooperation agreement with Transparent Earth, a company that says it can help Tajikistan use satellite devices to study natural resources and work out how to use them properly.

The Tajik president's website said the country will cooperate with American companies in ​​"untapped resources."

Tajik government officials, meanwhile, signed a cooperation agreement with Starlink, a division of billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX company offering satellite-constellation internet services. Starlink is also making inroads in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

The US Department of State said Tajikistan signed agreements with companies Perplexity AI and Zypl AI that will help Tajik government agencies use AI in government affairs.

Tajikistan, it said, would also benefit as another  $9mn is invested by Coca-Cola in its Tajik operation.