United States officials spoke in ambitious and avid terms as they reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to investing in the development of Central Asian critical mineral resources at a June 10 meeting with government representatives from across the region.

High-level officials from the five Central Asian countries and the US attended the C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue held at The Ritz Carlton in Kazakh capital Astana.

US Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs Sergio Gor reminded those present that the Trump administration has determined that Central Asia is central to vital economic areas such as global trade in natural resources, connectivity and secure supply chains.

Gor, as reported by The Times of Central Asia, said the region “has not gotten the attention it deserves from the United States,” and that the Trump administration had decided to change that.

“We care about this region, we want to be involved with this region, we want to identify win-win situations for the United States and your nations,” Gor, a former senior adviser to MAGA Inc, was also cited as saying.

Some controversy surrounds the US move to capitalise on Central Asian strategic minerals in that two sons of US President Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump, have become involved in an investment that will seek to profitably exploit the world’s largest known unexploited tungsten deposit, located in Kazakhstan. Russia, meanwhile, has expressed its annoyance at the “intensity” of the US and EU moves to exploit critical minerals in Central Asia, a neighbouring ex-Soviet region that it sees as remaining in its sphere of influence.

At the “Dialogue”, officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as US counterparts, took part in sessions on geological exploration, surveying and mapping, mining and processing and global value and supply chains. Those were followed by a government-business networking reception.

The US billed the Astana meeting as part of a broader expansion in American engagement with Central Asia following the unprecedented C5+1 leaders’ meeting in the US last year that saw President Donald Trump host a summit for the five presidents of Central Asia at the White House.

Gor was reported as stating that critical minerals have become an indispensable part of the C5+1 engagement because they are essential to infrastructure, advanced technologies, industry and national defence.

“Our economic security depends on our ability to diversify our access to critical minerals,” Gor said. “Ensuring reliable access to these materials requires not only expanding production, but also building resilient, transparent, and market-driven supply chains in close partnership with trusted partners.”

Gor also emphasised that US investors committing to Central Asia would enjoy firm backing from the Trump government.

He was further cited as saying: “The United States government stands behind American companies. There is no such thing as a deal too small.”

The US International Development Finance Corporation was prepared to “invest and build” in the region and recognised potential in critical minerals, telecommunications and Trans-Caspian infrastructure, he added.

Kazakh Industry and Construction Minister Yersain Nagaspayev reminded the gathering of major natural resources in Kazakhstan, saying: “Kazakhstan has more than 9,500 mineral deposits, including more than 100 deposits containing rare and rare earth metals. We invite American companies to actively participate in their exploration and development.”

He added: “Kazakhstan is interested not only in exporting raw materials, but also in developing joint production facilities, technology transfer, workforce training, and scientific cooperation.”