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President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov “to underscore U.S. support for Uzbekistan’s reforms and the country’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity” (thediplomat.com 2020a, b).
Pompeo will then engage in a C5+1 Ministerial with foreign ministers from
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. This action
indicates regional interest in developing and further enhancing relations with
America. The C5+1 format, launched in 2015 under the Obama regime, has worked
as a stable forum in which regional powers can meet with representatives from
Washington. If all five foreign ministers attend the meeting it will highlight the success of the forum. Such a meeting requires all members to arrive in Tashkent at a
time suitable for the American visit (thediplomat.com 2020a, b). US secretaries of
state rarely travel to Central Asia. However, recently there has been a trend for visits
to the region, although generally only at a rate of one per appointment. These infrequent visits tend to be significant in the region, although Washington does not necessarily regard them as such. Aside from a prior visit to Afghanistan, this trip will
mark Pompeo’s first visit to Central Asia since his appointment in April 2018.
During his time as secretary, February 2017–March 2018, Rex Tillerson did not
visit the region, despite a background with the oil industry and links to Kazakhstan
through Exxon. John Kerry, secretary of state from February 2013 to January 2017,
visited Central Asia between October 31st and November 3rd, 2015. In this short
visit, he made a quick succession of visits to all five countries. Hillary Clinton visited the region multiple times. In late 2010 she visited Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and
Uzbekistan and returned to Uzbekistan in 2011, when she also visited Tajikistan.
Pompeo’s trip is expected to be a platform for the announcement of Washington’s
new plan for the Central Asian region (thediplomat.com 2020a, b).
Oil, trade, and good governance all played a role in talks between US Secretary
of State Mike Pompeo and the Central Asian foreign ministers. However, China was
excluded from these talks, although Beijing is perhaps the most important administration in the region. Pompeo is the most senior US official to visit the region since
2015 when John Kerry visited in his role as secretary. During the C5+1 meeting in
Tashkent, the foreign ministers and Pompeo discussed possible contributions by the
Central Asian nations to the peace process in Afghanistan in 2020, as well as measures on border security and regional developments to enhance both economic and
energy connectivity (www.voanews.com 2020).
On June 30, 2020, US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Under Secretary
of State for Political Affairs David Hale chaired the C5+1 High-Level Dialogue.
The C5+1 platform was developed on the foundation of close collaboration and
regional links to facilitate cooperation and coordination among the Central Asian
countries and the United States in terms of shared interests. The High-Level
Dialogue was undertaken at a time of unique challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic
has created large scale economic and human impacts (www.voanews.com 2020).
Despite this, the US remains committed to its aim of being a strong and successful
nation that seeks independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity not only for
itself but for all of the Central Asian countries in the C5+1 forum. The pandemic has
highlighted the importance of partnership and networking alongside effective, clear
information sharing in terms of governance, economic development, and human
US Foreign Policy and Euro-Caspian Energy Security
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov “to underscore U.S. support for Uzbekistan’s reforms and the country’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity” (thediplomat.com 2020a, b).
Pompeo will then engage in a C5+1 Ministerial with foreign ministers from
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. This action
indicates regional interest in developing and further enhancing relations with
America. The C5+1 format, launched in 2015 under the Obama regime, has worked
as a stable forum in which regional powers can meet with representatives from
Washington. If all five foreign ministers attend the meeting it will highlight the success of the forum. Such a meeting requires all members to arrive in Tashkent at a
time suitable for the American visit (thediplomat.com 2020a, b). US secretaries of
state rarely travel to Central Asia. However, recently there has been a trend for visits
to the region, although generally only at a rate of one per appointment. These infrequent visits tend to be significant in the region, although Washington does not necessarily regard them as such. Aside from a prior visit to Afghanistan, this trip will
mark Pompeo’s first visit to Central Asia since his appointment in April 2018.
During his time as secretary, February 2017–March 2018, Rex Tillerson did not
visit the region, despite a background with the oil industry and links to Kazakhstan
through Exxon. John Kerry, secretary of state from February 2013 to January 2017,
visited Central Asia between October 31st and November 3rd, 2015. In this short
visit, he made a quick succession of visits to all five countries. Hillary Clinton visited the region multiple times. In late 2010 she visited Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and
Uzbekistan and returned to Uzbekistan in 2011, when she also visited Tajikistan.
Pompeo’s trip is expected to be a platform for the announcement of Washington’s
new plan for the Central Asian region (thediplomat.com 2020a, b).
Oil, trade, and good governance all played a role in talks between US Secretary
of State Mike Pompeo and the Central Asian foreign ministers. However, China was
excluded from these talks, although Beijing is perhaps the most important administration in the region. Pompeo is the most senior US official to visit the region since
2015 when John Kerry visited in his role as secretary. During the C5+1 meeting in
Tashkent, the foreign ministers and Pompeo discussed possible contributions by the
Central Asian nations to the peace process in Afghanistan in 2020, as well as measures on border security and regional developments to enhance both economic and
energy connectivity (www.voanews.com 2020).
On June 30, 2020, US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Under Secretary
of State for Political Affairs David Hale chaired the C5+1 High-Level Dialogue.
The C5+1 platform was developed on the foundation of close collaboration and
regional links to facilitate cooperation and coordination among the Central Asian
countries and the United States in terms of shared interests. The High-Level
Dialogue was undertaken at a time of unique challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic
has created large scale economic and human impacts (www.voanews.com 2020).
Despite this, the US remains committed to its aim of being a strong and successful
nation that seeks independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity not only for
itself but for all of the Central Asian countries in the C5+1 forum. The pandemic has
highlighted the importance of partnership and networking alongside effective, clear
information sharing in terms of governance, economic development, and human
US Foreign Policy and Euro-Caspian Energy Security