President Trump late Thursday announced a new trade deal across several sectors between Uzbekistan and the United States.
"Over the next three years, Uzbekistan will be purchasing and investing almost $35 Billion Dollars and, in the next 10 years, over $100 Billion Dollars, in key American Sectors, including Critical Minerals, Aviation, Automotive Parts, Infrastructure, Agriculture, Energy & Chemicals, Information Technology, and others," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
The president gave his thanks to Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and added that he looks "forward to a long and productive relationship between our Countries!"
The news follows a White House meeting where Trump hosted leaders of five Central Asian countries, which also included Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. The gathering focused on rare earth metals needed for high-tech devices, including smartphones, electric vehicles and fighter jets.
“These nations were once home to the ancient Silk Road connecting East and West,” Trump said, adding “sadly, previous American presidents neglected this region completely.”
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, who also serves as Trump’s special envoy to South and Central Asia, recently visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to prepare for the summit.
The Trump administration has made it a priority to deepen its relationship with Central Asian countries.
The Thursday meeting comes months after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deported more than 130 Central Asian immigrants without documentation to Uzbekistan. The Uzbek government and the U.S. collaborated on deporting more than 100 Uzbek, Kazakh and Kyrgyz immigrants.
“We commend Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for his leadership in sending a flight to return 131 illegal aliens back to their home country,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement at the time. “We look forward to continuing to work together with Uzbekistan on efforts to enhance our mutual security and uphold the rule of law.”
Uzbekistan "fully funded" the deportations, the DHS stated in April.
Source: The Hill - News
