Rubio expects Uzbekistan deals as U.S. pursues minerals

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said American companies expected to announce commercial agreements in Uzbekistan during his visit to Samarkand, while he identified critical minerals as a possible area of cooperation. The agreements had not been finalized publicly when he spoke on Monday, October 19, and their values were not yet known. Rubio said companies were discussing commitments that could be worth billions of dollars. Nearly 300 American businesses were represented in Samarkand, according to his remarks, while the State Department had earlier said more than 200 business leaders were accompanying the trip. Rubio said announcements would follow meetings connected to the business forums, but he did not give a list or confirmed total. He described mineral development and supply-chain diversification as potential shared interests, saying resource-rich countries could benefit from developing deposits and processing capacity. He also said U.S. engagement in Central Asia was not intended to make governments choose between Washington and other partners. The region has substantial natural resources and longstanding commercial ties with Russia and China. Rubio’s visit included...