menu_open Columnists
We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

A Warm Welcome for US Secretary of State in Central Asia

21 0
19.10.2026

Crossroads Asia | Diplomacy | Central Asia

A Warm Welcome for US Secretary of State in Central Asia

Not only can Rubio avoid the most pressing international crises by jetting off to Central Asia, but he – and the Trump administration more broadly – were guaranteed to receive a warm welcome in the region.

As U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio departed the U.S. capital on October 17, bound for Uzbekistan and India, a journalist asked, “With everything going on in the world and with crisis all over, why are you choosing now, at this time, to go to Uzbekistan?” 

Rubio replied that it was the time that worked for the Central Asians. “This is an important relationship,” he added without expounding on that importance.

Get to the bottom of the story

Subscribe today and join thousands of diplomats, analysts, policy professionals and business readers who rely on The Diplomat for expert Asia-Pacific coverage.

Get unlimited access to in-depth analysis you won't find anywhere else, from South China Sea tensions to ASEAN diplomacy to India-Pakistan relations. More than 5,000 articles a year.

Unlimited articles and expert analysis

Weekly newsletter with exclusive insights

16-year archive of diplomatic coverage

Ad-free reading on all devices

Support independent journalism

Already have an account? Log in.

As U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio departed the U.S. capital on October 17, bound for Uzbekistan and India, a journalist asked, “With everything going on in the world and with crisis all over, why are you choosing now, at this time, to go to Uzbekistan?” 

Rubio replied that it was the time that worked for the Central Asians. “This is an important relationship,” he added without expounding on that importance.

In response to questions from the Associated Press regarding........

© The Diplomat