Name: Trump Meets Central Asian Leaders to Boost Critical Mineral Ties
Uploaded: 2025-11-07T14:03:54.000Z
Description: Trump called Central Asia "an extremely wealthy region," saying he wants to make America's partnership with the five countries stronger.

Stefania Cox is an NTD News anchor and national correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Stefania anchors "NTD Newsroom," and co-anchors "NTD News Today" weekdays at 10:00 am ET.

Stefania Cox

Cary Dunst is the news anchor for NTD Evening News. He is also the co-host of NTD Good Morning.


Cary Dunst

NTD Plus

News

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

Smart Spending: How to Save on Summer Travel

UAE Suffered More Iranian Missiles Than Israel, Paving Way for Iron Dome: Analyst

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

Washington Event to Rededicate US as ‘One Nation Under God’

Best-Selling Author Concerned Christians May Be Next in China’s State-Sanctioned Organ Trade

Jason Perry is an Army veteran and NTD's National Security Correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Jason primarily covers border security, national defense, foreign wars, and veterans' issues.

Jason Perry

Pentagon Paves the Way to Buy 10,000 Containerized Missiles

US Reports No Hantavirus Cases From Cruise Outbreak

Juliette Fairley is a freelance reporter for NTD and The Epoch Times and a graduate of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. Born in Chateauroux, France, and raised outside of Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, Juliette is a well-adjusted military brat. She has written for many publications across the country. Send Juliette story ideas at JulietteFairley@gmail.com

Juliette Fairley

Daniel Monaghan is a reporter for NTD News covering culture, social issues, and education. He holds a BA in Political Science and Government.

Daniel Monaghan

US News

Politics

Executive Branch

Rubio: China is ‘Top Geopolitical Challenge’

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

Jury Awards $49.5 Million to Family of Woman Killed in 2019 Boeing Max Crash

Andrew Moran has been writing about business, economics, and finance for more than a decade. He is the author of "The War on Cash."

Andrew Moran

China News

Trump Departs China After 2-Day Talks With Xi

Haika Mrema

Medical Plane Crash in New Mexico Mountains Kills 4, Sparks Wildfire

Accommodating, Enabling China’s Regime a Failed Strategy: China Expert

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 15)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 14)

Kevin Hogan is an NTD News data reporter and national correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Kevin covers breaking news, as well as U.S. and global current events. He conveys the news through data visualizations and investigates pressing issues.

Kevin Hogan

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 13)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 12)

President Trump Leaves for China Today; Calif. Mayor to Plead Guilty to Acting as CCP Agent | NTD Good Morning (May 12)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 8)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 7)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 6)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 5)

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

China Sends Warships to Pacific Drill as Tensions With Japan Rise

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

2 US Embassy Personnel Assigned to Cartel Case Killed in Car Accident

Gunman Kills 8 Children, Including 7 of His Own, in Louisiana Mass Shooting

Flora Hua is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers China news, U.S.-China relations, and human rights issues. Flora primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus."  

Flora Hua

Trump: Seized Iranian Ship May Have ‘A Gift From China’

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.

Aldgra Fredly

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized in Critical Condition: Spokesman

Wildfires Across Georgia and Florida Have Destroyed Nearly 50 Homes and Are Forcing Evacuations

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

US Warns of China Hacks via Routers, Smart Devices

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

2 Americans Among Suspected Communist Rebels Killed in Clashes With Troops, Philippine Officials Say

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Mari Otsu is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. 

Mari Otsu

World News

Middle East

Iran

3 US Warships Fend Off Iranian Attacks, Trump Says Ceasefire Still Holds

Health News

3 Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship in Atlantic Ocean: WHO

President Donald Trump on Thursday called critical minerals a key priority as he hosted the leaders of five Central Asian nations at the White House, emphasizing his administration's efforts to expand and secure U.S. supply chains through new global agreements.

The meeting with leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan came as Washington seeks to expand its influence in a resource-rich region long dominated by Russia and increasingly courted by China. Trump called Central Asia "an extremely wealthy region," saying he wants to make America's partnership with the five countries stronger.

"One of the key items on our agenda is critical minerals," Trump said. "In recent weeks, my administration has strengthened American economic security by forging agreements with allies and friends across the world to broaden our critical mineral supply chains."

The talks took place amid intensifying competition for Central Asia's vast mineral wealth—which includes uranium, copper, gold, and rare earths—as Western nations move to diversify supply chains away from Moscow and Beijing. The United States is pursuing new partnerships to secure critical minerals, energy, and overland trade routes that circumvent its geopolitical rivals.

Trump made his remarks before dinner with the leaders of the five nations.

Kazakhstan's president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, called the meeting the "beginning of a new era of interaction between the United States and Central Asia." Kazakhstan also took the symbolic step of joining the Abraham Accords that have normalized relations between Israel and Muslim-majority nations.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev, president of Uzbekistan, called Trump the "president of the world" and proposed setting up a permanent secretariat in Central Asia. Later that evening, Trump announced on Truth Social that Uzbekistan planned to purchase and invest more than $100 billion over the next decade in key U.S. sectors, including critical minerals, automotive parts, and aviation.

Launched in 2015, the C5+1 platform brings together the United States and the five Central Asian states to advance cooperation on economic, energy and security issues.

Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov, Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdimuhamedow, and other delegation members from the C5+1 Central Asian countries attend a dinner with President Donald Trump in the East Room of the White House on Nov. 6, 2025. (Nathan Howard/Reuters)


<h2>Critical Minerals Memorandum</h2>
The United States and representatives of the other C5 nations were also expected to sign deals to cooperate on critical minerals. Among business deals that were announced was an agreement for Boeing to sell up to 37 airplanes to airlines in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan combined, according to a government statement. A U.S. company, Cove Capital, will mine tungsten in Kazakhstan with government-backed financing.

Gracelin Baskaran, a director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the administration will pursue government-to-government engagement but also commercial deals that secure U.S. access to vital minerals.

"As China and Russia entrench their control over the region’s mining, processing and infrastructure systems, Washington is seeking to establish a tangible foothold through targeted strategic projects," Baskaran said.
<h2>Nations Are Rich in Uranium, Copper, Gold</h2>
Rich in minerals and energy, the five nations remain economically tied to Russia, their former Soviet ruler, while neighboring China has expanded its influence through large-scale infrastructure and mining investments.

Together, the countries are home to 84 million people and hold vast deposits of uranium, copper, gold, rare earths and other strategic minerals essential to global efforts to transition to greener forms of energy.

Kazakhstan, the region's largest economy, is the world’s leading uranium supplier, producing nearly 40 percent of global output in 2024, while Uzbekistan ranks among the top five.

Together, they account for just over half of the world's uranium production—a vital resource for U.S. nuclear power, which is a significant source of U.S. electricity. Russia supplies roughly 20 percent of the United States' imported uranium, making diversification increasingly urgent.

Under Trump, the United States has pursued a multi-pronged strategy to secure critical minerals and reduce reliance on China, which dominates global supply chains for strategic metals including uranium, rare earth elements, copper, and titanium.

China, at times, has leveraged its dominance by restricting exports.

<em>By Jarrett Renshaw and Nandita Bose</em>

Latest

Videos

Business News

04_Top Stories

Latest Clips

Asia &amp; Pacific

Management

03_Featured

Donald Trump

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.

Trump Meets Central Asian Leaders to Boost Critical Mineral Ties

US Kills 3 Men in Another Strike on Suspected Drug Vessel, Hegseth Says

Austin Alonzo covers U.S. political and national news for The Epoch Times. He has covered local, business and agricultural news in Kansas City, Missouri, since 2012. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri. You can reach Austin via email at austin.alonzo@epochtimes.us

Austin Alonzo

Tesla Shareholders Approve Elon Musk’s $1 Trillion Pay Package

Zachary Stieber is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times based in Maryland. He covers U.S. and world news. Contact Zachary at zack.stieber@epochtimes.com