Trump courts central Asia as US looks to break Xi's grip on rare earth minerals, outmaneuver Putin

President Donald Trump hosted the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan at the White House, making critical minerals the centerpiece of new economic and strategic agreements. As the US and its allies move to secure supply chains for key resources—including uranium, copper, gold, and rare earths—Trump announced a major $1.1 billion deal for tungsten extraction and support for new overland trade routes. The summit, set against escalating global competition with Russia and China for Central Asia’s vast mineral wealth, also produced plans for major Boeing sales and closer diplomatic ties, including Kazakhstan’s joining of the Abraham Accords.