Marco Rubio announces Central Asia trip, backs repeal of Jackson–Vanik restrictions

Testifying before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs of the US Congress, Rubio outlined the Donald Trump administration’s strategic priorities for the region, placing a strong emphasis on normalizing and expanding bilateral economic relations.

A key highlight of the congressional hearing was Rubio's confirmation that the current US executive branch actively supports the permanent repeal of the Jackson–Vanik amendment. Enacted during the Cold War in 1974, the statutory provision originally restricted US trade with non-market economies, including the former Soviet republics, that limited their citizens' right to emigrate. Although Central Asian states have long maintained temporary normal trade relations with Washington, the outdated legal framework remains a technical hurdle to full-scale trade and investment pipelines.

"We consider this useful," Rubio stated, referring to the proposed termination of the trade restrictions, adding that dismantling these barriers would prove mutually advantageous.

The Secretary of State further confirmed that the United States is finalizing arrangements to host a regional summit to advance economic and security partnerships. "By the way, we plan to hold a C5+1 format meeting in the region, and I will travel there later this year," the chief American diplomat announced.

The C5+1 serves as the primary mechanism for collective dialogue and functional cooperation between the United States and the five Central Asian republics: Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Established by Washington in 2015, the platform focuses on regional security, economic integration, energy connectivity, and supply chain resilience. The upcoming visit by the Secretary of State underscores a renewed effort by the Trump administration to solidify its diplomatic presence and support capital investments across the region.