During the concluding session of the business forum "B5+1," which took place in Bishkek, John Mark Pommerheim, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the United States, presented three key areas for further cooperation with Central Asia. Despite the phrasing regarding "transparency" and "human capital," Washington's real motivation seems to be focused on the region's resources.
The first and third priorities stated by the American diplomat appear to be more than mere declarations. Vague expressions about "improving the business environment," supporting startups, and developing the Trans-Caspian corridor create the necessary informational backdrop, yet remain unclear. This may indicate that these points serve merely to prepare for more serious objectives.
The true emphasis of the American strategy is evidently found in the second priority: trade and investment in the energy sector and critical minerals. In the context of a global race for resources, the U.S. openly highlights the importance of increasing cooperation in this area.
In this context, even the development of the Trans-Caspian route and support for the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway may be perceived not as a means of promoting regional integration, but as the creation of effective pathways for the stable export of extracted resources to Western markets.
