BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 19. Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeenbek Kulubaev and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed bilateral economic cooperation, U.S. investment and technology, as well as sanctions policy and visa restrictions in Samarkand on October 19, 2026.
According to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on the sidelines of the Central Asia-U.S. Foreign Ministers’ meeting in the C5+1 format.
The sides discussed ways to strengthen political dialogue and expand trade and economic ties. Jeenbek Kulubaev emphasized Kyrgyzstan’s interest in developing mutually beneficial cooperation with the United States, identifying mining, energy, information technology, transport and finance as promising areas.
Moreover, the parties also stressed the importance of implementing existing agreements and strengthening direct contacts between government institutions and business communities.
The Kyrgyz side reaffirmed its commitment to constructive dialogue with US partners on compliance with sanctions requirements and expressed interest in finding solutions to facilitate humanitarian, educational and business exchanges.
Kyrgyz President’s Special Representative Bakyt Sydykov briefed the U.S. side on ongoing efforts related to sanctions. He reaffirmed the Kyrgyz leadership’s commitment to continued engagement with Washington to prevent sanctions circumvention and maintain constructive dialogue on the issue.
The sides also discussed prospects for cooperation within the UN Security Council, following Kyrgyzstan’s election as a non-permanent member for the 2027–2028 term.
Meanwhile, the U.S. and Kyrgyzstan engage through bilateral diplomatic channels and the C5+1 platform, which brings Washington together with the five Central Asian countries to discuss regional security and economic cooperation. The format provides opportunities to address shared priorities, including trade, investment, transport connectivity and energy development.
