US Engages ‘The Stans’: Trump to Host Leaders in Bid for Regional Influence

US President Donald Trump is set to personally engage “the Stans,” hosting the five leaders of Central Asia for a major summit in Washington on November 6 in a bid for regional influence.
This move, confirmed by the leaders of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, is a direct challenge to the influence of Russia and China.
The geopolitical landscape in the region is in flux. Russia’s traditional dominance is being questioned, and China has been aggressively expanding its economic presence.
The US and EU are both seeking to offer the C5 nations an alternative. The region is strategically vital, resource-rich, and key to East-West trade ambitions.
While three of the five leaders have not yet confirmed their attendance, the Trump administration’s initiative signals a new, more assertive American focus on Central Asia.