Rubio pushes for stronger US ties with Central Asia before India trade talks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio begins talks Monday with five Central Asian nations in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, aiming to strengthen US influence in a region rich in resources and dominated by Chinese trade. Rubio will meet officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, leading a delegation of 200 business executives. The trip follows a November White House summit with the leaders, focusing on energy partnerships amid declining Russian influence since its Ukraine invasion. After Central Asia, Rubio heads to India, where a senior US official says a trade deal is "very close." Negotiations have faced delays from US court battles over tariffs, though 25% duties imposed on Indian goods over Russian oil purchases have been lifted.