US seeks trade edge in Central Asia and India

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio departs Saturday for Central and South Asia to boost commercial ties, aiming to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the resource-rich region amid ongoing US geopolitical conflicts. Rubio will lead a 200-member business delegation to Uzbekistan for a C5+1 ministerial meeting with five Central Asian nations, focusing on energy partnerships. The trip follows a November 2025 White House summit with those countries' leaders. After Uzbekistan, Rubio visits India, where Washington is close to a trade deal after months of negotiations. He will also discuss Reliance Industries' plans to finance a Texas refinery, part of a broader US strategy to secure rare earths and diversify energy sources.