US and Uzbekistan sign critical minerals agreement

The United States has signed a strategic agreement with Uzbekistan to improve access to the Central Asian country’s critical minerals.

The “Joint Investment Framework”, signed by the US International Development Finance Corp (DFC), focuses on investment across the minerals value chain, from exploration to processing. A US–Uzbekistan Joint Investment Holding Company will oversee future mineral and infrastructure projects.

Key developments:

• The deal forms part of Trump’s strategy to strengthen US influence in Central Asia, where Russia and China have traditionally dominated.

• Uzbekistan, with nearly 40 million people, holds reserves of gold, copper, uranium, lithium, and tungsten.

• The DFC’s role expands, following prior agreements in Ukraine and Africa.

The framework aims to promote economic cooperation, strategic investment, and energy infrastructure development between the two nations.

ℹ️ Reuters

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Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev (right) shaking hands with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick(left) in Washington, D.C. on February 18 2026 (Photo credit: Uzbekistan president’s office)
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US and Uzbekistan sign critical minerals agreement
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