Tomorrow, President Trump will host the leaders of Central Asia in Washington for a U.S.–Central Asia summit. One of the most urgent issues on the agenda will be critical minerals. For the United States, securing access to these materials has become an economic priority. From copper and cobalt to uranium and rare earths, these materials underpin energy systems, advanced manufacturing, and defense industries. Without them, the transition to more resilient and technologically advanced economies cannot proceed.
Diversifying supply is now a major priority for the U.S. The challenge, however, is that transforming geological potential into reliable supply chains requires more than new mines. It requires long-term investment, functioning institutions, and financing models that allow complex projects to move from concept to production. The summit will set the political stage, but the real work will begin afterwards in building practical collaboration between American investors and Central Asian producers.
Kazakhstan can play an important role in this process. The country is among the world’s largest by its mineral reserves, with large deposits of copper, uranium, and rare earths. More than 100 deposits have been identified, and its rare-earth reserves are estimated at 2.6 million tons. In uranium, Kazakhstan remains the world’s largest producer, accounting for nearly 40 percent of global output in 2024 and maintaining a steady record of supply to U.S. utilities.
However, geological potential by itself does not guarantee supply. Expanding production requires long-term investment, processing infrastructure, and offtake agreements that provide predictability for investors. Kazakhstan has taken steps to improve licensing transparency through digital reforms, but given the scale of both the opportunity and the financing needs, greater U.S. engagement will play an important role.
The foundations for such involvement already exist. Cumulative U.S. investment in Kazakhstan has surpassed $100 billion, and more than 630 American companies operate across sectors ranging from energy to manufacturing and food production. Examples include Chevron’s continued investment in the Tengiz oil field, PepsiCo’s new snack plant, and Wabtec’s locomotive production agreement. Together, these reflect a long-standing commercial presence built on shared economic interests.
The financial dimension is equally important. U.S. firms participate in Kazakhstan’s financial sector, including through the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), which operates under an English-law framework and offers independent dispute resolution. The AIFC connects companies to regional capital markets and facilitates financing for large-scale projects in areas such as critical minerals and infrastructure.
The lesson for Washington is that geography is not the obstacle. Despite the distance, U.S. companies are integrated into Kazakhstan’s economy, and the frameworks exist to make investment more predictable and less risky. What is needed now is a conscious effort to apply these frameworks to critical minerals, an area where Kazakhstan has both reserves and a willingness to cooperate.
The benefits would run both ways. For Kazakhstan, deeper collaboration would mean access to finance, technology, and expertise to develop processing and value-addition capacity. For the United States, it would mean diversifying supply chains at a time when resilience is paramount. The current dependence on limited sources of critical minerals has exposed vulnerabilities. Broader partnerships in resource-rich but underdeveloped markets can help reduce that exposure.
The upcoming summit provides an opportunity to signal intent. What will matter afterwards is execution: investors willing to enter new markets, host countries prepared to maintain transparent rules, and financial institutions ready to bridge the gap.
For American investors and policymakers, the question is not simply where deposits exist, but where the conditions allow projects to be financed, built, and delivered. This involves exploring joint ventures in processing, entering long-term offtake arrangements that provide certainty for both sides, and using platforms such as the AIFC to structure transactions transparently and efficiently.
If approached strategically, partnerships with suppliers such as Kazakhstan can move the U.S. beyond resource dependence toward the creation of resilient, diversified supply chains. In a world where critical materials determine industrial strength, cooperation grounded in shared interest is an economic necessity.
