Meeting Between the Foreign Ministers of Kyrgyzstan and the United States Held in Samarkand,On 19 October 2026, in Samarkand, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Zheenbek Kulubaev met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on,Meeting Between the Foreign Ministers of Kyrgyzstan and the United States Held in Samarkand,

On 19 October 2026, in Samarkand, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Zheenbek Kulubaev met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the Central Asia–United States Ministerial Meeting in the C5+1 format.

During the meeting, the sides discussed current issues of Kyrgyz-American cooperation, with particular emphasis on strengthening political dialogue, expanding trade and economic ties, and attracting American investment and technology to Kyrgyzstan.

Zheenbek Kulubaev underscored the Kyrgyz Republic’s interest in further developing mutually beneficial cooperation with the United States, highlighting the potential for engagement in mining, energy, information technology, transport, and finance. The importance of implementing the agreements reached and fostering direct contacts between government institutions and business communities of the two countries was also emphasized.

The sides also exchanged views on U.S. sanctions policy and visa restrictions. The Kyrgyz side reaffirmed its commitment to constructive dialogue with American partners on compliance with sanctions requirements and expressed interest in finding solutions conducive to expanding humanitarian, educational, and business exchanges.

Separately, Special Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Bakyt Sydykov briefed the American side on the ongoing work related to sanctions issues. He assured the U.S. side that the leadership of the Kyrgyz Republic remained committed to continued active engagement with American partners to prevent the circumvention of sanctions restrictions and maintain constructive dialogue on this matter.

The sides also discussed prospects for cooperation within the United Nations Security Council, taking into account the election of the Kyrgyz Republic as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2027–2028 term.

The meeting reaffirmed the mutual interest of both sides in further strengthening Kyrgyz-American relations and maintaining regular political dialogue.