U.S. Secretary of State Blinken arrived in Central Asia today to meet with the foreign ministers of all five former Soviet republics in the region (Kazakhs, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan).

(Reuters)

(Central News Agency) Just one year after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken arrived in Central Asia today to meet with all five foreign ministers of the former Soviet republics in the region, demonstrating the benefits of cooperation with the United States.

Reuters reported that Antony Blinken will visit the capitals of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on this trip, which is his first visit to Central Asia since he became the foreign affairs chief in the administration of US President Joe Biden.

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The visit came just days after the one-year anniversary of Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine, testing Moscow's influence in Central Asia.

In addition to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, regional countries include Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

At a time when Moscow is looking to evade Western sanctions through Central Asian markets and trade routes, the new leverage of the "American card" encourages Central Asian leaders to stand up to Moscow's pressure.

Blinken will meet with all five Central Asian foreign ministers in the Kazakh capital Astana today before visiting the Uzbek capital Tashkent.

U.S. officials said the Biden administration has moved to step up engagement with Central Asian countries, showing the benefits of working with the U.S. to countries economically affected by the conflict with the West.

Blinken met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana today.

Tokayev won re-election in November's general election and has spoken out against Russian President Vladimir Putin's bid to annex eastern Ukraine.

"We have very good and reliable long-term partnerships in many areas of strategic importance, such as security, energy, trade and investment," Tokayev told Blinken when he met him at the presidential palace.

Blinken earlier told Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi that Washington supported Kazakh sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Kazakhstan declared its independence from the Soviet Union.

Referring to Russia's all-out invasion of fellow former Soviet Union Ukraine, Blinken said: "Sometimes we just say those words, but they actually mean something, and of course we know that in this particular moment, those words are more important than usual. It resonates more."

Blinken (left) met with Kazakh President Tokayev (right) in Astana today.

(Associated Press)