• Deposits range from Kazakhstan’s broad mineral belts to smaller but geologically rich areas in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

• The latest C5+1 summit in Washington placed the region’s mineral wealth at the center of US-Central Asia cooperation

ISTANBUL

Central Asia is rapidly emerging as a new front in the global race for rare earth elements and critical minerals, as major powers scramble to secure the resources that underpin clean energy technologies, high-end manufacturing and modern defense systems.

These minerals – vital for electric vehicles, wind turbines, semiconductors, aerospace components and advanced weaponry – have become strategic assets amid strained supply chains and the difficulty of expanding production.

As a result, rare earths now sit at the core of global competition, reshaping geopolitical priorities among major powers.

With interest intensifying, the Central Asian region, long considered part of Moscow’s sphere of influence, is becoming a key battleground for geopolitical influence, with its untapped reserves and strategically located corridors drawing increased diplomatic and economic engagement.

For Washington, reducing dependence on China – which dominates global rare earth supply chains – has become a national priority. That push, accelerated under US President Donald Trump, helped thrust Central Asia into Washington’s strategic calculus.

This shift was evident at the latest C5+1 summit, where Trump hosted the leaders of the five Central Asian states at the White House on Nov. 6. Rare earths and critical minerals were placed at the center of the agenda, underscoring the region’s rising value in global competition.

During the meeting, Kazakhstan and the US signed a memorandum of understanding on critical minerals.

Central Asia hosts a diverse and widely distributed rare earth element landscape. Deposits range from Kazakhstan’s broad mineral belts to smaller but geologically rich areas in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

While many sites are still underexplored, the overall picture reveals a broad belt of rare earth minerals running through the heart of the region.

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan appears to have the largest and most advanced rare earth element potential in Central Asia today, though the region is still under‑explored and some data remain preliminary.

According to a US Geological Survey report, Kazakhstan’s rare earth deposits are concentrated along several major geological belts, including the Uraltides, the Kazakh Steppe, the Kazakh Uplands, North Tien Shan, South Tien Shan and the Pamir range.

The country is also a global powerhouse in uranium.

A 2025 British Geological Survey report found Kazakhstan produced around 40% of the world’s uranium in 2023, making it central to long-term global energy security.

The country supplies about 25% of America’s uranium demand and hosts more than 600 American companies.

According to reports, US assessments have identified 384 critical raw material sources across 160 sites in the country.

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan also plays a significant role in Central Asia’s rare earth landscape and is the world’s fifth-largest producer of uranium.

Tashkent is rapidly asserting itself as a regional minerals hub, with more than 30 types of minerals – including copper, molybdenum, selenium, lithium and cadmium – identified across the country, according to an August 2025 report by The Hague Research Institute.

Despite only 20% of its territory having been surveyed, the Caspian Policy Center estimates Uzbekistan’s mineral resource potential at around $5.7 trillion.

At least 14 rare earth deposits have been confirmed so far, with ongoing exploration in regions such as Khurob and Navoi, where companies are also targeting gold and copper.

The country has advanced its research capacity as well, opening Central Asia’s first dedicated rare earth research center in Chirchiq, in partnership with South Korean institutions.

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan hosts 20 known rare earth deposits, including the historically significant Kutessay II mine, which supplied up to 80% of the Soviet Union’s rare earth needs during the Cold War and played a key role in its nuclear program.

The site still contains notable reserves of dysprosium – used in nuclear reactor control rods – and terbium, essential for advanced lighting technologies, both of which remain highly valued on global markets.

The country’s mining sector is vast, with more than 16,000 active mines and deposits.

Foreign interest remains strong, with Canadian and Singaporean firms exploring sites such as Choin-Kaindy, Kutessay II and Kalesay.

Tajikistan

Tajikistan holds one of the globe’s most strategically important minerals: antimony, used in defense technologies and industrial alloys. The country possesses roughly one-fifth of the world’s antimony reserves, according to estimates.

Speaking at the C5+1 summit at the White House, President Emomali Rahmon highlighted that Tajikistan is the world’s leading producer of metallic antimony and ranks second globally in overall antimony production.

He added that the mineral accounted for 97% of Tajikistan’s exports to the US in 2024.

However, Tajikistan’s mineral resources extend far beyond antimony. More than 800 deposits of minerals and precious metals – including copper, silver, gold, lead and lithium – have been identified across the country.

“More than 40 types of minerals are currently mined in the deposits under use,” Rahmon said during a meeting with Qatari business leaders in January last year.

Turkmenistan

While oil and natural gas dominate Turkmenistan’s economy, the country also contributes to the region’s critical minerals landscape.

According to the SFA Oxford consultancy, Turkmenistan has substantial reserves of sulfur, bromine and iodine, used in chemical manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and components of clean energy technologies.

These resources have attracted renewed attention from global actors, including the US.

During President Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s visit to Washington on Nov. 6, the two sides discussed expanding cooperation in the critical minerals sector.

According to a US State Department statement, Turkmenistan agreed to consider “preferential treatment and exemptions in the critical minerals sector for American companies.”

“They also recognized the mutual benefits of expanding and diversifying international markets for Turkmen natural gas,” it added.