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Ten years after its launch in 2015, the C5+1 has become a central pillar of U.S. engagement with Central Asia&mdash;bringing together Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan with the United States to advance regional stability, sovereignty, and connectivity. Over the past decade, the platform has evolved from ministerial dialogue to leader-level partnership, anchoring cooperation across security, economic, and energy domains. As the region undergoes rapid realignment amid Russia&rsquo;s war in Ukraine and China&rsquo;s expanding economic footprint, the C5+1 faces the dual challenge of sustaining momentum and delivering tangible results. At the same time, expanded connectivity through the Middle Corridor, growing intra-regional economic and energy integration, and U.S. interest in critical minerals offer new avenues for strategic collaboration.

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The Caspian Policy Center will convene regional and U.S. officials, diplomats, and policy experts to examine how the C5+1 can approach its second decade&mdash;deepening economic ties, strengthening regional resilience, and positioning Central Asia as a reliable partner in a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape. Panelists will discuss policy adjustments and institutional innovations needed to sustain a robust U.S. strategic presence in this pivotal region. They will also discuss results from the two events that recently took place in the region, U.S.-Central Asia Think Tank Forum and Astana International Think Tank Forum, ahead of the upcoming C5+1 Business Conference and Presidential Summit.

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9:00 &ndash; 9:30 &ndash; Registration and Breakfast

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9:30 &ndash; 9:35.&nbsp; Opening Remarks

&middot; Efgan Nifti, Chief Executive Officer, Caspian Policy Center

&middot; Ambassador (ret.) Richard Hoagland, Chairman of the Board, Caspian Policy Center

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9:35 &ndash; 10:20 &ndash; Panel I: Deepening Strategic Partnership Amid Global Shifts

Moderator: Catherine Putz, Managing Editor, The Diplomat

Panelists:

&middot; Javlon Vakhabov, Managing Director, International Institute for Central Asia; Former Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the United States

&middot; Zhandos Shaimardanov, Director, Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies

&middot; Dr. Eric Rudenshiold, Senior Fellow for Caspian Affairs, Caspian Policy Center

&middot; Clark Adams, Former Director for Central Asian Affairs in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, U.S. Department of Defense

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10:35 &ndash; 11:20 &ndash; Panel II: The Next Phase of U.S.-Central Asia Cooperation: Economic Connectivity, Energy and Resilience

Moderator: Eric Green, Advisory Board Member, Caspian Policy Center; Former Senior Director for Russia and Central Asia, U.S. National Security Council

Panelists:

&middot; Iskander Akylbayev, Chief Executive Officer, Xander Group

&middot;&nbsp;Zhandos Temirgali, President, 1Thirty Holding

&middot;&nbsp;Brianne Todd,&nbsp;Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council&rsquo;s Eurasia Center; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Georgetown University

&middot; Ambassador (ret.) Matthew Klimow, Advisory Board Member, Caspian Policy Center; Former Ambassador of U.S. to Turkmenistan

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<a class="magazine_detail_read_button" href="https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_d_-TBXMRSSuxQzeZ1lqe-A">Join Online</a>

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<a class="magazine_detail_read_button" href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2zG8bClON7lF0n3ZPm6uCPXDqiUQO5fyRjb62ImEjafaJ9A/viewform?usp=preview">Attend In-Person</a>

A Decade of Partnership: What Lies Ahead for C5+1?

Energy security is central to economic, environmental and social stability. Ensuring reliable and affordable supply, increasing energy diversification and resilience and making the most of energy transitions and innovation are the essential elements. Global transition spending in 2024 was nearly double the 2021 figure and use of wind and solar energy is at record levels. Even so, global oil and coal use are also at record levels, and gas will be needed decades beyond 2050. The transition process will be lengthy, disjointed and costly as energy systems are renewed. Some new industries such as hydrogen are emerging slower than hoped. In many countries fiscal constraints place limits on investment and priorities differ. Conflicts and hybrid disruption, poverty, disease, disasters and climate change complicate a constantly changing security picture. Most importantly, average global temperatures are still on track to reach well above 2 degrees centigrade by 2100. This event will discuss how the Caspian Region, UK and EU are working together to adapt planning assumptions accordingly and navigate these realities.

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08:30 &ndash; 09:00&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Registration and Coffee &nbsp;

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09:00 &ndash; 09:10 &nbsp;

Opening Remarks &nbsp;

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09:15 &ndash; 09:35&nbsp;

Keynote Speaker&nbsp;

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09:35 &ndash; 10:20 &nbsp;

Ambassadorial Panel &nbsp; 
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Session 1 &ndash; European &amp; Caspian Energy Challenges and Developments

Events of the last four years, from Russia&rsquo;s invasion of Ukraine to today&rsquo;s political populism, protectionism, trade disputes and tariffs, have stoked political and economic uncertainty in Europe and Caspian countries. The EU and UK have been active in response. The share of EU gas imports from Russia went down from 45% in 2021 to 19% in 2024. The AggregateEU mechanism significantly reduced demand and in May the Commission set out a roadmap to phase out EU imports of Russian gas, oil and nuclear energy. Two months later they announced further Hydrogen, Raw Materials and Gas mechanisms. The UK led from the front at COP29 and the April London Energy Security Conference, and in setting up the Great British Energy Company to develop clean energy projects and promote energy security. Energy drives most economies in Central Asia, the South Caucasus and T&uuml;rkiye, whether producers, transit countries or both. This panel will look at global and regional overviews - challenges, progress and plans.&nbsp;

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10:20 &ndash; 11:00 &nbsp;&nbsp;

Panel 1 Moderated Discussion &nbsp;

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11:00 &ndash; 11:15 &nbsp;

Coffee Break &nbsp;

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11:15 &ndash; 11:45 &nbsp; &nbsp;

Ambassadorial Panel (Cont.) &nbsp;

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11:45 &ndash; 12:45 

Session 2 &ndash; Strategic Partnerships and Common Benefits &nbsp;

Europe and the Caspian Region have many shared interests and much complementary expertise. There are many reasons to strengthen strategic partnerships. The geopolitical backdrop remains unpredictable. Ukraine&rsquo;s recent drone attacks on Russian critical energy infrastructure led to Central Asian price spikes and reduced access to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium. But the region may also develop a greater role as alternative suppliers. The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity can be a major transit game-changer for the South Caucasus and beyond. As well as acting on opportunities, Caspian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are doing more longer-term planning and reaping mutual benefits from working with each other and reliable partners. UK and EU governments, energy companies, business and finance sectors are well-placed to help.

Multilateral collaboration on energy and climate change has grown significantly with events such as the Ashgabat Central Asia Climate Conference and the Samarkand EU/Central Asia Summit and Climate Forum where leaders put climate security at the heart of the new Central Asia Strategic Partnership. COP29 raised the profile of Central Asian and South Caucasus countries. Working at C9 including T&uuml;rkiye would make it even easier for the Caspian region to appreciate collective value and maximise their influence in subsequent COPs. Bel&eacute;m&rsquo;s legacy will be the extent to which COP30 leads to public and private climate finance scaling up to trillions of dollars and Global Stocktake commitments accelerating renewable energy capacity, efficiency improvements and transitions tackling emissions.&nbsp;

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11:45 &ndash; 12:45 &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Panel 2 Moderated Discussion &nbsp;&nbsp;

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12:45 &ndash; 12:55 &nbsp;

Closing Remarks &nbsp;

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13:00 &ndash; 14:00 &nbsp; &nbsp;

&nbsp;Lunch&nbsp;&nbsp;

Energy Security: Navigating New Realities

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