The 10th-anniversary C5+1 Summit in Washington, a diplomatic meeting between U.S. and Central Asian leaders, produced a major commercial outcome this week. The Trump administration used the high-profile event to announce agreements for the sale of 37 Boeing airplanes to Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, showcasing a direct link between its foreign policy and U.S. business interests.
The Commerce Department celebrated the deal as a significant diplomatic and commercial victory. The orders are substantial: Kazakhstan’s Air Astana plans to purchase 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, Tajikistan’s Somon Air intends to acquire 14 aircraft (a mix of 787s and 737 MAXs), and Uzbekistan Airways is committing to eight additional 787s.
This represents a monumental investment for the carriers. Air Astana, for example, will use its new long-haul 787s to explore routes previously out of reach, including the potential for historic first-ever services to North America. This is a massive upgrade from their current fleet of three 767 jets.
The decision to announce the sales at the summit was a calculated move. It highlights the Trump administration’s transactional approach to diplomacy, where trade deals and U.S. manufacturing are placed at the forefront of foreign relations.
This strategy has become a familiar pattern, with new U.S.-made Boeing planes frequently appearing in trade negotiations. This 37-plane deal adds to hundreds of orders Boeing has already won this year, many linked to broader trade agreements, as the world awaits news on a potential 500-jet sale to China.