US Touts 37-Plane Boeing Deal as Fruit of Central Asia Diplomacy

The Trump administration on Thursday pointed to a new 37-plane Boeing deal as the fruit of its diplomatic labor in Central Asia. The sales to Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan were announced by the Commerce Department at the C5+1 Summit in Washington. The event, marking a decade of U.S. engagement with the five Central Asian republics, was used to highlight the administration’s success in linking diplomacy to U.S. jobs.
The sales represent a major technological upgrade for the region’s aviation sector. Kazakhstan’s flag carrier, Air Astana, is making the largest investment, with plans for up to 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Following them, Tajikistan’s Somon Air intends to acquire up to 14 aircraft, a mix of four 787s and ten 737 MAXs, while Uzbekistan Airways is adding eight more 787s to its fleet.
The impact of these new planes will be most dramatically felt in route expansion. Air Astana, for example, will use its 15 new 787-9s to replace its three aging 767s. More importantly, Boeing confirmed that the new Dreamliners are the key enabler for Air Astana’s long-held plan to launch direct flights to North America, connecting Kazakhstan to new markets.
The choice to announce these commercial deals at the C5+1 Summit was deliberate. It allowed the Trump administration to present a tangible “win” from its diplomatic engagement, framing the relationship with Central Asia in terms of mutual economic benefit and American job creation. This aligns with the administration’s broader trade and foreign policy.
This 37-plane deal is just the latest in a series of announcements this year where Boeing orders have been heavily featured in trade deals with foreign governments. This practice has become a hallmark of the Trump administration’s economic diplomacy. While this is a solid success, the administration and Boeing are also in talks for a massive 500-jet sale to China.