Central Asian Leaders Pledge Support for Trump's Gaza Peace Plan

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan offer financial aid, troops, and development projects to gain favor with the US president.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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In a bid to strengthen ties with the United States, the leaders of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have made significant pledges of support for President Trump's plan to rebuild and stabilize the Gaza Strip. Kazakhstan promised substantial funding, the deployment of peacekeeping troops, and humanitarian aid, while Uzbekistan unveiled plans to develop an 'Uzbekistan Quarter' in Gaza with housing, schools, and other infrastructure. The leaders hope these commitments will earn them greater favor with the Trump administration.

Why it matters

Central Asian nations like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have long sought to balance the influence of China and Russia in the region by strengthening ties with the United States. These Gaza pledges represent an opportunity for them to demonstrate their value as strategic partners to the US, potentially opening the door to greater economic and political cooperation.

The details

Kazakhstan promised to contribute funding to the World Bank's Gaza Reconstruction and Development Fund, as well as deploy troops and medical personnel to an International Stabilization Force. Uzbekistan announced plans to build an entire district in Gaza with housing, schools, and other facilities. Neither country provided specific financial figures, but both leaders emphasized the importance of supporting Trump's 'bold and historic' peace initiative.

  • The pledges were made at the inaugural Board of Peace summit on February 19, 2026.
  • Kazakhstan has participated in UN peacekeeping operations since 2014, including deployments to Lebanon.

The players

Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev

The president of Kazakhstan, who called for a peace prize to be named after President Trump.

Shavkat Mirziyoev

The president of Uzbekistan, who described Trump's Gaza plan as 'bold and historic'.

Dulat Baqyshev

A former Kazakh diplomat who stated that both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan need US support to strengthen their independence and sovereignty.

Alisher Ilkhamov

An Uzbek political analyst who suggested Kazakhstan's pledges may be aimed at securing US pressure on Ukraine to stop attacks on a key Russian port used by Kazakh oil exports.

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What they’re saying

“Both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan need US support. It's been 35 years since our independence. Had any US president visited our region? No.”

— Dulat Baqyshev, Former Kazakh diplomat (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)

“Trump expects them to be willing to pay for this opportunity, and they seem prepared to do so.”

— Alisher Ilkhamov, Uzbek political analyst (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)

“For Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, this is about prestige and reputation, and also about closer relations with the United States.”

— Alisher Ilkhamov, Uzbek political analyst (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)

What’s next

The specific financial commitments and troop deployments from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have not yet been announced, leaving some uncertainty about the scale of their pledges. The implementation and progress of their proposed projects in Gaza will be closely watched in the coming months.

The takeaway

Central Asian nations are seeking to leverage the Trump administration's focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to bolster their own standing with the US and gain economic and political advantages. However, the true motivations behind these pledges, such as securing US pressure on Ukraine, suggest a more complex geopolitical calculus at play.