In a move exemplifying its “America First” (implied) approach to diplomacy, the Trump administration has championed a deal for 37 Boeing airplanes to be sold to three Central Asian nations. The Commerce Department announced the agreements with Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan as a direct result of the administration’s focus on U.S. business interests.
The sales were strategically unveiled at the C5+1 Summit in Washington, a 10th-anniversary diplomatic meeting. This platform was used to highlight the administration’s transactional approach, where fostering U.S. manufacturing is a key foreign policy objective.
The deal represents a major investment from the region. Kazakhstan’s Air Astana is making the largest purchase, with 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Tajikistan’s Somon Air intends to acquire 14 planes (a mix of 787s and 737 MAXs), and Uzbekistan Airways is committing to eight additional 787s.
For the airlines, this is a monumental modernization effort. Air Astana’s 15 new 787s will replace its small 767 fleet and enable it to launch ambitious new routes. Boeing specifically noted that this would allow the carrier to begin its first-ever services to North America.
This set of orders fits a well-established pattern under President Trump, where Boeing jets are a frequent component of trade deals. This adds to a strong year for Boeing, as the company also navigates high-stakes talks for a potential 500-jet sale to China.