The Trump administration is championing a new 37-plane deal for Boeing as a prime example of its strategy of linking diplomacy and trade. The agreements with three Central Asian nations—Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—were unveiled at a high-profile diplomatic summit in Washington.
The Commerce Department presented the sales as a significant “diplomatic and commercial victory.” The announcement was made at the 10th-anniversary C5+1 Summit, a meeting of U.S. and Central Asian leaders, to underscore the connection between foreign policy and U.S. manufacturing.
The orders are substantial. Air Astana (Kazakhstan) is set to purchase 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Somon Air (Tajikistan) will acquire a 14-plane mixed fleet of 787s and 737 MAXs. Uzbekistan Airways will add eight more 787s. For these carriers, the new aircraft represent a monumental leap in modernization.
For example, Air Astana’s 15 new Dreamliners will allow the airline to replace its three aging 767s and, for the first time, explore long-haul routes to North America. This expansion is a direct result of acquiring the modern, long-range aircraft.
This 37-plane order is the latest in a series of announcements this year where Boeing has won hundreds of orders, often as part of larger trade agreements. The industry now watches to see if this same diplomatic-commercial strategy can unlock a potential blockbuster 500-jet sale to China.