President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and U.S. President Donald Trump have maintained regular contact and a relationship based on mutual trust, according to Julie M. Stufft, who was confirmed as the U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan on Oct. 7, 2025.
Ambassador Stufft said she discussed key priorities of bilateral relations with President Tokayev, noting that these efforts have the full support of President Trump. She expressed enthusiasm about expanding cooperation between the two countries and said the two leaders are expected to meet again in the near future.
Tokayev and Trump
The ambassador noted that Tokayev and Trump communicate regularly. She added that the Kazakh president recently visited Washington and plans to visit the U.S. again soon, stressing that such high-level engagement provides strong momentum for developing bilateral cooperation.
Relations between the two countries
Stufft said she was honored by her appointment to Kazakhstan and recalled that the U.S. was the first major global power to recognize Kazakhstan’s independence. She said relations between the two countries are currently at their highest level.
In addition to her diplomatic work, Stufft said she and her family are taking every opportunity to learn more about Kazakhstan, its people, culture and way of life. «We are sincerely pleased to be here,» she said.
According to the ambassador, Kazakhstan and the U.S. cooperate closely in areas including culture, trade and the economy, and Washington is interested in further expanding ties across virtually all sectors.
Diplomatic credentials
On Jan. 9, President Tokayev received the credentials of Ambassador Stufft and those of Bulgaria’s ambassador to Kazakhstan, Georgi Vodenski. During the meeting, Tokayev thanked Stufft for the invitation to participate in the G20 summit, which is scheduled to take place later this year in the U.S.
