Priorities of Ashgabat’s Foreign Policy

After coming to power, S. Berdimuhamedow continued the course outlined by his father, the former president of the republic, to intensify relations with Russia, China and Turkey, the main foreign policy partners of Turkmenistan. For their part, the authorities of these countries are increasing their attention to Turkmenistan, based on their own goals. At the same time, if Beijing’s interest in this Central Asian republic has long materialized into large-scale gas and transport projects, then Moscow is speeding up cooperation with Ashgabat after a rather long break. The intensification of relations between Turkmenistan and Russia is in the interests of both countries: in the changed international conditions Russia needs new markets and export routes, while Turkmenistan can and is already deriving economic benefits from the development of trade and investment cooperation with the Russian Federation. As for Turkey, Ashgabat is reserved about R.Erdogan’s pan-Turkist ambitions, but shows interest in the gas projects he is promoting, which provide for the transportation of Turkmen gas to Europe bypassing Russia.