Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Turkmenistan Foreign Minister Rasit Meredov and said the U.S. looks forward to addressing regional and global challenges like climate change.
“As we approach the 31st anniversary of U.S.-Turkmenistan relations, I met with Foreign Minister Meredov to discuss furthering our bilateral ties, including the ways we can partner on the climate crisis, security, and economic growth,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a tweet.
Diplomatic relations between the United States and Turkmenistan were established on February 19, 1992, shortly after Turkmenistan declared independence from the Soviet Union, according to the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan. The United States maintains an embassy in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, and Turkmenistan maintains an embassy in Washington, D.C.
“We are proud of the now more than 30-year partnership that we’ve built with Turkmenistan. We’re committed to its sovereignty, its independence, its territorial integrity. And we’re looking forward to doing more together to address not only some of the regional challenges but also global challenges like climate change, as well as trying to build even stronger economic prosperity and opportunity for people, dealing with regional security, and of course deep-rooting democratic values," Blinken said in his meeting with Meredov, according to a State Department press release.
The United States has been supportive of efforts to diversify Turkmenistan’s economy, particularly by promoting private sector development and increasing regional trade and connectivity. The United States and Turkmenistan have cooperated on a number of issues, including counterterrorism, counter-narcotics, and regional stability, according to the U.S. Embassy.
Turkmenistan is strategically located between Russia, Iran, and Afghanistan, and its natural resources, particularly its vast natural gas reserves, have made it an important player in regional geopolitics, according to The World Bank in Turkmenistan.
The Turkmen government has been criticized for its lack of political freedom, human rights abuses, and corruption, according to the State Department’s 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Kazakhstan.
In recent years, U.S.-Turkmenistan relations have been strained by concerns over human rights abuses and the lack of democratic reforms in Turkmenistan. In addition, the United States has expressed concerns about restrictions on religious freedom, freedom of expression, and freedom of assembly in Turkmenistan. Despite these concerns, the United States has continued engaging with Turkmenistan on mutual interest issues, including energy security and counterterrorism.
Overall, the relationship between the United States and Turkmenistan has been marked by a mix of cooperation and tension as the two countries navigate a complex geopolitical landscape.
