The United States has a new top diplomat in Ashgabat who is expected to continue what Turkmenistan calls the “positive momentum” in ties between the two countries.
Kristin Hawkins assumed duties as chargé d’affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat after Elizabeth Rood completed her tour as ambassador this month, the embassy said. Hawkins will lead the embassy until a permanent ambassador is appointed.
Hawkins joined the Foreign Service in 2011 and served as U.S. consul general in Lahore, Pakistan, from 2023 to 2025, according to the embassy. Her other postings included senior Georgia desk officer at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, deputy spokesperson at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, and political officer at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.
Hawkins and Rashid Meredov, Turkmenistan’s foreign minister, met on Wednesday and “reaffirmed their mutual interest in further strengthening constructive Turkmen-U.S. cooperation,” Turkmenistan’s Foreign Ministry said.
During her two-year tenure as ambassador, Rood helped develop the U.S. partnership with Turkmenistan as part of Washington’s trade and diplomatic outreach across Central Asia. At a farewell meeting, Rood and Meredov noted “the positive momentum” in U.S.-Turkmen cooperation in recent years, according to the Turkmen government.
During her two-year tenure as ambassador, Rood was involved in building up the U.S. partnership with Turkmenistan as part of Washington’s wider trade and diplomatic outreach to countries in Central Asia. At a farewell meeting, Rood and Meredov commented on “the positive momentum” in U.S.-Turkmen cooperation in recent years, according to the Turkmen government.
