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U.S.-Turkmenistan Relations

Opinion: Gas, Geopolitics, and Realism: U.S.–Turkmenistan Talks Signal Shift

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Turkmen counterpart Rashid Meredov wrapped up bilateral consultations last week in Washington, DC. The encounter suggested a new awareness on Washington’s part of Turkmenistan’s pivotal geostrategic location in the heart of Central Asia and its status as a major hub of natural resources. Since becoming head of state in March 2022, Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov has shifted his country’s foreign policy from one of strategic isolation to what might be called practical realism, whereby priority is given to fair trade and investments that are in line with national interests and long-term development. Like the other Central Asian heads of state, Berdimuhamedov also champions a pragmatic, interest-based foreign policy. Consequently, they find the current, pragmatic U.S. administration with its concern to work out deals (presumably mutually beneficial ones) more congenial than its predecessor, with its penchant for geostrategic maneuvering and ideology. Secretary Rubio recently observed: “A mature foreign policy requires a balancing of interests - that’s a fact.” This way of thinking goes over well in smaller independent states such as Turkmenistan and other Central Asian countries, whose key national priorities include establishing their statehood on a firm basis and safeguarding their sovereignty amid the turbulent great power politics being played out in their vicinity. Oil and Gas Over the years, Berdimuhamedov has insisted that foreign entities seeking access to the country’s vast natural gas reserves must play by Ashgabat’s rules. Home to the world’s fourth-largest gas reserves, Turkmenistan invites foreign participation in its energy sector, provided that agreements are structured as win-win arrangements and don’t give suitors the geostrategic upper hand. In this context, it would make sense for Washington to get the word out about two upcoming conferences in Ashgabat: The Turkmenistan Investment Forum, September 18– 19, 2025, which will serve to attract long-term investment into the country's economy, and the 30th Oil & Gas of Turkmenistan – 2025 International Conference & EXPO (OGT 2025) on 22–24 October. Turkmenistan had a strong 2024 in terms of energy, producing 77.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas and 8.3 million tons of oil. The OGT 2025 will showcase the country’s resource potential and new investment opportunities, focusing on upstream projects such as the Galkynysh gas field and the Caspian blocks, as well as on initiatives in the areas of renewable energy, methane mitigation, and infrastructure modernization. Moreover, Ashgabat wants to expand its Trans-Caspian and north-south economic corridors and complete the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, among other initiatives in transport and logistics. U.S. companies may want to explore these new opportunities. Travel Limitations to the U.S. Ashgabat is working with the U.S. Department of State to lift recently imposed restrictions on Turkmen citizens wishing to travel to the U.S. Both sides are aiming to ensure that applicants are properly screened before a visa is granted and that recipients comply with its terms. To further deepen ties, Washington should view Turkmenistan’s neutrality towards others on the global stage in security and foreign-policy matters not as an obstacle, but as an advantage that facilitates dialogue. While maintaining its advocacy for democratic principles,...

U.S.-Turkmenistan Relations

U.S.–Turkmenistan Rapprochement: Energy, Neutrality, and Digital Geopolitics

For more than three decades, Turkmenistan has stood apart from its neighbors. Since declaring independence in 1991, it has built its foreign policy around “permanent neutrality,” a status formally recognized by the United Nations in 1995. Neutrality has meant avoiding military alliances, steering clear of regional blocs, and limiting international engagement to carefully managed bilateral relationships. Ashgabat has been especially cautious in its dealings with Washington, keeping contacts minimal while relying overwhelmingly on China to buy its natural gas. That posture is beginning to shift. In 2025, the outlines of a quiet rapprochement between Turkmenistan and the United States are visible. The latest round of Annual Bilateral Consultations (ABCs) in Washington, coupled with Ashgabat’s more active role in the C5+1 regional dialogue, suggests a gradual warming. On September 19, 2023, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov participated in the first C5+1 multilateral summit alongside the U.S. and regional counterparts, highlighting Ashgabat’s more active role in the platform. At the heart of this cautious opening are three themes: energy dependence, security on Turkmenistan’s southern border, and the geopolitics of digital connectivity. Annual Bilateral Consultations: A Structured Dialogue The ABCs were launched in 2010 as part of a U.S. initiative to formalize engagement with all five Central Asian states. They are yearly, structured meetings between senior officials that review the state of bilateral relations across political, economic, and security issues. In August 2025, Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov met Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington for the 11th ABC. According to the U.S. State Department release, the two sides “underscored their commitment to advancing U.S.-Turkmenistan relations, including through security cooperation, increased economic and investment opportunities, the advancement of religious freedom, and deepening engagement through the C5+1 diplomatic platform.” The statement was deliberately brief and omitted sensitive matters such as the partial visa restrictions Washington imposed on Turkmen citizens earlier that year. But the very fact of the meeting, following years of minimal contact, marked a notable warming. From Episodic Contacts to Broader Cooperation The rapprochement has begun to take shape in concrete ways. Trade between the two countries, though still small, nearly doubled in 2024 to reach $218.5 million. Turkmenistan exported textiles, chemicals, and gas-related equipment, while U.S. exports included aviation technology, electronics, and agricultural machinery. Overall, the trade volume remained the second-lowest among Central Asian states, but the sharp increase pointed to a deliberate effort to expand ties. Reflecting this momentum, on June 8, 2025, Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov met with the Executive Director of the Turkmenistan–U.S. Business Council, Eric Stewart, to discuss cooperation across sectors, including energy, cybersecurity, green technology, and education. Security cooperation has grown more visible. Turkmenistan’s long border with Afghanistan has long been a vulnerability, and while Ashgabat avoided involvement in the U.S.-led war, it quietly welcomed assistance to reinforce border defenses and counter trafficking. The U.S. has provided equipment, training, and support for Turkmen border services, a low-profile effort documented in a Congressional Research Service report. Turkmenistan has invested over a billion dollars in Afghan infrastructure projects...

State Visit

Uzbekistan Jordan Relations Advance with Landmark State Visit

King Abdullah II of Jordan paid a state visit to Uzbekistan on August 25-26 at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The visit, his first since the establishment of diplomatic relations, marked a milestone in bilateral ties and culminated in the signing of 15 agreements spanning politics, trade, investment, education, and culture. A Historic Visit with Symbolic and Strategic Weight Mirziyoyev welcomed King Abdullah with full ceremonial honors in Samarkand, including flag displays, a guard of honor, and performances of national songs and dances. The leaders visited prominent cultural sites, including the Shah-i-Zinda complex, Amir Temur’s mausoleum, and Registan Square, where the Jordanian monarch received an overview of Uzbekistan’s rich historical heritage. King Abdullah also visited the tomb of Qutham ibn al-ʿAbbas, a revered early Islamic preacher in Samarkand. The Jordanian delegation toured the “Eternal City” cultural park, which showcases Uzbekistan’s traditional crafts, architecture, and customs. Expanding Economic and Diplomatic Cooperation The official program commenced on August 26 at the Congress Center in Samarkand. Following the ceremonial welcome, the leaders visited an exhibition of Uzbekistan’s export-oriented products. The showcase featured a range of goods from key industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, mining, textiles, agriculture, IT, and jewelry. King Abdullah praised Uzbekistan’s industrial development and called for increased business-to-business collaboration. During bilateral talks, the two sides agreed to elevate their relationship to a comprehensive partnership. Discussions focused on expanding political dialogue, boosting trade and investment, and strengthening cooperation in science, education, tourism, and culture. To formalize the partnership, the two countries agreed to establish a joint intergovernmental commission and a business council by the end of the year, and to convene an Uzbek-Jordanian business forum. They also outlined plans for cooperation in smart agriculture, geology, healthcare, and the textile industry. Broad-Based Agreements and International Alignment Fifteen agreements and memoranda were signed during the visit, including: An extradition treaty A bilateral investment promotion agreement A visa waiver agreement Cooperation protocols in higher education, scientific research, agriculture, veterinary medicine, tourism, and standardization The two leaders also reiterated their commitment to close coordination within international organizations, including the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Honoring Partnership and Future Prospects In recognition of his role in strengthening bilateral ties, Mirziyoyev was awarded Jordan’s highest state honor, the Order of Al Nahda (“Renaissance”), presented personally by King Abdullah II. “I accept this award with great honor, as a recognition of our joint efforts to expand multifaceted cooperation and a sign of friendship and respect for the people of Uzbekistan, who are laying the foundations for the Third Renaissance in our country,” Mirziyoyev said. The visit concluded with a joint statement and mutual invitations for future high-level exchanges, reaffirming both countries’ shared ambition to elevate Uzbekistan-Jordan relations to a new strategic level.

Healthcare

Kyrgyzstan and China to Expand Healthcare Cooperation

China is exploring investment opportunities in Kyrgyzstan’s healthcare sector, including the construction of a pharmaceutical plant using locally grown medicinal herbs and the establishment of a medical equipment assembly facility, according to Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Health. These prospects were discussed during a meeting in Bishkek between Kyrgyz Health Minister Erkin Checheybaev and a Belt and Road healthcare investment coordinator from Xinjiang Medical University in Urumqi. The talks focused on deepening healthcare cooperation within the framework of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Key proposals included: Supplying high-tech medical equipment to Kyrgyz hospitals and clinics Establishing medical simulation centers and equipping Kyrgyz medical universities through grant support Offering fully funded bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in China for Kyrgyz students Creating a Kyrgyz-Chinese Center for Traditional Medicine Similar centers currently operate in Pakistan and Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan may soon join this regional network under the “Silk Road for Traditional Medicine” initiative. China also signaled its willingness to provide educational materials and dispatch specialists to train Kyrgyz medical professionals in traditional Chinese medicine practices.

Mountaineering

Russian Climber Stranded on Kyrgyzstan’s Pobeda Peak is Feared Dead

In 2021, Russian climber Natalia Nagovitsina stayed with her sick husband overnight on one of Kyrgyzstan’s highest mountains and later recounted the ordeal in which he died in a documentary titled “Stay with Khan Tengri: Tragedy on the Mountain.” Now rescue workers and experienced climbers believe it is likely that Nagovitsina is dead after she became immobilized with a broken leg on the upper reaches of another mountain in Kyrgyzstan and efforts to bring her down in bad weather failed. Her story, and the deaths of others who scaled Pobeda Peak this year, have made for a grim high-altitude climbing season within the Central Asian country, which is celebrating its best-known climber, Eduard Kubatov, for recently reaching the summit of K2 in Pakistan without supplementary oxygen. Various accounts have described Nagovitsina’s ordeal since she broke a leg on August 12 on Pobeda, Kyrygzstan’s highest mountain at 7,439 meters above sea level. It lies on the border between Kyrgyzstan and China and is also known by the Kyrgyz name Jengish Chokusu (Victory Peak). Italian climber and friend Luca Sinigaglia helped to bring food, a tent and a sleeping bag to Nagovitsina several days later, but he then fell ill and died. Subsequently, on August 16, a Kyrgyz helicopter involved in rescue operations made a hard landing, injuring some on board. On August 19, a drone filmed movement at Nagovitsina’ sleeping bag on the ridge where she was stranded, but few climbing veterans believe she could have since survived extended exposure to the brutally cold conditions on the mountain. “There is practically no chance” that Nagovitsina is alive after nearly two weeks on the mountain, wrote Anna Piunova, editor of Mountain.RU, a Russian website that covers climbing news. Some climbers, including Bishkek-based Kadyr Saydilkan, bristled at any online commentators who suggested that Nagovitsina, who was in her late 40s, was to blame for the disaster, or didn’t deserve to be rescued, or shouldn’t have been on the mountain in the first place because she was a woman. Nagovitsina, Saydilkan said on Facebook, “fought with death for ten days and survived as long as she could. She dreamed, set goals, lived freely, with love, and pursued her dream!!! And you?”

State Visit

Jordan’s King Abdullah II Departs for Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

At the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, King Abdullah II departed earlier today for a state visit to Uzbekistan spanning 25–26 August, with the main events to be held in Samarkand. The King will then continue to Kazakhstan for an official visit on 26–27 August. In Samarkand, King Abdullah II and President Mirziyoyev are expected to review political dialogue, trade and investment, agriculture and food security, education, tourism, and transport connectivity. Uzbek media report that several cooperation documents are slated for signature, underscoring Samarkand’s growing role as a diplomatic venue for Central Asia. In Astana, the King will meet President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and attend events designed to expand commercial ties. The authorities in Astana have announced traffic curbs tied to the visit, a signal that a tightly choreographed official program is imminent. Kazakh media have framed the stop as part of a broader effort to deepen links with Middle Eastern partners at a time when Kazakhstan is diversifying export routes and courting investment from the Levant and Gulf. According to the official website of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, “high-level negotiations will be held aimed at further strengthening Kazakh-Jordanian cooperation in the trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres.” The two visits fit into Jordan’s long-running outreach to Central Asia. Diplomatic relations with the region’s states date back to the 1990s, and Amman has increasingly paired political dialogue with practical economic initiatives. For Uzbekistan, officials have been looking to scale up a cordial relationship into more structured cooperation, and the Samarkand setting gives both sides a stage to announce concrete timelines for working groups or ministerial roadmaps. For Kazakhstan, Jordan is positioning itself as a mid-market gateway to the Levant and the Gulf, complementing Astana’s drive to build partnerships that can open new consumer markets, source medical-pharma products, and expand educational and tourism flows. Beyond Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Jordan’s engagement with Central Asia has emphasized areas where Amman brings specific comparative advantages. Jordan’s experience in water management and desert agriculture aligns with Central Asian priorities on climate resilience and efficient irrigation; its halal and medical-pharma sectors appeal to governments seeking to diversify imports; and its universities offer English- and Arabic-language programs that can deepen people-to-people links. Following the visits, observers will look for intergovernmental agreements that move beyond generalities, whether in health and pharmaceuticals, food supply chains, tourism promotion, or student exchanges. Aviation and cargo-handling announcements would be early evidence of a more durable commercial bridge, while references to streamlined customs procedures or mutual recognition in standards could make a material difference for small and mid-sized exporters on both sides. As Central Asia is recalibrating connectivity amid sanctions frictions and supply-chain shocks, Middle Eastern partners are seeking new sources of food, energy inputs, and investable projects with predictable regulatory environments. The two-country tour could, therefore, touch upon both sides' requirements, with Jordan’s looking to move its Central Asia policy from exploratory diplomacy to delivery.