HomeCountries & Areas…Turkmenistan

# Turkmenistan

		Subscribe		                  -  View Fact SheetEmbassies & Consulates
Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs
International Travel Information
What you need to know before you go: visas, Embassy & Consulate locations, vaccinations, etc.
International Travel Information: Learn More Current Travel Advisories
Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Learn More								U.S. Relationship																									These are excerpts from the U.S. Relations With Turkmenistan																			-  												U.S.-Turkmenistan Relations											 
-  												U.S. Assistance to Turkmenistan											 
-  												Bilateral Economic Relations											 
													U.S.-Turkmenistan Relations													The United States established diplomatic relations with Turkmenistan in 1992 following its independence from the Soviet Union. Turkmenistan exercises a foreign policy of “positive neutrality” — avoiding alignment with great powers yet actively engaging in numerous international and regional initiatives. The country occupies a critical geographic juncture, sharing long borders with Afghanistan and Iran, and acts as a transportation, humanitarian,The United States established diplomatic relations with Turkmenistan in 1992 following its independence from the Soviet Union. Turkmenistan exercises a foreign policy of “positive neutrality” — avoiding alignment with great powers yet actively engaging in numerous international and regional initiatives. The country occupies a critical geographic juncture, sharing long borders with Afghanistan and Iran, and acts as a transportation, humanitarian, and economic link to Afghanistan and the South Asian subcontinent, advancing regional stability. Turkmenistan provides heavily subsidized food, electricity, and natural gas to the provinces of northern Afghanistan to promote stability. Turkmenistan is a closed society with an authoritarian political system and centralized economy. The country’s gross domestic product is heavily dependent on exports of natural gas – China is its primary consumer at present. The country’s massive revenues from natural gas sales do not trickle down to the average Turkmen, however, and corruption is rife within virtually all layers of society. President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, elected in March 2022, has yet to enact any noticeable reforms.Collapse U.S.-Turkmenistan Relations															Read more about U.S.-Turkmenistan Relations																												U.S. Assistance to Turkmenistan													U.S. foreign assistance objectives include strengthening Turkmenistan’s capacity to manage its international borders and cooperate on regional security issues, encouraging the Government of Turkmenistan to loosen restrictions on civil society, increasing access to quality higher education and health, sponsoring experts to assist Turkmenistan in reducing its methane emissions, promoting private sector development, economic reforms, workforce development and institutional changes toU.S. foreign assistance objectives include strengthening Turkmenistan’s capacity to manage its international borders and cooperate on regional security issues, encouraging the Government of Turkmenistan to loosen restrictions on civil society, increasing access to quality higher education and health, sponsoring experts to assist Turkmenistan in reducing its methane emissions, promoting private sector development, economic reforms, workforce development and institutional changes to antitrafficking legal and policy frameworks.Collapse U.S. Assistance to Turkmenistan															Read more about U.S. Assistance to Turkmenistan																												Bilateral Economic Relations													Turkmenistan’s vast natural gas and oil resources continue to attract foreign companies to explore doing business in the country, but the Government of Turkmenistan has yet to implement reforms needed to create an inviting business climate, such as allowing onshore natural gas production-sharing agreements. Turkmenistan has signed a trade and investment framework agreement with the United States and other CentralTurkmenistan’s vast natural gas and oil resources continue to attract foreign companies to explore doing business in the country, but the Government of Turkmenistan has yet to implement reforms needed to create an inviting business climate, such as allowing onshore natural gas production-sharing agreements. Turkmenistan has signed a trade and investment framework agreement with the United States and other Central Asian countries establishing a regional forum to discuss ways to improve investment climates and expand trade within Central Asia. Collapse Bilateral Economic Relations															Read more about Bilateral Economic Relations															Integrated Country Strategies
The Integrated Country Strategy is the four-year strategy articulating U.S. priorities in a given country. The Chief of Mission leads the strategy.
View Integrated Country StrategiesFiscal Transparency Report
The Fiscal Transparency Report analyzes government transparency and identifies needed changes to improve public spending accountability.
View Fiscal Transparency ReportDiscover More2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices2022 Report on International Religious Freedom2023 Trafficking in Persons Report
View all Department Reports and Publications
HighlightsMarch 15, 2024
B5+1 Forum
February 29, 2024
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan: Ashgabat International School: 2024 Special Needs Profile
February 9, 2024
Inaugural C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue among the United States and Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
January 4, 2024
Religious Freedom Designations
December 2, 2023
Accelerating Fast Mitigation: Summit on Methane and Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases
							VIEW ALL NEWS						
Tags
Bureau of South and Central Asian AffairsTurkmenistanBack to Top- White House
- USA.gov
- Office of the Inspector General
- Archives
- Contact Us
follow usFacebookTwitterInstagramYouTubeFlickrGovDelivery- Privacy Policy
- Accessibility Statement
- Copyright Information
- FOIA
- No FEAR Act
U.S. Department *of* StateThe Lessons of 1989: Freedom and Our Future