Foreign relations of Turkmenistan

Template:Short description Turkmenistan's declaration of "permanent neutrality" was formally recognized by the United Nations in 1995. Former President Niyazov stated that the neutrality would prevent Turkmenistan from participating in multi-national defense organizations, but allows military assistance. Its neutral foreign policy has an important place in the country's constitution. Although the Government of Turkmenistan claims to favour trade with and export to the United States, and Turkey, its single largest commercial partner is China, which buys the vast bulk of Turkmen natural gas via the Central Asia–China gas pipeline. Turkmenistan has significant commercial relationships with Russia and Iran and growing cross-border trade with Afghanistan. The Government of Turkmenistan often appears to use the conflicting interests of these regional powers as a means to extract concessions, especially on energy issues.

International disputes

Signing of the Caspian Sea convention in 2018 brought only partial resolution of boundary disputes in the Caspian. Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have disputes over water-sharing. Turkmenistan shares a long border with Afghanistan, a principal producer of heroin and opium. As a result, a large volume of narcotics are trafficked through Turkmenistan on their way to lucrative markets in Europe and Russia.

Natural resources

Turkmenistan is rich in natural gas, and currently sells most of its gas to China. Turkmenistan unilaterally cut off exports of pipeline natural gas to Iran in 2017 over a payment arrears dispute. Russia ceased buying gas from Turkmenistan in 2016, but resumed small purchases of pipeline gas in 2019. Afghanistan buys liquid petroleum gas, shipped by rail to Ymamnazar and Torghundi for onward delivery by truck. Pakistan provides Turkmenistan warm water as well as Iran and Russia.

Turkmenistan is a partner country of the EU INOGATE energy programme, which has four key topics: enhancing energy security, convergence of member state energy markets on the basis of EU internal energy market principles, supporting sustainable energy development, and attracting investment for energy projects of common and regional interest.

Organisations

Turkmenistan is a member of the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Islamic Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the International Organization of Turkic Culture.

Turkmenistan maintains permanent representatives to the United Nations offices in New York City, Vienna, and Geneva.

The United Nations maintains a permanent representation staffed by a resident coordinator along with representatives of some UN agencies in Ashgabat. The Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and European Union have missions in Ashgabat, as well.

According to the European Commission's website, as of 2025, "A Partnership and Cooperation Agreement concluded with Turkmenistan in 1998 is yet to be ratified by all EU Member States. Pending ratification, an Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters entered into force on 1 August 2010. Other areas of cooperation remain based on the Trade and Cooperation Agreement signed with the Soviet Union in 1989 and subsequently endorsed by Turkmenistan."

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Turkmenistan maintains diplomatic relations with:

File:Diplomatic relations of Turkmenistan.svg
#	Country	Date
1	China	Template:Dts
2	North Korea	Template:Dts
3	Denmark	Template:Dts
4	United Kingdom	Template:Dts
5	South Korea	Template:Dts
6	Iran	Template:Dts
7	Afghanistan	Template:Dts
8	Saudi Arabia	Template:Dts
9	Bangladesh	Template:Dts
10	Turkey	Template:Dts
11	France	Template:Dts
12	Germany	Template:Dts
13	Spain	Template:Dts
14	Cuba	Template:Dts
15	Syria	Template:Dts
16	Mexico	Template:Dts
17	Russia	Template:Dts
18	Sweden	Template:Dts
19	United States	Template:Dts
20	Canada	Template:Dts
—	Template:Country data State of Palestine	Template:Dts
21	India	Template:Dts
22	Japan	Template:Dts
23	Mongolia	Template:Dts
24	Pakistan	Template:Dts
25	Hungary	Template:Dts
26	South Africa	Template:Dts
27	Australia	Template:Dts
28	Malaysia	Template:Dts
29	Bulgaria	Template:Dts
30	Netherlands	Template:Dts
31	Oman	Template:Dts
32	Norway	Template:Dts
33	Azerbaijan	Template:Dts
34	Italy	Template:Dts
35	Finland	Template:Dts
36	Greece	Template:Dts
37	Thailand	Template:Dts
38	Switzerland	Template:Dts
39	Template:Country data Georgia	Template:Dts
40	Lithuania	Template:Dts
41	Romania	Template:Dts
42	Vietnam	Template:Dts
43	Portugal	Template:Dts
44	New Zealand	Template:Dts
45	Ghana	Template:Dts
46	Argentina	Template:Dts
47	Maldives	Template:Dts
48	Morocco	Template:Dts
49	Poland	Template:Dts
50	Luxembourg	Template:Dts
51	Kazakhstan	Template:Dts
52	Kyrgyzstan	Template:Dts
53	Moldova	Template:Dts
54	Armenia	Template:Dts
55	Ukraine	Template:Dts
56	Austria	Template:Dts
57	Mali	Template:Dts
58	Tunisia	Template:Dts
59	Equatorial Guinea	Template:Dts
60	Libya	Template:Dts
61	Indonesia	Template:Dts
62	Slovakia	Template:Dts
63	Latvia	Template:Dts
64	Belarus	Template:Dts
65	Tajikistan	Template:Dts
66	Czech Republic	Template:Dts
67	Belgium	Template:Dts
68	Egypt	Template:Dts
69	Uzbekistan	Template:Dts
70	Jordan	Template:Dts
71	Malta	Template:Dts
72	Lebanon	Template:Dts
73	Philippines	Template:Dts
74	Israel	Template:Dts
75	Slovenia	Template:Dts
76	Zambia	Template:Dts
77	Laos	Template:Dts
78	Albania	Template:Dts
79	Chile	Template:Dts
80	Estonia	Template:Dts
81	Algeria	Template:Dts
82	Chad	Template:Dts
83	Kuwait	Template:Dts
84	Yemen	Template:Dts
85	Cambodia	Template:Dts
86	United Arab Emirates	Template:Dts
87	Madagascar	Template:Dts
88	Bahrain	Template:Dts
89	Brazil	Template:Dts
90	Sri Lanka	Template:Dts
91	Venezuela	Template:Dts
92	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Template:Dts
93	Template:Country data North Macedonia	Template:Dts
94	Croatia	Template:Dts
95	Bolivia	Template:Dts
—	Holy See	Template:Dts
96	Jamaica	Template:Dts
97	Uruguay	Template:Dts
98	Guatemala	Template:Dts
99	Serbia	Template:Dts
100	Colombia	Template:Dts
101	Nicaragua	Template:Dts
102	Belize	Template:Dts
103	Singapore	Template:Dts
104	Marshall Islands	Template:Dts
105	Mozambique	Template:Dts
106	Qatar	Template:Dts
107	Iceland	Template:Dts
108	Peru	Template:Dts
109	Ecuador	Template:Dts
110	Guyana	Template:Dts
111	Angola	Template:Dts
112	Mauritius	Template:Dts
113	Haiti	Template:Dts
114	Malawi	Template:Dts
115	Brunei	Template:Dts
116	Zimbabwe	Template:Dts
117	El Salvador	Template:Dts
118	Suriname	Template:Dts
119	Uganda	Template:Dts
120	Myanmar	Template:Dts
121	Nepal	Template:Dts
122	Ireland	Template:Dts
—	Sovereign Military Order of Malta	Template:Dts
123	Cyprus	Template:Dts
124	Andorra	Template:Dts
125	Montenegro	Template:Dts
126	Dominican Republic	Template:Dts
127	Iraq	Template:Dts
128	Gambia	Template:Dts
129	South Sudan	Template:Dts
130	Fiji	Template:Dts
131	Senegal	Template:Dts
132	Togo	Template:Dts
133	Panama	Template:Dts
134	Sudan	Template:Dts
135	Monaco	Template:Dts
136	Ethiopia	Template:Dts
137	Burundi	Template:Dts
138	Burkina Faso	Template:Dts
139	Bahamas	Template:Dts
140	Dominica	Template:Dts
141	Saint Kitts and Nevis	Template:Dts
142	Djibouti	Template:Dts
143	Paraguay	Template:Dts
144	Benin	Template:Dts
145	Somalia	Template:Dts
146	Grenada	Template:Dts
147	Sierra Leone	Template:Dts
148	Republic of the Congo	Template:Dts
149	Niger	Template:Dts
150	Kenya	Template:Dts
151	Trinidad and Tobago	Template:Dts
152	Seychelles	Template:Dts
153	Liechtenstein	Template:Dts
154	Honduras	Template:Dts
155	Rwanda	Template:Dts
156	Eswatini	Template:Dts
157	Botswana	Template:Dts
158	San Marino	Template:Dts
159	São Tomé and Príncipe	Template:Dts

Bilateral relations

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Afghanistan	21 February 1992	See Afghanistan–Turkmenistan relations Afghanistan has an embassy in Ashgabat and a consulate in Mary. Turkmenistan has an embassy in Kabul plus consulates in Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif. The rise of India as an economic giant and its increasing energy needs make Turkmenistan and Central Asia energy markets of choice for that country and also China. The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline (TAPI) has been one of the most important regional initiatives to be undertaken by these countries. The agreement to build the pipeline to transport Turkmen gas to Afghanistan and Pakistan and beyond to India was signed in 2010. In addition, Afghanistan depends on Turkmenistan for meeting a large part of the country's electricity needs. At present, Afghanistan imports more than 320 million kilowatt hours of electricity every year from Turkmenistan. In 2011, Turkmenistan agreed to build a 150-km extension to a railway line to connect the rail line to Serhetabat to Andkhoy in Faryab province, Afghanistan. In February 2018, the existing rail line between Serhetabat and Torghundi in Afghanistan was restored to service. This line is planned to be extended to Herat, where it could potentially connect to a rail line under construction from Khaf, Iran. The line to Andkhoy went into service in January 2021. In 2013, work began on a link from Kerki via Ymamnazar on the Turkmen-Afghan border to Aqina in Andkhoy District. This link was opened in November 2016. It was extended 38 km to Andkhoy in January 2021, and is intended eventually to become part of a railway corridor through northern Afghanistan, linking it via Sherkhan Bandar, Mazar-i-Sharif and Kunduz to Tajikistan. As of 1 April 2011, there were 44 enterprises with Afghan assets in Turkmenistan. Though Turkmenistan has not recognized the Taliban's state, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, it has facilitated the Taliban's appointment of diplomats to the Afghan Embassy in Ashgabat. The current chargé d'affaires is Fazal Muhammad Sabir, appointed in March 2022.
Albania	24 March 1994	Both countries established diplomatic relations on March 24, 1994.
Armenia	9 October 1992	See Armenia–Turkmenistan relations Formal relations were established in 1992 Armenia has an embassy in Ashgabat. Turkmenistan has an embassy in Yerevan. Both countries are full members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. There are between 30,000 and 44,000 people of Armenian descent living in Turkmenistan.
Austria	16 October 1992	See Austria–Turkmenistan relations Turkmenistan has an embassy in Vienna, which doubles as the permanent mission to United Nations agencies in Vienna.
Azerbaijan	9 June 1992	See Azerbaijan–Turkmenistan relations The two countries have embassies in each other's capitals. Despite close linguistic affinities (Turkmen and Azerbaijani are about 65 percent mutually intelligible), Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan suffer from a strained relationship, in part because Turkmenistan is majority Sunni and Azerbaijan is majority Shi'a. Nonetheless the two countries have begun to cooperate more in commercial spheres, most notably with signing of a memorandum in 2020 on joint exploitation of the cross-boundary Serdar oil field in the Caspian.
Belarus	21 January 1993	See Belarus–Turkmenistan relations Formal relations were established in 1993 Belarus has an embassy in Ashgabat. Turkmenistan has an embassy in Minsk. Roughly 12,000 to 13,000 Turkmen university students are matriculated annually in Belarusian institutions of higher education.
Belize	11 September 1996	The countries established diplomatic relations on 11 September 1996.
Bulgaria		Bulgaria is accredited to Turkmenistan from its embassy in Moscow, Russia. Turkmenistan is accredited to Bulgaria from its embassy in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Cambodia	6 April 1995	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 April 1995.
China	6 January 1992	See China-Turkmenistan relations The two countries have embassies in each other's capitals. The relationship is dominated by China's position as the largest importer by far of natural gas from Turkmenistan, making China Turkmenistan's largest source of foreign exchange earnings. China offers free higher education to several hundred Turkmen students each year.
Croatia	2 July 1996	See Croatia–Turkmenistan relations Croatia is represented in Turkmenistan through its embassy in Ankara, Turkey. Turkmenistan is represented in Croatia through its embassy in Bucharest, Romania.
Djibouti	4 July 2017	The countries established diplomatic relations on July 4, 2017.
Dominica	13 October 2016	Both countries established diplomatic relations on October 13, 2016.
France	6 March 1992	See France–Turkmenistan relations Diplomatic relations were established with the March 6, 1992 signing of the Protocol. The French construction company Bouygues, the second-largest in Turkmenistan, has signed many construction contracts. The French company Thales Alenia Space constructed the first space satellite TürkmenÄlem 52°E / MonacoSAT. France has an embassy in Ashgabat. Turkmenistan has an embassy in Paris.
Template:Country data Georgia	8 July 1992	Georgia has an embassy in Ashgabat, and Turkmenistan has an embassy in Tbilisi.
Germany	6 March 1992	The two countries have embassies in each other's capitals. Turkmenistan have a consulate in Frankfurt am Main. Two German banks, Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank, have offices in Ashgabat, since much of Turkmenistan's foreign exchange accounts are held in those two German banks. Such German firms as Siemens and Claas have made significant sales of medical and agricultural equipment, respectively, to Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan Air offers scheduled service to Frankfurt am Main.
Guyana	11 June 1997	Both countries established diplomatic relations on June 11, 1997.
Holy See	10 July 1996	The Vatican maintains a nunciature in Ashgabat, although the nuncio is resident in Ankara. The Turkmen ambassador in Rome is multiple-accredited, including to the Holy See.
Iceland	13 February 1997	Both countries established diplomatic relations on February 13, 1997.
India	20 April 1992	See India-Turkmenistan relations India and Turkmenistan have embassies in each other's capitals. Turkmenistan Airlines used to operate flights between Ashgabat and both New Delhi and Amritsar, which connect in Ashgabat to flights to London and Birmingham. India is a destination for medical tourism by middle-class Turkmen. To some degree the relationship is framed by Turkmenistan's desire to export natural gas to India via the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India Pipeline.
Iran	18 February 1992	See Iran–Turkmenistan relations Iran and Turkmenistan have had relations since Turkmenistan's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Iran has an embassy in Ashgabat and a consulate in Mary. Turkmenistan has an embassy in Teheran and a consulate in Mashhad. Iran was the second nation to recognize Turkmenistan as an independent nation. Since then, the two countries have cooperated in the economic, infrastructure, and energy sectors. The $139 million Korpeje-Kurt Kui gas pipeline in western Turkmenistan and the $167 million Dostluk ("friendship" in Turkmen) Dam in the south of the country were built through a joint venture. The Caspian Sea territorial boundaries are a cause of tension between the two. Iran's Islamic theocracy and Turkmenistan's secular dictatorship also prevent the development of a closer friendship.
Israel	8 October 1993	Israel has an embassy in Ashgabat.
Italy	9 June 1992	Italy and Turkmenistan have embassies in each other's capitals. The Turkmen ambassador in Rome is also accredited to the United Nations agencies there, and to the Holy See. The relationship is dominated by the presence of Italian petroleum firm Eni, which operates oil wells in the Caspian Sea under a production sharing agreement.
Japan	22 April 1992	Diplomatic relations between Japan and Turkmenistan were established in April 1992. Japan opened an embassy at Ashgabat in January 2005, and Turkmenistan opened an embassy in Tokyo in May 2013. Japan is heavily involved in operation of the Oguz Han Engineering Technology University in Ashgabat. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation has financed several major industrial projects in Turkmenistan, including plants constructed with participation of Kawasaki and Sumitomo.
Kazakhstan	5 October 1992	See Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan relations Kazakhstan has an embassy in Ashgabat and a consulate in Turkmenbashy. Turkmenistan has an embassy in Astana and a consulate in Aktau. During a meeting in October 2023, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan released a statement affirming their strategic partnership and cooperation. Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu and Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov issued the statement during a meeting in Ashgabat on 30 October 2023.
Kyrgyzstan	5 October 1992	See Kyrgyzstan–Turkmenistan relations The two countries have embassies in each other's capitals.
Libya	8 December 1992	Libya maintains an economic and commercial office rather than an embassy in Ashgabat.
Malaysia	17 May 1992	See Malaysia-Turkmenistan relations Turkmen-Malaysian relations mainly revolve around the work of the Malaysian state petroleum corporation, Petronas, which extracts petroleum condensate in the Caspian Sea. Turkmenistan Airlines offers scheduled service between Ashgabat and Kuala Lumpur.
Mexico	27 March 1992	Mexico is accredited to Turkmenistan from its embassy in Ankara, Turkey. Turkmenistan is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.
Netherlands		Netherlands is represented in Turkmenistan through its embassy in Astana, Kazakhstan. Turkmenistan is represented in Netherlands through its embassy in Brussels, Belgium.
Template:Country data North Macedonia	21 June 1996	The countries established diplomatic relations on June 21, 1996.
Pakistan	10 May 1992	See Pakistan–Turkmenistan relations Formal relations were established on May 10, 1992. The countries have embassies in each other's capitals. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Turkmenistan's independence in 2001 Pakistan issued stamps bearing the flag of Turkmenistan.
Template:Country data Palestine	17 April 1992	Palestine has an embassy in Ashgabat.
Poland	29 September 1992	See Poland–Turkmenistan relations Poland is represented in Turkmenistan through its embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan. Turkmenistan is represented in Poland through its embassy in Berlin, Germany.
Qatar	22 November 1996	Qatar has an embassy in Ashgabat. Turkmenistan has no permanent diplomatic representation in Doha
Romania	21 July 1992	The two countries have embassies in each other's capitals. Romania's primary interest is development of the Lapis Lazuli corridor, which would use Romanian seaports on the Black Sea.
Russia	8 April 1992	See Russia–Turkmenistan relations Russia has an embassy in Ashgabat and a consular office in Türkmenbaşy. Turkmenistan has an embassy in Moscow and consulates in Astrakhan and Kazan.
Saudi Arabia	22 February 1992	Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Ashgabat, and Turkmenistan has an embassy in Riyadh.
Slovakia		Slovakia is accredited to Turkmenistan from its embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan is accredited to Slovakia from its embassy in Vienna, Austria.
South Korea	7 February 1992	See South Korea–Turkmenistan relations Diplomatic relations were established on February 7, 1992. The countries have embassies in each other's capitals. South Korean firms such as Hyundai and LG have won major contracts for building industrial plants.
Spain	19 March 1992	Spain is accredited to Turkmenistan from its embassy in Moscow, Russia. Turkmenistan is accredited to Spain from its embassy in Moscow, Russia.
Suriname	25 June 1999	The countries established diplomatic relations on June 25, 1999.
Sweden	10 April 1992	Both countries established diplomatic relations on April 10, 1992.
Switzerland	13 July 1992	Turkmenistan maintains a diplomatic mission in Geneva, which doubles as its embassy to Switzerland and is permanent representative to United Nations agencies in Geneva as well as to the World Trade Organization. The Swiss ambassador in Baku is accredited to Turkmenistan.
Tajikistan	27 January 1993	Tajikistan has an embassy in Ashgabat. Turkmenistan has an embassy in Dushanbe.
Turkey	29 February 1992	See Turkey–Turkmenistan relations Turkey was the first state to recognize Turkmenistan on October 27, 1991. Turkmenistan has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate in Istanbul Turkey has an embassy in Ashgabat. Both countries are members of Economic Cooperation Organization, International Organization of Turkic Culture and OIC. Trade volume between the two countries was 1.35 billion USD in 2019 (Turkmen exports/imports: 601/745 million USD. Turkish firms Çalık Holding, Polimeks, Rönesans, GAP Inşaat and Tepe Inşaat have garnered billions of dollars of construction contracts since 1992.
Ukraine	10 October 1992	Ukraine and Turkmenistan have embassies in each other's capitals. Ukrainian companies have been involved in major construction projects, including the rail and automobile bridges across the Amu Darya at Türkmenabat.
United Arab Emirates	10 October 1995	The countries have embassies in each other's capitals. In addition, Turkmenistan has a consulate in Dubai. The Emirates are a major entrepot for imports of foodstuffs and consumer items into Turkmenistan. In addition, one of three oil-drilling concessions in the Caspian Sea is held by Dragon Oil, which is wholly owned by the Emirates National Oil Company. The international office of Turkmenistan's TAPI Pipeline Company is in Dubai.
United Kingdom	23 January 1992	See Turkmenistan–United Kingdom relations The UK established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 23 January 1992. Turkmenistan maintains an embassy in London. The UK is accredited to Turkmenistan through its embassy in Ashgabat. Both countries share common membership of the OSCE. Bilaterally the two countries have a Development Partnership, a Double Taxation Convetion, and an Investment Agreement.
United States	10 April 1992	See Turkmenistan–United States relations The United States and Turkmenistan continue to disagree about the latter country's path toward democratic and economic reform. The United States has publicly advocated industrial and agricultural privatization, market liberalization, and fiscal reform, as well as legal and regulatory reforms to open up the economy to foreign trade and investment, as the best way to achieve prosperity and true independence and sovereignty. Turkmenistan has an embassy in Washington, D.C., and a mission to the United Nations in New York City. The Turkmen ambassador is accredited to Canada and Mexico, as well. A United States embassy, including a USAID country office, is located in Ashgabat.
Uzbekistan	7 February 1993	See Turkmenistan–Uzbekistan relations Turkmenistan has an embassy in Tashkent. Uzbekistan has an embassy in Ashgabat.
Venezuela	30 April 1996	Venezuela briefly opened an embassy in Ashgabat following a state visit by Hugo Chávez, but the staff returned to Teheran after six months. A chancery is located in Ashgabat, but the bilateral relationship is managed by the Venezuelan embassy in Iran.
Zimbabwe	22 March 1999	Both countries established diplomatic relations on March 22, 1999.

See also

• List of diplomatic missions in Turkmenistan
• List of diplomatic missions of Turkmenistan

External links

• "Potential gas customers line up to welcome new Turkmen leader", Eurasia Daily Monitor
• China's ambassador to Turkmenistan, Lu Guisheng, comments on bilateral cooperation
• Turkmenistan Foreign Policy in Nations Encyclopedia