Abstract
Turkmenistan is a weak country militarily, but well-endowed with natural gas reserves. While the latter also insulates it somewhat from international criticism of its human rights abuses, unfortunately, Turkmenistan is landlocked and dependent upon the goodwill of its neighbors in order to export that commodity. Additionally, Turkmenistan is in need of technological assistance. Given its relatively homogenous population and its hydrocarbon wealth it has adopted a policy of subsidizing certain necessities—though it underfunds other—and is fairly stable internally. Nevertheless, it is ruled under an autocratic political system, suffers massive corruption, and has to contend with fears of instability on its borders. Therefore, Turkmenistan has adopted a policy of permanent neutrality and is open to cooperation with all its neighbors as well as the big powers. The countries of the Middle East as both immediate and nearby neighbors play an important part in the international relations of Turkmenistan and in providing technological assistance and economic investments. This article, which reviews and analyzes those ties, utilizes government documents, academic works and newspapers from Turkmenistan and Middle Eastern countries.
Highlights
Turkmenistan is a weak country militarily, but well-‐endowed with natural gas reserves
Until recently Turkmenistan provided its citizens with free unlimited supplies of natural gas as well as with electricity and water
Water is provided to drier areas of the country through the Kara Kum Canal, which is fed from the Amu Darya River in the northern part of the country and is shared with Uzbekistan
Summary
Turkmenistan is a weak country militarily, but well-‐endowed with natural gas reserves.
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