What Are US Interests in Turkmenistan?

The Diplomat ^ | June 18, 2019 | Victoria Clement

[2ndDivisionVet]

The government of Turkmenistan will soon welcome a new U.S. ambassador in Ashgabat. On June 13, 2019, Matthew S. Klimow was sworn in as the next United States Ambassador to Turkmenistan in the Ben Franklin Room at the Department of State. Undersecretary of State David Hale administered the oath on the Bible that Klimow and his father each carried in war.

A graduate of West Point, the new ambassador served as a U.S. Army officer from 1974 to 2003. He commanded at the battalion and brigade level and received a Silver Star in support of Operation Desert Storm. He retired with the rank of Colonel.

In his May 16 testimony before the U.S. Senate, then-candidate Klimow underscored that the United States has long-term interests in Central Asia and that his upcoming work in Turkmenistan presents an opportunity to advance those interests. He specifically noted “porous borders, terrorism, and drug trafficking” as potential threats to Turkmenistan, which shares borders with Iran and Afghanistan to the south.

[Innovative]

It’s another country.

If we didn’t send an ambassador, the same writer would probably write an article asking, why did we not send an ambassador there, when we sent one to every other country.

[Track9]

I thought Trey Parker invented that country.

[cdcdawg]

There might not be a U.S. interest there. There could be a U.S. major political party donor issue there. Probably is. I can’t even blame them for this one. If you get sent to Turkmenistan, you should probably line your pockets, if that’s even possible.

[gaijin]

the United States has long-term interests in Central Asia and that his upcoming work in Turkmenistan presents an opportunity to advance those interests. He specifically noted “porous borders, terrorism, and drug trafficking” as potential threats to Turkmenistan,

A PERFECT example of how American thinking is f*cked up at the leadership level.

Hmmm....

The American concern is that Turkmenistan's porous border is a threat to Turkemenistan.

How about the porosity of America's borders? Eh..how about OUR security, the threats to OUR country..?

Seen through the lens just handed us, how could we not have interests EVERYWHERE on planet Earth, except for our own country..?

[xzins]

It borders the Caspian Sea, Iran, and Afghanistan. Of course it’s significant.

And if Georgia and Azerbaijan are friendly, it is an alternate route into that region from the black sea

[Elsie]

Where??

[VanShuyten]

In addition, Turkmenistan will eventually supply Ukraine and the rest of Europe with non-Russian natural gas.

[xzins]

Thanks. Good info

[Redwood71]

“In addition, Turkmenistan will eventually supply Ukraine and the rest of Europe with non-Russian natural gas.”

You’re right, but there’s more.

Cotton production, desert lands, exports of electrical power, and reserves of natural gas and oil are what the Central Asian Turkic state of Turkmenistan is known for. Specifically, the largely desert land of Turkmenistan is irrigated to support agricultural production. Turkmenistan is smaller than the United States in just about every regard–except one. It possesses the world’s fourth-largest reserves of natural gas, surpassing the U.S. and ranking just below Iran, Russia and Qatar.

As its leadership turns to China for investment in its energy sector, the U.S. is poised to lose much of its economic clout in the region. If the U.S. were to invest in Turkmenistan’s infrastructure, U.S. benefits from foreign aid to Turkmenistan (beyond lifting its people out of poverty) would include a less corrupt, diversified economy friendlier to U.S. businesses. And as it is in the central Asian area, our gaining a foothold with them can be one less high petroleum producing country that China can’t control and Russia won’t go back into. We are acting as big brother giving them a chance to advance their society.

rwood

[DesertRhino]

Okay, but wouldn’t that be an EU and Ukrainian interest?

[DesertRhino]

Because if Turkmenistan falls, Kazakhstan falls, and if Kazakhstan falls Tibet falls, and if Tibet falls, Nepal falls. And if Nepal falls all the Sherpas lose their jobs.

It’s like a big stack of dominoes. And if we don’t take a stand and Turkmenistan, we might face a world without Sherpas. Then Mr President, we will be faced with a sherpa gap!

[mad_as_he$$]

lol...

[GaryCrow]

It borders the Caspian Sea, Iran, and Afghanistan. Of course it’s significant.

****************

This^^^

It’s located right in the middle of a powder keg region, it’s extremely significant for it’s location. Same thing with Uzbekistan. I guarantee none of the war planners at the Pentagon are asking why it’s significant.

[reg45]

Tibet “fell” half a century ago when the Chinese Communists took over.

[granada]

Lib/prog LGBTQ crusade
+
Neocon geostrategic fantasy

[DesertRhino]

THAT, is what you thought was unrealistic about that post? LOL

[familyop]

"In addition, Turkmenistan will eventually supply Ukraine and the rest of Europe with non-Russian natural gas."

Thanks. That, along with borders with Afghanistan and Iran do make Turkmenistan very important, indeed.

[familyop]

I was promoting the importance of diplomacy there a long time ago. A diplomat replied to complain to me, saying that diplomats would be miserable there for lack of services. ;-)

[familyop]

Ping to comment #19. Turkmen were asking for U.S. diplomacy and U.S. energy business help with developing resources there back then. ...might be routes into Afghanistan from there.