BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 7. Developing
strategic cooperation with Russia remains one of the main
directions of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy, President Serdar
Berdimuhamedov said today during a phone conversation with Russian
President Vladimir Putin.
This was reflected in a press release issued by the press
service of the Turkmen government.
The two presidents discussed the development of bilateral
relations and the importance of continued interstate dialogue.
“During the telephone conversation, it was noted that the
development of strategic cooperation with the Russian Federation
remains one of the main priorities of Turkmenistan’s foreign
policy,” the report says.
Putin said Russian-Turkmen relations are based on the principles
of equality, mutual respect and good-neighborly relations.
He also highlighted Berdimuhamedov’s contribution to
strengthening interstate dialogue between the two countries,
according to the press service.
Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude to Putin for his personal
attention to and support for the development of Turkmen-Russian
relations.
The presidents noted that traditionally friendly relations
between Turkmenistan and Russia are based on longstanding ties,
trust and mutual understanding.
Putin also conveyed greetings and best wishes to the Chairman of
the country’s Halk Maslahaty, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
Meanwhile, Russia and Turkmenistan maintain a strategic
partnership covering trade, energy, transport, diplomacy and
humanitarian ties. Russia remains one of Turkmenistan’s key trading
partners, with bilateral trade exceeding $1.6 billion annually,
according to Turkmen government data.
In 2025, bilateral trade continued to expand, with trade
turnover rising 21.4% in the first quarter, while the two sides
worked on an intergovernmental action plan for 2025-2027.
Cooperation also extends to the fuel and energy sector, industry,
agriculture, banking and finance, and digital technologies.
Energy remains an important component of the relationship,
although Russia is no longer the main destination for
Turkmenistan’s natural gas exports. The two countries have also
been developing transport cooperation, including routes linking
Turkmenistan with Russia and other markets through the Caspian Sea.
Discussions have included the Volga-Caspian Canal with an outlet to
the port of Turkmenbashi and the eastern bypass of the Caspian Sea
within the International North-South Transport Corridor.
At the political level, Moscow and Ashgabat cooperate through
the UN, CIS, the Caspian littoral states and the Central
Asia-Russia format. In September 2026, Turkmenistan said
preparations were underway for the 14th meeting of the bilateral
intergovernmental commission, with the agenda covering trade,
energy, transport, finance, industry and other areas.
