Written by Tyler Durden
Author: EurasiaNet via OilPrice.com,
Turkmenistan has late experienced a crucial increase in diplomatic interest from both the United States and Russia, suggesting an expanding geopolitical conflict for influence in this Central Asian country.
Russian abroad Minister Sergei Lavrow visited Aszchabad in order to strengthen economic, cultural and political ties, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau had separate telephone conversations with Turkmenistan abroad Minister to discuss cooperation and extension of economical ties.
Moscow seems afraid about Washington's increasing commitment to Turkmenistan, and Russian media speculate even that the fresh airport in Dżebel can service American military interests.
Turkmenistan has attracted large diplomatic attention this week from both the United States and Russia. Increased activity suggests that geopolitical movements around this Central Asian state are increasing, seemingly catalysed by the fresh Iranian-Israeli conflict.
Turkish abroad Minister Rashid Meredow ended a feverish week telephone call On 26 June, with Iranian abroad Minister Abbas Araghchi, the news agency Trend reported that during the discussion there was a subject of Iran's clash with Israel.
Both They besides met personally in Ashchabad 3 days earlier.
On 25 June, Russian abroad Minister Sergei Lavrow concluded two-day visit in the capital of Turkmenistan, Aschabad. On the top of the Russian agenda were bilateral economical ties, but it was besides revealed that Kremlin wanted to keep cultural and political influence in the country.
For example, in his speech in Aschabad, Lavrow announced plans to open a Russian-Turkmene university.
"We attach large importance to youth exchange. We propose expanding the productive interaction" – said the jury, according to transcript published by the Russian MFA. He added that Russia intends "to make ties between young global relations experts of both countries with the aid of the Council of Young Diplomats of our MFA".
Lavrow presented in his speech a contradictory view of the United States, condemning the bombing of Iran's atomic objects by the Trump administration, while at the same time praising them for demonstrating "realism and common sense", in contrast to the "conceptual imagination of the world's development" of the erstwhile Biden administration, which was completely absorbed by her neoliberal hegemonic plans.
On the day of Lavrow's arrival in Ashchabad, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held telephone call with Meredov, which is notable, given that only 48 hours earlier Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau He was talking. with the Turkmenistan abroad Minister.
Supposedly Rubio thanked the Turkmenistan government for allowing the U.S. citizens to leave Iran by Turkmenistan during the Iranian-Israeli conflict. In the conclusion of the interview, the State Department besides noted that the United States "extantly await further partnership with Turkmenistan, including the expansion of economical and commercial ties".
Turkmenistan has taken timid steps over the past year to open trade connections with the West, which was reflected in the launch of the first always in March swap agreement with the participation of Turkey and Iran, which facilitated the export of natural gas to the European Union.
It seems clear that officials in Moscow are afraid that Washington appears to be in contact with a resource-rich country located on the northern border of Iran. W analytical article published on 23 June by "The Niezawisimaja Gazieta" noted that airport with a long runway was opened in May in the distant Turkmen city of Jebel, close the Caspian Sea, suggesting that the facility might prove useful to the American army.
"The location of the airport, built on the site of the erstwhile russian military airport, with a runway of 3200 metres long and full navigation infrastructure, is rather suitable... as a parking base or for emergency landings of military aircraft during operations against the close country" — read the comment.
Translated by Google Translator
source:https://www.zerohedge.com/
