Turkmenistan is located in southwestern Central Asia. Its territory is 488.1 thousand square meters. km Turkmenistan occupies a favorable geographical position. The country is objectively a “bridge” between Europe, the European CIS states, the central part of Russia, on the one hand, and the vast regions of Central and South Asia, on the other. On land, Turkmenistan borders Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Iran, has access to the Caspian Sea.
Turkmenistan is rich in various minerals. The country has large reserves of mercury, sulfur, ozokerite, and what is important for the arid desert climate, sources of fresh drinking and mineral medicinal water. Turkmenistan is also known for other natural wealth, which is in great demand in the world market.
A factor of strategic importance that can determine the historical fate of Turkmenistan is the presence of large reserves of oil and gas in the republic. Turkmenistan ranked 2nd even in such the largest fuel and energy power that was the USSR. And at present, Turkmenistan ranks 4th in the world in terms of gas production. Today, more than 80 billion cubic meters of gas and 6 million tons of oil are produced annually from the fields already in operation. In addition to this, several more large promising oil and gas fields have been discovered on the territory of the republic. Their development will allow in the future to increase oil production three times, and gas twice. Proven gold reserves allow the republic to create its own gold reserves.
Turkmenistan is a small state in terms of population, which, according to modern estimates, is slightly more than 6 million people.
The demographic potential in the republic is considered prosperous. Fertility rates (32.0 people/thousand people. population) significantly exceed mortality rates (7.7). The annual population growth is 24.3. At the same time, about half of the population is people under the age of 30. Problems such as aging of the population, stopping or negative indicator of natural growth, the republic is practically not threatened.
The choice of the topic under study is due to the fact that so far in Tajik science there has not been a generalizing study on the problem of Turkmenistan in the system of international relations in the late XX – early XXI centuries. The author first attempted to summarize the available data to create a comprehensive analytical work on the history of Turkmenistan’s relations in the late XX – early XXI centuries.
Number of studies are devoted to the analysis of the problem of relations between Turkmenistan and regional and external actors are. In the work “Foreign Policy of Russia in the CIS” by Butorov S. A. (Dushanbe – 2009), discussed the issues of interaction between the Russian Federation and the countries of Central Asia, the prospect and problems of developing relations within the framework of bilateral relations, the state of the foreign policy of the Russian Federation in relation to this region, in the document “Concept of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy as a neutral independent state, directions and vectors of cooperation between Turkmenistan and external actors. The book “Springs of Friendship” by A. Iskandarov (Moscow – 2000) helps to analyze the situation in Turkmenistan, starting with the period of independence and the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. In the book “The Second Chance of Central Asia” by Martha B. O. (Washington – 2005), describes the processes. Occurring in Central Asian states after the events of September 11, 2001. The role and place of post-Soviet states in resolving the situation in Afghanistan, as well as ensuring regional security. Among them are the works of Vengerov A. B. Political space and political time (experience in structuring concepts), Z. Agamamedova’s article “Neutrality of Turkmenistan,” which reveals the true reasons for Turkmenistan’s position in international affairs, as well as the role of positive neutrality in the implementation of the country’s foreign policy activities. Esenov M., Foreign Policy of Turkmenistan and Its Influence on the System of “Regional Security,” article by Peresesnin M. (Ashgabat – 2007) “Eurodebut Turkmenistan and the European Union have developed algorithms for rapprochement.”
Separately, the work of Ashimbayev M. S., Laumulin M. T., Tukumova E. V., Guseva L. Yu., Kalieva D. A., Kozhikhova A. G. (KISI – 2003), “Central Asia before and after September 11: geopolitics and security” should be indicated. This paper considers almost all aspects of the relationship between the countries of Central Asia.
This study was carried out at the Department of International Relations of the Russian-Tajik (Slavic) University under the guidance of G.M. Maitdinova, Doctor of Historical Sciences.
The author expresses his gratitude for the support of G.M. Maitdinova, Doctor of Historical Sciences; Head of the Department of International Relations, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor M. Shovkoplyas; Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Latifov D. L.; First Deputy Director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Candidate of Philosophical Sciences, Professor S. Safarov; Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor A. Rakhmonov.
