Russia, Turkmenistan Bilateral Relations: August 2025 Update

The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, has been meeting with the Turkmenistan Foreign Minister, Rashid Meredow, in Moscow, with the two sides set to develop trade and economic cooperation, including in transport, logistics, and energy projects, Lavrov said after the talks. They had previously met in June, in Ashgabat on 25 June and signed a bilateral cooperation program for 2025–2026.

This week’s Moscow meeting was a follow-up, with Lavrov stating, “The conversation we have had today confirmed the mutual determination of both Russia and Turkmenistan to broaden trade and economic cooperation and to implement joint projects in transport, logistics, infrastructure, and energy spheres.”

In terms of Russian regions, Astrakhan, on the Caspian Sea, is a major port in Russia and is part of the International North-South Transportation Corridor (INSTC) into Central Asia. Trade between Russia’s Astrakhan region and Turkmenistan grew by 15% last year, with ongoing shipments in 2025 including key exports like fish products and wheat flour.

These statistics were highlighted during a meeting dedicated to cooperation with Turkmenistan, held as part of the Tenth Caspian Media Forum. Astrakhan Governor Igor Babushkin noted the long-standing and evolving nature of the region’s interaction with Turkmenistan and emphasized Astrakhan’s readiness to further strengthen partnerships.

Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Khojamyrat Geldimyradov stated in June that bilateral trade grew 58% between January and May this year alone. If maintained, that would imply a 2025 bilateral Russia-Turkmenistan trade total in excess of US$2.5 billion.

The Turkmenistan President, Serdar Berdimuhamedow, will be attending the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation 2025 Heads of State summit which commences this Sunday (August 31) in Tianjin, China.