トルクメニスタンの新大統領がモスクワ訪問

人口600万人のトルクメニスタンで大統領が父子で交代。新大統領は40歳、就任後初の外国公式訪問でモスクワを訪れています。
人口では小国ですが国土面積は広く、経済的にも天然ガスの輸出で潤っています。
トルクメニスタンは、永世中立国を掲げていますが、侵略されればひとたまりもないでしょう。カザフスタンの暴動時にも中央アジア諸国と同じ動きは示しませんでした。イランとは経済面の協力協定を結んでいますが、今の情勢の中で頼るべきはロシアということではないでしょうか。

ロシアとしても、一カ国でも多く味方につけておきたいところです。トルクメニスタンは、アフガニスタンの外交団を受け入れたとの情報もあります。

First visit of Turkmen leader to Russia sign of special ties between two countries − Putin
The Russian president underscored that largely thanks to the efforts of ex-Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, interaction between both countries advanced "indeed to a strategic level"
MOSCOW, June 10. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the first foreign visit of Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Turkmenistan’s new President, precisely to Russia emphasizes the special nature of relations between the two countries at a meeting with his Turkmen counterpart in Kremlin on Friday.

"Welcome to Russia, we are very happy that you are paying your first foreign state visit precisely to our country, this once again stresses the special nature of our relations," Putin said, adding that he was very glad to see the Turkmen leader in Moscow.

The Russian president underscored that largely thanks to the efforts of ex-Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Serdar’s father, interaction between both countries advanced "indeed to a strategic level."

"I would like to ask you to convey the best wishes to the previous president, my good old friend, naturally, wishing him success and good health," the Russian leader concluded.