UNIPATH STAFF
Turkmenistan and the U.S. are poised to improve bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of border security, counterterrorism and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
On September 28, 2022, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov received in Ashgabat Maj. Gen. John P. Hronek, Adjutant General for the State of Montana, Commander of the Montana National Guard and the Director of the Montana Department of Military Affairs.
They discussed resumption of a partnership program between U.S. Central Command, the U.S. National Guard Bureau and the Ministry of Defense of Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan previously partnered with the Nevada National Guard in the State Partnership Program, which pairs U.S. units with their counterparts in other countries.
As part of the annual cooperation program, Turkmenistan and the U.S. held numerous events and training for American and Turkmen security specialists in Ashgabat and outside
of Turkmenistan.
Minister Meredov and Maj. Gen. Hronek also touched on improving cooperation between the military departments of their respective countries in areas such as natural disasters, emergencies and cybersecurity. At the end of the meeting, they expressed their readiness to further strengthen bilateral military partnership.
Security cooperation with Turkmenistan remains important for the U.S. Central Command. In 2020, CENTCOM held weeklong training on combating chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons in Turkmenistan.
Sources: Atavatan Turkmenistan, Central Asia News