Easter celebrations in the western Turkmen city of Balkanabat were overshadowed by a coordinated security operation near the only Christian church, with dozens of local Turkmen converts detained during Catholic and Orthodox services.
As expected, the launching of US and Israeli air strikes on Iran -- and retaliatory strikes by Tehran on targets in the Mideast -- has hit the economies of the region. But the shockwaves are arguably being felt just as much in Central Asian nations who rely on goods flowing through Iran.
In light of the unprecedented market uncertainty stemming from Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic importance of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan's energy reserves has never been greater.
Two weeks of US-Israeli air strikes have displaced millions inside Iran, raising fears in neighboring countries about a possible refugee spillover that could potentially turn into a humanitarian crisis.
Across Turkmensahra, a poor and isolated region in northeastern Iran along the Caspian Sea and the border with Turkmenistan, war brings tight security, price hikes, and a mixture of hope and concern about what the future may bring for a long marginalized Sunni minority.
The conflict in Iran is sending shock waves across Central Asian economies, with Turkmenistan particularly exposed due to its heavy reliance on Iranian imports, especially food and household items, according to residents and firsthand market reports from Ashgabat and Balkan.
Bishkek is hosting the B5+1 Forum this week, bringing together officials and business leaders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the United States to explore investment opportunities and deepen economic ties.
The famous Darvaza gas crater is burning at a fraction of its former intensity. Now Turkmenistan has a technical plan to put it out for good.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is in the middle of a three-country tour of Central Asia focused on shoring up Chinese influence after a month where the region has been in Washington’s diplomatic spotlight due to its strategic mineral wealth.
Afghanistan is looking to Central Asia to diversify its trade partners as it seeks to reduce its long-established economic dependence on Pakistan, its eastern neighbor.
One week after Central Asian leaders signed billions in strategic new deals in Washington, the Kazakh president is visiting the Kremlin to reaffirm the relationship with Russia.
At a summit in Washington between the presidents of five Central Asian countries and US President Donald Trump, officials announced a slew of trade deals cementing US investment in the region. Trump also announced that Kazakhstan had agreed to join the Abraham Accords.
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