During an official visit by the Chairman of Turkmenistan’s People’s Council, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, to Paris, a meeting was held with French President Emmanuel Macron. The high-level talks at the Élysée Palace culminated in the signing of several bilateral agreements, most notably a framework contract with French company Thales Alenia Space for the delivery of a second telecommunications satellite to Turkmenistan.
Beyond this strategically significant telecommunications agreement, the two nations reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in energy transition, infrastructure development, academic and educational exchanges, as well as deepening joint archaeological missions in Turkmenistan. This multifaceted partnership underscores France’s intent to establish long-term, mutually beneficial relations with the Central Asian republic across key economic and cultural spheres.
For France, cooperation with Turkmenistan presents strategic opportunities to strengthen its presence in a region of growing geopolitical importance. The area boasts vast hydrocarbon reserves, with Turkmenistan ranking as the world’s fourth-largest holder of proven natural gas reserves. The country’s proven natural gas deposits are estimated at 13.6 trillion cubic meters. French participation in developing Turkmenistan’s energy sector could help diversify energy supply sources and enhance the nation’s energy security.