News Article - The International Report - 04JUN2022

[1LT (Ret) Mallory]

The International Report
June 4th, 2022

Tensions Amplified as Border Crossings Impacted by Turkmen Unrest, Supplies Affected


Trucks waiting to cross into Uzbekistan from the Kazakhstan side of the Beyneu Crossing
(AFP via Jetty)

New border crossing policies put in place by the Uzbekistani government have had a rippling effect throughout the region. Uzbekistan's National Border Guards commander, General Muammar Abdullah believes that controlling the borders of Uzbekistan is imperative in order to prevent the Turkmenistan unrest from disseminating throughout the region. As a result, residents in the region have felt the squeeze due to the increased transit times.

"The truck routes, first implemented two months ago, will continue to drive shipping expenses, insurance fees, and associated costs upwards," said Michael Scofield, a microeconomics analyst with the Institute of International Economic Research.

Many countries are concerned about an impending grain shortfall as the region's primary supplier Azerbaijan, has rerouted its shipping lanes through the northern end of the Caspian Sea. While the port of Aktau remains open, transport into Uzbekistan and the rest of the region all flows through the Beyneu Crossing. Several Middle Eastern governments, particularly those of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan, may find it difficult to pay for the rising grain costs and may be compelled to curtail or element subsidies.


US, UK, Other Missions to Turkmenistan Begin Voluntary Departure of Nonessential Personnel

The State Department is downsizing the U.S. embassy mission in Ashgabat, offering nonessential personnel and embassy staff dependants to leave amid increasing reports of heightened violence and tensions throughout Turkmenistan.

The department "began the steps for an optional departure from the U.S. Embassy Ashgabat of embassy employees whose functions can be performed elsewhere... and co-located dependants who currently reside at the embassy or elsewhere in the country" it noted in an embassy e-mail distributed yesterday.


US Marines are seen with what are believed to be embassy staff just before boarding
Photo by Rustam Kazmi, TIR

U.S. officials would not confirm the number of embassy personnel departing but did indicate that a number of embassy and consular functions would be slightly impacted in instances where teleworking or electronic workarounds cannot be implemented. The departing diplomats will continue to do their work remotely. A U.S. Department of State official, who spoke with The International Report on the condition of anonymity, shared the contents of the e-mail, along with some overview of what the optional departure means for U.S.-Turkmen relations.

"As we've all discovered during COVID days, we are able to telework more effectively than we ever imagined. That's what we're going to be looking at doing," the official says.

"This does not reflect the diminution of our diplomatic engagement in Turkmenistan," the official went on to detail the nature of how the departure ties to current events on the ground in the country. "I would call it a reposting so that we can effectively prepare for follow-on actions in the event they may be required, and in a prudent manner while sustaining as much of our diplomatic priority functions in-country."


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Reviewed By: 1LT Jason Mallory, SSG Erik Speirs, SGT Neil White

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