TURKMENISTAN – A NEW FOCUS OF THE FRENCH ENERGY DIPLOMACY

Abstract

The article discusses the activities of the French company «Total» in the Republic of Turkmenistan, which is in a position of isolation in the export of its natural resources to the world energy market. Today, Turkmenistan's economy depends on the sale of natural gas needed for Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. The main partner of Turkmenistan is China, which has invested more than $ 20 billion in the transportation of natural gas. The main issues for Turkmenistan are diversification of natural gas supplies and transportation to the European energy market, with Russia's active resistance. Turkmen gas becomes a competitor of Russian gas in Europe. The author examines the history of the penetration of the French oil and gas company total in Turkmenistan, which becomes a new object of attention of the French diplomacy. The construction of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline is the main priority of France, representing the EU interests in the Caspian region.