Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen speaks during a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv, Ukraine, February 16, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Gleb Garanich/Pool

JNS.org – In a regional show of strength, Israel will open a permanent embassy in Turkmenistan, the former Soviet republic and central Asian nation that is on Iran’s doorstep, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen announced Sunday.

The inauguration comes as another Muslim neighbor of Iran—Azerbaijan—is opening its first ever embassy in the Jewish state. Both diplomatic moves signal Israel is a present and growing influence in the region.

Israel’s top diplomat is slated to travel to Turkmenistan soon to inaugurate the official mission in the capital city of Ashgabat, located about 15 miles away from the border with the Islamic Republic.

“The relations between our countries are important and strategic, and this move will further strengthen the connection and increase our cooperation” Cohen tweeted.

לראשונה – אנחנו פותחים נציגות קבע רשמית בטורקמניסטן????
היחסים בין המדינות הם חשובים ואסטרטגיים, והצעד הזה יחזק עוד יותר את הקשר, ויביא להרחבת שיתופי הפעולה.
נמשיך לחזק את מעמדה של ישראל בזירה הבינלאומית ?? pic.twitter.com/brWk59DHi2

— אלי כהן | Eli Cohen (@elicoh1) March 3, 2023

A Muslim-majority country of about six million people, Turkmenistan, located just north of Iran, established relations with Israel in the run-up to its declaration of independence in 1991. About a decade ago, in light of good relations between the two states, Israel opened a temporary embassy there which has been active until now when the newly constructed permanent embassy has been completed.

Over the years, senior officials from Israel and Turkmenistan have visited each other’s countries, signing agreements of cooperation in the fields of politics, economy and energy. Recently, progress has been made in collaboration in health and cyber defense as well.

Historically, Turkmenistan—which possesses one of the world’s largest reserves of natural gas—has long served as a thoroughfare for several empires and cultures, and was one of the great cities of the Islamic world.