By Gulnara Rahimova
Copyright trend
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Turkmenistan holds
a unique position in the system of international relations—it is a
state with the officially recognized status of permanent
neutrality, which, far from limiting, actually strengthens its
international agency. Within the Organization of Turkic States
(OTS), Ashgabat holds the status of an observer state, yet its
economic and geostrategic role extends far beyond formal
participation.
The consistent policy of neutrality, established under the
leadership of the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, Gurbanguly
Berdimuhamedov, has laid the groundwork for the modern Turkmen
foreign policy, setting the stage for a new chapter in the nation’s
diplomatic playbook. This approach puts Turkmenistan in the
driver’s seat, showcasing it as a reliable partner ready to lend a
hand in keeping the Turkic region on an even keel.
Turkmenistan is among the world’s leading nations in terms of
natural gas reserves, possessing over 13 percent of the world’s
confirmed reserves. Amid rising energy demand and the OTS
countries’ pursuit of supply route diversification, Turkmenistan’s
neutrality becomes not just a political stance but a competitive
economic advantage.
At the XII OTS Summit in Gabala, Azerbaijan, Berdimuhamedov
underscored Turkmenistan’s eagerness to roll up its sleeves for
active energy cooperation, pointing out that the country places a
high value on nurturing both multilateral and bilateral ties,
breathing new life into them, and giving them fresh substance and
Under Berdimuhamedov’s strategy, Turkmenistan not only maintains
a high level of energy independence but also demonstrates stable
growth dynamics. By the end of January-September 2025, the crude
oil production plan was over-fulfilled by 109.7 percent, refining
by 109.4 percent, and the output of the Ministry of Energy grew by
109.5 percent. For OTS countries—from Türkiye to Kazakhstan—this
creates an opportunity for long-term route diversification through
Trans-Caspian projects, including a potential gas pipeline across
the floor of the Caspian Sea.
The growth in trade with Kazakhstan to $555.7 million and the
32.8 percent increase in the Kazakh side’s imports of Turkmen gas
in 2024 confirm the formation of stable energy links. Trade with
Türkiye reached $2.6 billion in 2023, with the goal of increasing
it to $5 billion, indicating growing energy and industrial
cooperation. In this context, Turkmenistan’s neutrality acts as a
guarantor of stable energy flows within the Turkic world.
Turkmenistan’s geographic location makes it an indispensable
link in the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian International Transport
Route), which connects China, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Türkiye,
and Europe. The state’s neutral status minimizes geopolitical risks
for cargo transportation.
At the same summit in Gabala, Berdimuhamedov highlighted the
significance of strengthening transport connections and breathing
new life into the historic paths of the Great Silk Road.
“It should be noted that even today, the peoples living in our
countries have been connected by political, economic, and cultural
ties for centuries. A striking example of this is the Great Silk
Road. Its main routes, starting in China, passed through the
territories of our fraternal countries and stretched to Europe. The
Great Silk Road connected different cultures, worldviews, and
economic systems, facilitating the exchange of knowledge, science,
traditions, and spiritual values between the peoples of Asia, the
Middle East, and Europe,” he noted.
This thought by Berdimuhamedov is not accidental—it fits like a
glove with Turkmenistan’s game plan of steadily bolstering its
logistics backbone by crafting international transport corridors
while steering clear of military or political dust-ups. Over the
first nine months of 2025, the volume of services in the transport
and communications sector grew by 14 percent, and growth in the
construction sector reached 7 percent, with the plan being
over-fulfilled by 114.3 percent. These figures attest to
large-scale investments in roads, ports, and logistics
centers—elements necessary for increasing the capacity of the
Middle Corridor.
Economic interconnectedness is further confirmed by trade
dynamics. Trade with Azerbaijan, reaching nearly $400 million in
2024, illustrates the functioning of the Caspian transit route
through which Turkmen exports pass. With Uzbekistan, the volume of
mutual trade exceeded $1 billion, and both countries aim to double
this figure. These data underscore Turkmenistan’s role as a stable
logistics core, connecting Central Asia with the Caucasus and
In addition to energy and logistics, Turkmenistan is actively
developing the humanitarian dimension of cooperation within the
OTS. In 2025, upon Ashgabat’s initiative, the UN proclaimed the
International Year of Peace and Trust—a symbolic step that reflects
the philosophy of Turkmen neutrality as an instrument of creation.
This initiative, stemming from Berdimuhamedov’s ideas on “diplomacy
of good neighborliness and spiritual rapprochement,” created a
non-politicized platform for economic and cultural dialogue,
benefiting both OTS member states and external investors interested
in regional stability.
Turkmenistan’s cultural diplomacy occupies a distinctive niche.
At the Gabala summit, Berdimuhamedov proposed organizing Turkmen
Culture Days in Azerbaijan, holding international sports
competitions among OTS countries, and developing exchange programs
in art and tourism.
“We are firmly convinced of the need to preserve and develop the
extensive experience accumulated by our peoples in the cultural
sphere,” he emphasized, noting that humanitarian ties strengthen
unity and foster an atmosphere of trust in the region.
On October 7 in Gabala, the OTS Heads of State participated in
the online groundbreaking ceremony for a mosque that Turkmenistan
will build in Fuzuli in Azerbaijan. The complex, covering over one
hectare, with two 40-meter minarets and a 30-meter dome, will
accommodate up to 500 worshippers. This project is not only a
symbol of brotherhood and cultural unity but also a practical
embodiment of the approach formulated by Berdimuhamedov: to use
spiritual and cultural initiatives as a tool for strengthening
mutual understanding between peoples.
Turkmenistan’s neutrality is not a limitation on its foreign
economic potential but a strategic asset that reinforces the
stability of the Turkic world. The model of neutrality, supported
by the personal initiative of Berdimuhamedov, has become one of the
most successful in the region, transforming Turkmenistan into a
platform for trust and constructive partnership. Ashgabat’s
engagement in the OTS injects a supplementary layer into the
organizational framework—one that is characterized by neutrality
yet remains dynamically involved. This is exactly what positions
the nation as a quintessential nexus between the Asian and European
continents, as well as a pivotal intersection of Eastern and
Western ideologies, alongside the realms of political and economic
The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is an intergovernmental
entity that includes all but one of the internationally recognized
Turkic sovereign nations. The primary objective is to foster
extensive collaboration among the Turkic nations. The General
Secretariat of OTS is situated in Istanbul, Türkiye.
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