The foreign policy activity of Turkmenistan, whose diplomatic practice has long gone beyond traditional regional interaction, stands out in the series of numerous international events in 2024. Ashgabat, once perceived by the international community primarily as a supplier of energy resources, is now increasingly asserting itself as a significant player in global security and inter-civilizational dialogue.
The past year was a time of ambitious initiatives and practical steps for their realization for the Turkmen diplomacy. From promoting the concept of the Global Security Strategy to turning Central Asia into a zone of peace and trust, every step of the country's foreign policy department demonstrated a systematic approach to solving urgent international problems.
It is indicative that Ashgabat's traditional policy of neutrality has acquired a new meaning in 2024. Against the backdrop of growing global tensions, the Turkmen model of building international relations is attracting more and more attention - it is not by chance that the number of participants in the Group of Friends of Neutrality established on the initiative of Turkmenistan continues to grow.
On the eve of the landmark year 2025, which was declared the International Year of Peace and Confidence by the UN at the initiative of Turkmenistan, it seems important to analyze the key achievements of Turkmen diplomacy and assess their impact on regional and global processes.
Turkmenistan's global security initiatives
In the context of growing geopolitical turbulence, Turkmenistan has been consistently promoting its own vision of the global security architecture. The concept of the Global Security Strategy put forward at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly has become one of the key foreign policy priorities of the country in 2024. According to the Turkmen side, this strategy should include not only political, but also economic, social, energy, transportation, environmental and humanitarian aspects of security.
It deserves special attention that Turkmenistan proposes to consider the tools of neutrality and preventive diplomacy as integral elements of this strategy. The activities of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, based in Ashgabat since 2007, serve as a practical embodiment of this approach.
A significant achievement of Turkmen diplomacy was the adoption of the UN General Assembly resolution on October 24, 2024, which consolidated the status of Central Asia as a zone of peace, trust and cooperation. The document covers the territories of five states in the region and actually creates a new geopolitical phenomenon on the world map. It is noteworthy that this is already the second resolution on this subject - the first one was adopted in July 2022.
The Group of Friends of Neutrality for Peace, Security and Sustainable Development initiated by Turkmenistan deserves special mention. By the end of 2024, it will include 26 states, with five new participants joining the work of the group in 2023 alone. The Group is positioned as a platform for the development of multilateral dialog on the practical application of the principles of neutrality in preventing conflicts and solving humanitarian problems.
It is important to note that Turkmen initiatives in the security sphere do not remain mere declarations. Thus, in February 2024, the first meeting of the heads of parliaments of the Friends of Neutrality Group member states was held in Ashgabat to discuss the issues of strengthening peace and dialog through parliamentary cooperation. The event was attended by representatives of international organizations, including a special representative of the UN Secretary General.
In the context of global security, it is also worth mentioning Turkmenistan's promotion of the initiative to grant neutral countries the status of UN priority partners in peacekeeping efforts. This idea organically fits into the general concept of a multilevel security system promoted by Turkmen diplomacy.
2025 - the year of peace and trust as a new milestone in global diplomacy
One of the key achievements of Turkmen diplomacy in 2024 was the preparation for the International Year of Peace and Trust. Turkmenistan's initiative received unanimous support in the UN - on March 21, 2024, the General Assembly adopted a relevant resolution co-sponsored by 86 member states of the organization.
It is noteworthy that 2025 will be doubly significant for Turkmenistan - in addition to the International Year of Peace and Confidence, the country will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its permanent neutrality. This coincidence is not accidental and emphasizes the continuity of the country's foreign policy course and its focus on strengthening global dialogue.
In September 2024, Turkmenistan established an Organizational Committee for holding events within the framework of the International Year of Peace and Confidence. The first meeting of the Committee is scheduled for January 2025, where a detailed plan of activities will be approved. It is indicative that the leadership of the Organizing Committee is entrusted to the Khalk Maslakhaty, the highest representative body of the country.
The international significance of this initiative is emphasized by the fact that the coming year is considered by the international community as an opportunity to consolidate efforts to de-escalate global tensions. In the opinion of the Turkmen side, the International Year of Peace and Confidence is called upon to become a powerful creative process capable of giving an impetus to cooperation and mutual understanding, rapprochement of positions and approval of a peace agenda for the long term.
Central Asia Dialogue
Regional diplomacy in Central Asia in 2024 demonstrates a qualitatively new level of interaction. In August 2024, the sixth Consultative Meeting of Heads of State of the region, the format of which was initiated by Turkmenistan, was held in Astana. It is noteworthy that the Turkmen side has consistently advocated preserving the consultative nature of these meetings, stressing the importance of direct dialogue between the leaders without excessive institutionalization.
In the field of water diplomacy, Turkmenistan has put forward a number of significant initiatives. At the "One Water" summit in Riyadh in December 2024, the idea of establishing a UN Regional Council on water use in Central Asia with headquarters in Ashgabat was presented. In parallel, an initiative to accelerate the adoption of the UN Conventions on the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers is being promoted.
Special attention is paid to the Aral Sea problem. Turkmenistan has developed the Concept of the UN Special Program for the Aral Sea Basin, which has already been sent to the Central Asian states. In May 2023, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific supported this initiative by adopting a special resolution.
In the Afghan direction, Turkmenistan demonstrates a practical approach. In September 2024, implementation of seven major infrastructure projects began, including the laying of a section of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, construction of the Turgundi-Herat railroad and power transmission lines. Experts estimate that the implementation of these projects will create about 12,000 jobs in Afghanistan and provide an annual inflow of more than $1 billion.
Thus, Turkmenistan's regional diplomacy combines active political dialogue with the implementation of specific economic projects, which contributes to strengthening stability and cooperation in Central Asia.
Cultural heritage of the past as a basis for the dialog of the future
The year 2024 became a landmark year for Turkmenistan's cultural diplomacy due to the large-scale celebration of the 300th anniversary of the great poet and thinker Makhtumkuli Fraghi. It is noteworthy that this event went far beyond the national holiday - about 170 different events dedicated to the poet's anniversary were organized in foreign countries. UNESCO included Makhtumkuli's collection of manuscripts in the Memory of the World program, and the International Turkic Culture Organization (TURKSOY) declared 2024 the Year of the Great Poet and Thinker of the Turkic World.
The international forum "Interconnection of Times and Civilizations - the Basis for Peace and Development" held on October 11 in Ashgabat was the culmination of the jubilee events. The forum brought together heads of state and government, representatives of the international scientific and cultural community. On the eve of the forum, a large-scale cultural and park complex named after Makhtumkuli Fraghi was opened in the capital of Turkmenistan, where monuments were erected not only to the Turkmen classic, but also to outstanding cultural figures of other nations, including Kazakh composer Kurmangazy Sagyrbaev.
Cultural diplomacy was actively developed in other areas as well. In particular, cooperation with UNESCO has been expanding - to date, nine Turkmen nominations have been included in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, including traditional carpet weaving, the art of embroidery, silk weaving and silk production. More than one and a half thousand historical and cultural monuments have been registered in the country, which creates a solid base for further development of international cultural cooperation.
It is indicative that Turkmenistan's cultural diplomacy is closely intertwined with educational initiatives. New departments of foreign languages are being opened in Turkmen universities, and interest in studying the culture of other nations is growing. This comprehensive approach contributes to strengthening international humanitarian ties and creating a solid basis for intercultural dialog.
Economic vector: from transport corridors to green economy
In 2024, Turkmenistan's economic diplomacy demonstrated impressive development dynamics. In the transportation sector, special attention was paid to the formation of new international corridors. Among the key directions are the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Turkey routes with access to Europe, as well as the North-South corridor along the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea with access to the Persian Gulf ports.
Energy cooperation received a new impetus due to the implementation of major infrastructure projects. In September 2024, construction of the Shatlyk-1 gas compressor station in Mary province was launched, which will significantly expand the country's export opportunities. Turkmenistan is actively developing electricity supplies to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, while considering the prospects of expanding energy cooperation with Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkey.
A special place in economic diplomacy was given to the development of a "green" economy. In the course of international meetings, Turkmenistan has consistently promoted the initiative to develop a Global Framework Program for Transition to a Closed-Cycle Economy. The UN Regional Center for Climate Change Technologies in Central Asia is preparing to open in Ashgabat, which is intended to become a key platform for the development of environmentally friendly technologies in the region.
Cooperation with the Republic of Korea is an illustrative example of a comprehensive approach to economic diplomacy. As of 2024, Turkmenistan is implementing 14 investment projects with the participation of Korean companies with a total value of more than 11 billion US dollars, including projects in the gas chemical industry and transportation sector.
Thus, Turkmenistan's economic diplomacy in 2024 was characterized by a combination of traditional areas of cooperation with active development of new, promising areas of interaction, which creates a solid basis for further sustainable development.
30 years of neutrality: national status or global philosophy of peace?
The upcoming 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality in 2025 acquires a special meaning in the context of contemporary international relations. The historically significant UN General Assembly resolution of December 12, 1995 laid not only the foundations of the country's foreign policy course, but also created prerequisites for the formation of a unique model of international interaction.
In preparation for the anniversary date, Turkmenistan has initiated the development of a document of international significance designed to reflect the modern understanding of the norms of neutrality. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been instructed to prepare relevant instructions for all foreign missions of the country. It is noteworthy that the celebration of the 30th anniversary of neutrality coincides with the International Year of Peace and Trust, which reinforces the global significance of this date.
The program of anniversary events envisages a series of international conferences, forums and meetings both in Turkmenistan and abroad. It is indicative that coordination of this work is entrusted to a specially created Organizing Committee, the first meeting of which is scheduled for January 2025.
In the context of the anniversary, Turkmenistan has put forward a number of significant initiatives, including a proposal to grant neutral countries the status of priority partners of the United Nations in peacekeeping efforts. This initiative fits seamlessly into the concept of the Global Security Strategy promoted by the country and demonstrates Turkmenistan's desire to practically apply the principles of neutrality in modern international relations.
Over three decades, Turkmen neutrality has evolved from a national foreign policy course to a recognized model of international interaction, which is confirmed by the growing number of countries joining the Group of Friends of Neutrality. The forthcoming anniversary is intended not only to summarize the results of the passed path, but also to outline new horizons for the development of this unique diplomatic practice.
Summarizing the results of Turkmenistan's foreign policy activities in 2024, one can state a qualitative transformation of the country's role in international relations. From regional initiatives to global security proposals, from energy diplomacy to the promotion of cultural dialog, Ashgabat demonstrates a comprehensive approach to solving urgent international problems.
The coincidence of two significant events in 2025 - the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's neutrality and the International Year of Peace and Confidence - is of particular significance. This creates a unique opportunity to promote the Turkmen model of international interaction at the global level.
A significant achievement of the year was the adoption of a resolution recognizing Central Asia as a zone of peace, trust and cooperation, which in fact institutionalized the long-standing efforts of Turkmen diplomacy to strengthen regional stability. In parallel, the implementation of major infrastructure projects, especially in the Afghan direction, demonstrates the practical realization of the principle of "dialogue through development".
In general, Turkmenistan's foreign policy course in 2024 was characterized by a balanced combination of continuity and innovative approaches, which creates a solid basis for further strengthening of the country's position in the international arena.
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