On December 12, 1995, the United Nations General Assembly made a historic decision by unanimously adopting a special resolution recognizing Turkmenistan as a permanently neutral state. This decision was not only an act of international recognition but also the starting point for shaping a new foreign policy paradigm founded on the principles of peace, dialogue and equal partnership.
The celebration of the 30th anniversary of Permanent Neutrality provides an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of neutrality amid growing geopolitical instability. This anniversary is significant for the entire United Nations system, which is dedicated to strengthening international peace and security based on universal principles.
Neutrality, as a political and legal concept, has deep historical roots, yet it is acquiring new meanings and forms in the contemporary international practice. Turkmenistan became the first state whose status of permanent neutrality was enshrined at the United Nations, and it has maintained this status to the present day. This makes the country a compelling example of transforming theory into effective practice.
Modern neutrality is, above all, a platform for dialogue, conflict prevention and sustainable development. It requires strong political will, institutional flexibility and the ability for strategic thinking. Turkmenistan demonstrates these qualities both in its regional policy and at the global level – through initiatives that strengthen trust and mutual understanding among states.
A distinctive feature of Turkmenistan’s model of neutrality is its deep national foundation. While it is grounded in the principles of international law, it draws even greater strength from the country’s long-standing traditions of peace, diplomacy and hospitality. For the Turkmen people, neutrality is not merely a political status – it is an integral part of their national identity and political culture.
Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality is not a one-time political declaration, but a carefully built state model developed over time. It rests on the constitutional consolidation of this status and institutional continuity. The change of generations in leadership has not altered this course. The priorities of peace, good-neighbourliness and multilateralism have been consistently upheld and enriched through concrete mechanisms – from preventive diplomacy and mediation to geo-economic initiatives that enhance regional resilience and strengthen the national sovereignty.
The legal and diplomatic architecture of Turkmenistan’s neutrality was laid down under President Saparmurat Niyazov in the mid-1990s, with the support of the Non-Aligned Movement, and it was reflected in the Final Document of the Eleventh Conference of Heads of State and Government (Cartagena, October 18–20, 1995). Soon after, on December 12, 1995, the United Nations General Assembly adopted its first resolution recognizing and endorsing this status. In the following two years, the legal recognition of neutrality gained practical dimension. Ashgabat became a venue under the UN’s auspices for the inter-Tajik peace talks (1995–1996), the inter-Afghan settlement process, and the International Forum on Afghanistan (1997). Thus, the “DNA” of Turkmen neutrality was formed – a combination of legal legitimacy and readiness for responsible mediation.
The institutionalization and geo-economic projection under President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov marked the next phase – the transformation of neutrality from a principle into a sustainable system of institutions and practices. The United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia was established in Ashgabat in December 2007 at the initiative of all Central Asian states and with broad international support. It is mandated to promote close interstate cooperation, identify and defuse sources of tension before they escalate and assist regional states in addressing internal and transnational challenges to peace and security. Year after year, it has consistently reaffirmed the relevance and value of Turkmenistan’s neutral platform.
During this period, neutrality acquired a distinct geo-economic dimension. At Turkmenistan’s initiative, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a series of resolutions on the reliable transit of energy resources and sustainable transport, establishing international legal norms for “corridors of trust.” In 2015, the General Assembly unanimously adopted its second resolution on Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality, consolidating twenty years of practical experience in implementing this policy and confirming its broad international support. At the same time, the long-term framework for a global campaign of peace and trust was laid. The resolutions proclaiming the International Year of Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace (2023) and the International Year of Peace and Trust (every five years, starting from 2021) turned Turkmenistan’s “culture of neutrality” into a multilateral agenda actively promoted by UN member states.
The current stage is characterized by the strengthening of the legal foundation and expansion of practical instruments for implementing neutrality under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. On March 21, 2025, the United Nations General Assembly once again reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s status of permanent neutrality, emphasizing the stability and predictability of the country’s foreign policy course. At Turkmenistan’s initiative, a proposal has been advanced to establish in the country a United Nations Mediation Chamber for Peace – a specialized mechanism for neutral mediation that would institutionalize the potential of preventive diplomacy and make it accessible for regional and interregional conflict-resolution formats.
At the same time, the membership of the UN Group of Friends of Neutrality for Peace, Security and Sustainable Development continues to expand, with Turkmenistan serving as its Chair. The profile of neutrality is also being strengthened in procedural terms: the issue of Neutrality for Peace and Security remains a regular item on the General Assembly’s agenda, ensuring continued political attention and coordination of member states’ efforts.
Taken together, the three stages mentioned above – normative recognition, institutionalization and geo-economic expansion, and the current phase of scaling and innovation – form a continuous line of state continuity. The constitutional consolidation of Turkmenistan’s neutral status, reinforced by international law and multilateral practice, provides long-term guarantees for the country’s unwavering commitment to peace, trust, and cooperation. Turkmenistan demonstrates that positive and active neutrality is not “neutrality of inaction” but rather a model of responsible foreign policy – one that simultaneously strengthens regional security, unlocks the potential of cross-border connectivity and serves as a reliable pillar of national sovereignty.
An especially important area of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy concept is its aspiration to make neutrality an integral part of the architecture of global diplomacy. In 2017, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed December 12 the International Day of Neutrality. This date has become a symbol of recognizing neutrality as a vital resource of peace and trust. The annual initiatives undertaken by Turkmenistan around this date have evolved into a stable diplomatic tradition.
In 2024–2025, Turkmenistan proposed developing a Concept of Global Security based on the potential of neutrality, as well as establishing a UN Mediation Chamber on its territory – a new multilateral institution designed to serve as a structural foundation for interregional peacebuilding and preventive diplomacy.
On 24 October 2024, the United Nations General Assembly supported at Turkmenistan’s initiative the establishment of a Zone of Peace, Trust and Cooperation in Central Asia, thereby delineating a new geopolitical framework, encompassing Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. This resolution builds upon the legal foundation laid by the 2022 General Assembly resolution and logically continues the philosophy of neutrality – this time in a regional context.
Essentially, this represents a collective agreement among the participating states to minimize the risks of confrontation, unconditionally respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, rely on political and diplomatic means of settlement and jointly strengthen humanitarian and economic ties. In this sense, “collective neutrality” is not a formal legal term but a practical political and diplomatic formula that turns neutrality into a systemic regional resource for security and development.
The practical value of the Zone of Peace manifests itself on three levels:
Security: reducing the risk of escalation, a mutual commitment to political and diplomatic resolution, reliance on UN mechanisms and regional confidence-building formats, cooperation with the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia.
Economy: joint work on transport, logistics and energy corridors as the “lifeblood” of the region, removal of border and regulatory barriers, adoption of common standards of resilience and reliability, coordination of investment approaches.
Humanitarian dimension: strengthening cultural and educational exchanges as a long-term guarantee of stability and mutual understanding, promoting a culture of peace and trust.
The current international environment is marked by intensifying conflicts, growing mistrust and erosion of traditional mechanisms of restraint. Under such conditions, neutrality gains particular significance as a resource of constructive diplomacy. Turkmenistan is actively promoting the broader application of the principles of neutrality in international practice.
Neutrality in the XXI century requires new instruments – neutral humanitarian missions, expert platforms for dialogue, mechanisms of impartial mediation and early warning systems for conflict prevention. Turkmenistan stands ready to provide its territory, infrastructure and experience for such initiatives, making it an indispensable actor in the areas of preventive diplomacy and peacebuilding.
However, in recent years, the international system has shown a clear tendency toward narrowing the space for non-aligned, neutral and independent policies.
In this regard, neutrality – in its modern, active interpretation – should not be seen as “standing aside,” but rather as a tool for maintaining strategic autonomy and resilience. It reduces the likelihood of a state being drawn into confrontation, opens access to mediation and preventive diplomacy and provides a legitimate foundation in international law. For small and medium-sized states, it serves as an effective means of protecting key elements of sovereignty – independence of decision-making, control over territory and resources and the right to define their own development priorities.
Another important dimension of neutrality is its geo-economic aspect. For landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), sustainable and depoliticized transit chains are a matter of sovereignty, food and energy security, access to markets, and ultimately, sustainable development. Here, neutrality serves as a practical tool. It lends international legitimacy to the status of an “honest broker” and a “reliable transit country,” reduces transactional costs and political risks and makes transport corridors predictable and attractive for investors.
The preparatory process for the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3), the adoption in December 2024 of the Long-Term Programme of Action for LLDCs (2024–2034), and the approval of the related Political Declaration on August 8, 2025, have provided this vector with a necessary global framework. Their priorities, such as sustainable transport, digitalization of cross-border procedures and the removal of non-tariff barriers fully align with Turkmenistan’s initiatives at the United Nations on reliable energy transit, development of international transport and transit corridors and promotion of the Ashgabat Process on Sustainable Transport.
For neutral Turkmenistan, this represents a natural space of leadership – from hosting international negotiations and thematic conferences to advancing institutional initiatives that translate the humanitarian and diplomatic potential of neutrality into tangible economic benefits for the entire region and, more broadly, for the global community of landlocked countries.
Thirty years ago, Turkmenistan made its choice in favour of peace. Today, that choice has been confirmed in practice, supported by the international community and institutionally strengthened.
Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality is not merely a legal status. It is a philosophy founded on respect, dialogue and a steadfast commitment to the ideals of the United Nations. It is a model that the world increasingly perceives as an alternative to confrontation and bloc-based thinking.
Turkmenistan stands ready to continue along this path – the path of peace, trust, and responsibility.