By signing the Alma-Ata Declaration on December 21, 1991, Turkmenistan became one of the founding members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The CIS embarked on a complex path of formation, and by the mid-1990s had largely completed its institutional development. The groundwork was laid for multi-format and multi-level integration within the CIS.
In order to create favourable external conditions for preserving internal stability, Turkmenistan’s leadership chose a policy of neutrality, drawing upon the nation’s deep-rooted traditions of peaceful coexistence. Taking this course into account, the country revised the format of its participation in the CIS, and on August 26, 2005, during a meeting in Kazan, the heads of the CIS member states took note of Turkmenistan’s statement that it would continue to participate in the CIS as an associate member. This decision was met with understanding and respect throughout the CIS.
Since then, Turkmenistan has consistently adhered to its international legal status, demonstrating in practice that neutrality, peace-loving and good-neighbourliness form the foundation of its foreign policy – a policy that also contributes to the effective implementation of the CIS’s objectives.
Turkmenistan’s chairmanships of CIS in 2012 and 2019 were undoubtedly the most significant milestones in strengthening its engagement with the CIS. The key goals of Turkmenistan’s chairmanships were to fully support the development of the CIS’s potential and infuse its activities with new content in line with the demands of the time. During these periods, a number of important documents were adopted at Turkmenistan’s initiative, including the Declaration of the Heads of State of the CIS on the Further Development of Comprehensive Cooperation, the Declaration on Strategic Economic Cooperation of the CIS Member States and the Programme of Action to Intensify Partnership between the Foreign Ministries of the CIS Member States.
In the sphere of foreign policy within the CIS framework, Turkmenistan’s active participation in the work of the CIS Observation Mission was an important aspect. With participation of Turkmenistan representatives, the CIS monitored 77 electoral campaigns. Elections in Turkmenistan itself were organized and conducted at a high professional level. Since 2008, the CIS Mission has observed presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkmenistan, and the results of its monitoring attest to a significant democratization of the country’s electoral legislation and practice.
At Turkmenistan’s initiative, 2025 was declared the International Year of Peace and Trust and unanimously supported by the United Nations member states. It represents the practical realization of the philosophy of new international relations – Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace – proclaimed by the National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. In essence, this initiative is an appeal to all states to begin joint work encompassing political, philosophical and practical dimensions in the pursuit of peace and trust as fundamental principles of the world order.
Reflecting on the significance of the International Year of Peace and Trust, it is important to acknowledge the essential role of the CIS in addressing regional and global security challenges in close cooperation with a number of international organizations. The mechanism of interstate consultations and negotiations within the CIS based on equal partnership serves to organize interaction in virtually all areas of intergovernmental relations and rests on the respect for universal humanistic values. These principles are enshrined in the Charter of the CIS, the Updated Concept for the Further Development of the CIS and other key documents. Our commitment to peace and cooperation and to a foreign policy grounded in the principles of the United Nations is reaffirmed by the UN General Assembly resolution “Cooperation between the United Nations and the CIS”, adopted biennially. This document enables the CIS to play a significant role in shaping the global agenda and strengthening trust and mutual understanding among nations.
The Statement of the Council of CIS Heads of State of October 13, 2023 “On Interstate Relations in a Multipolar World” is also a clear illustration of this commitment. The statement highlights the importance of building a stable multipolar world order based on the sovereign equality of states, respect for their right to choose development models, the indivisibility of security at both global and regional levels and the diversity of cultures, civilizations and social systems.
The Programme of Action to Intensify Partnership between the Foreign Ministries of the CIS Member States, adopted during Turkmenistan’s chairmanship in 2019, also aimed at strengthening cooperation in the cause of peacebuilding.
Turkmenistan has consistently contributed to advancing the economic interests of the CIS beyond its geographical boundaries, integrating neighbouring countries and adjacent regions into joint projects. Situated at the crossroads of Central Asia and Europe and possessing a well-developed network of road, rail and air routes, Turkmenistan serves as an important link in the system of international transport corridors connecting the West with the East and the North with the South.
Turkmenistan pays particular attention to implementing the Strategy for Economic Cooperation and the Priority Areas of Cooperation of the CIS Member States in the Field of Transport until 2030, as well as the Concept of Strategic Development of Railway Transport within the “1520 Space” until 2030. These initiatives are focused on strengthening regional transport partnerships and developing a coordinated tariff policy for international freight transportation across the CIS railway network.
For example, the Kazakhstan – Turkmenistan – Iran railway has offered a shorter route from Russia through Kazakhstan to the Persian Gulf and the Middle East. The China – Kazakhstan – Turkmenistan – Iran transport corridor, stretching over 10,000 kilometers, links China with the Middle East and further with the countries along the Indian Ocean coast. This route is twice as fast as maritime transport.
The Caspian transport corridor has also significantly reduced the transit distance from Asia to Europe.
The transport and logistics infrastructure of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport, one of the key maritime hubs on the Caspian Sea, continues to develop dynamically. The port can simultaneously handle more than 17 ships and process about 17 million tons of various cargoes annually. Around 75,000 trucks and nearly 400,000 containers pass through its terminals each year.
In this context, it is important to highlight the crucial role of Turkmenistan’s transport and transit system within the regional transport network of the CIS. From January to April 2025 alone, the volume of transit traffic through Turkmenistan increased by almost 20 percent compared with the same period of the previous year, exceeding two million tons of cargo. Road transit grew by nearly 25 percent, and rail transit – by about 6 percent.
All this demonstrates Turkmenistan’s strong commitment to building constructive relations with various states and international organizations in the transport sector. The country consistently shows openness to dialogue and willingness to participate on an equal footing in addressing global transport challenges. It has advanced important initiatives to create transport and logistics routes in Central Asia and the Caspian region, facilitating the CIS countries’ access to European and Asian markets.
Turkmenistan’s adherence to the principles of permanent positive neutrality, peace, humanism and good neighbourliness is best illustrated by its role as a recognized venue for major international and regional forums held under the auspices of the United Nations, UNESCO and the OSCE.
Among them, one can mention the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, the First Caspian Economic Forum and international conferences such as “The Interconnection of Times and Civilizations: The Foundation of the Modern World and Development” dedicated to the 300th anniversary of Magtymguly Fraghi’s birth, and “The Policy of Peace and Trust: the Basis of International Security, Stability and Development.”
Over nearly thirty-five years of cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, the CIS countries have implemented many joint activities. With Turkmenistan’s active participation, the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Culture has been successfully implemented. Two Turkmen cities – Mary (2012) and Dashoguz (2016) – were honoured with the prestigious title of Cultural Capital of the CIS. Ashgabat hosted the CIS’s largest annual humanitarian gatherings – the Forum of Creative and Scientific Intelligentsia in 2012 and again in 2019, bringing together leading figures from across the CIS.
Cooperation in the fields of physical culture and sports is an important component of humanitarian cooperation within the CIS. Thanks to the comprehensive strategy initiated by the National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, sport in Turkmenistan has reached a qualitatively new level.
Using its potential in sports, Turkmenistan is steadily strengthening its cooperation with the international sports community. The success of the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat in 2017 is a vivid example. It attracted more than 5,000 top athletes from 62 countries who competed in 21 sports disciplines.
Turkmenistan not only hosts major international sporting events but also takes the initiative to promote new forms of cooperation in this field. For instance, at the meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State in Astana on October 14, 2022, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov proposed giving CIS sports cooperation a systematic character through the establishment of a Coordinating Committee for International Sports Games under the sectoral council and suggested holding regular Friendship Games with the participation of athletes from CIS countries and beyond.
In recognition of Turkmenistan’s substantial contribution to the development of sport, the CIS Council of Heads of Government adopted a decision on 24 May 2024, designating Ashgabat as the “City of New Sporting Opportunities of the CIS.”
Turkmenistan demonstrates a unique model of participation in the CIS, where neutrality does not isolate the country but rather serves as an instrument of multidimensional cooperation. Its contributions to transport, energy and humanitarian projects strengthen the CIS, while its peacebuilding initiatives enhance the CIS’s international role. Amid global instability, Turkmenistan continues to act as a bridge between Central Asia and the wider world, proving that neutrality and integration can effectively complement one another.
Everyone who visits Turkmenistan is deeply impressed by the beauty and diversity of its rich natural landscape – the majestic mountain ranges of the Kopetdag, gentle waters of the Caspian Sea, and, of course, the famous Karakum Desert. For me, having been born and raised in neighbouring Uzbekistan, each visit to Turkmenistan is a warm reminder of my own homeland – the familiar landscapes, the same unique scent of mountain herbs. The green belt of plantations is a new and distinctive feature of the natural scenery around Ashgabat, something that, as I know, many cities in Central Asia aspire to create.
Since my appointment as Executive Secretary of the CIS in 2007, I have made it a point to visit Turkmenistan every year. During Turkmenistan’s chairmanships in the CIS in 2012 and 2019, I visited the country many times. And what is remarkable is that with every new visit to hospitable Turkmenistan I see noticeable and positive changes in the appearance of the country. New and elegant administrative buildings and residential complexes are being constructed; modern airports, highways, and railway lines are being built. This transformation can be seen not only in Ashgabat but also in the regional centers and across the entire country. Naturally, it is impossible not to feel a sense of joy and pride for our Turkmen friends.
I am pleased to note that the policy of positive neutrality pursued by Turkmenistan’s leadership enables our Turkmen partners to actively participate in integration processes within the CIS. The country has hosted numerous significant economic forums, cultural and humanitarian events and sports competitions.
I also know that our Turkmen friends are already preparing to assume the chairmanship of the Commonwealth of Independent States in 2026. Remembering Turkmenistan’s successful chairmanships in 2012 and 2019, we have no doubt that this country will once again organize and host a number of important meetings and forums that will further strengthen friendship and multilateral cooperation among the CIS countries.