A meeting between Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler and Turkmenistan Defense Minister Begenc Gundogdyev was held in Ankara. During the talks, issues of strengthening defense cooperation between the two countries were discussed. The heads of the defense ministries considered the possibilities of expanding cooperation in the field of defense and security, and discussed current regional and international challenges. The meeting emphasized the desire of Turkey and Turkmenistan to strengthen military cooperation amid their shared interest in maintaining stability and security in the region.
At the same time, Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov continues to adhere to a policy of neutrality and refrains from commenting on Russia’s war against Ukraine. The main reasons for this are related to the country’s historically established policy of neutrality and Turkmenistan’s significant dependence on economic ties with Russia, especially in the energy sector.
Turkmenistan, which has one of the world’s largest natural gas reserves, continues to remain neutral in international conflicts in order to avoid deteriorating relations with any parties, especially with Russia, which is an important partner in gas exports. The policy of neutrality allows Turkmenistan to maintain stable relations with various countries, which is critical for the economic and political stability of the regime. However, this position has drawn criticism. In the context of global political tension, not expressing an official position on such a significant conflict as the war in Ukraine is perceived as a sign that Turkmenistan puts its economic interests above international norms and human rights.
Critics also point to the authoritarian nature of the Berdimuhamedov regime, which suppresses freedom of speech and independent media in the country, which does not allow society to fully discuss and analyze events in the international arena. Such neutrality, according to critics, undermines Turkmenistan’s authority in the international arena and may negatively affect its long-term interests, since ignoring the ethical aspects of international politics can lead to the country’s isolation in the event of changes in the global situation.
