Turkmenistan’s Neutral Foreign Policy: Peace, Security and Sustainable Development

Abstract

!e resolution on the “Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan” adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 12, 1995 brought about Turkmenistan’s o"cial recognition as a neutral state by the world community, and gave the country’s foreign policy and diplomatic work additional impetus. Turkmenistan’s policy of permanent neutrality has a peacekeeping dimension; it places great importance on preventive diplomacy, i.e., diplomatic actions aimed at preventing disagreements between parties from arising and preventing existing di#erences from escalating into con$ict, and limiting the spread of an already existing con$ict. !e experience of the development of neutral Turkmenistan during its years of independence has convincingly shown that the Turkmen model of neutrality supports Turkmenistan’s long-term national interests, and has become an e#ective tool for mutual understanding and cooperation among peoples. !e Resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly in February 2017, proclaiming December 12 as the “International Day of Neutrality” was another signi%cant contribution of Turkmenistan’s neutral foreign policy and diplomacy to the global strengthening of peace, security and sustainable development. Lastly, the accession of Turkmenistan to the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) as an observer at the 8th Summit of Organization of Turkic States in November 2021 is another important step for the foreign policy framework of this Turkic-speaking country, which aims to contribute to sustainable development in its region.