nCa Report
Overview of Participation
President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov partook in the 13th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) held in Ankara on October 30, 2026, participating in his formal capacity as an observer state.
Turkmenistan’s engagement at the Ankara summit underscored a carefully calibrated foreign policy balance: maintaining its constitutionally mandated Permanent Neutrality (which precludes full membership in military or integrated political blocs) while actively participating in high-level economic, transport, and cultural frameworks across the Turkic world.
Key Engagements and Bilateral Talks on the Margins
During the working visit, President Berdimuhamedov engaged in targeted bilateral and multilateral discussions:
- Meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: On the sidelines of the summit, President Berdimuhamedov met with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Discussions focused on deepening long-standing bilateral trade, expanding energy partnerships—particularly natural gas cooperation—and boosting joint transport logistics along the trans-Caspian axis.
- Support for Regional Synergy: In his address to the Council of Heads of State, President Berdimuhamedov emphasized that Turkmenistan views cooperation within the Turkic space as an essential pillar for sustainable development, mutual trust, and stability across Central Asia and the wider Caspian region.
Core Priorities & Strategic Contributions
Turkmenistan’s positioning at the summit highlighted specific pragmatic imperatives rather than expansive geopolitical integration:
- The Transport and Transit Dimension: As a critical bridge between Central Asia and the Caspian basin, Turkmenistan highlighted the importance of modernizing transport infrastructure, streamlining border-crossing procedures, and developing multimodal logistics corridors that tie Central Asian markets to Europe via the Trans-Caspian route.
- Energy Security: Given its vast hydrocarbon reserves, Ashgabat utilized the diplomatic platform to reinforce its role as a reliable, diversified energy supplier, advocating for stable transit mechanisms and cooperative energy frameworks within the broader Turkic geography.
- Cultural and Humanitarian Diplomacy: Aligning closely with the summit’s overarching theme of shared heritage, Turkmenistan reiterated its commitment to joint educational exchanges, scientific collaboration, and cultural preservation under the umbrella of shared Turkic traditions, independent of strict political integration.
Summary of Outcomes for Ashgabat
Turkmenistan’s participation reaffirmed the utility of the observer status model: it allows Ashgabat to secure its seat at the table for vital infrastructure, trade, and regional connectivity discussions—ensuring it is not bypassed by the Middle Corridor architecture—while rigorously preserving its sovereign, non-aligned international status.
Speech by President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov at the 13th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States
Distinguished Heads of State!
Distinguished Summit participants!
First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, for the invitation to participate in the 13th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States, as well as for the warm hospitality extended to the Turkmen delegation.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to convey to the heads of state warm greetings and best wishes from the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan, Hero Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
It is symbolic that this meeting coincided with a national holiday – Turkish Republic Day. I warmly congratulate President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of the Republic of Turkey and the entire fraternal Turkish people on this significant occasion and wish the Republic of Turkey continued prosperity, well-being, and continued success.
Dear Summit participants!
Turkmenistan places particular importance on strengthening ties of friendship with the countries of the Turkic world. In this context, we view the Organization of Turkic States as an important structure whose goal is to strengthen mutual trust, develop fruitful relations, and expand practical cooperation between fraternal countries. The effectiveness of the Organization’s activities is primarily linked to the implementation of specific initiatives and mutually beneficial projects aimed at the benefit of our peoples.
The Turkic states possess enormous economic potential. To effectively utilize it, cooperation in energy, transport and communications, industrial, agricultural, construction, textile, processing, and other economic sectors must be further developed.
At the same time, we believe it would be appropriate to create favorable conditions for stimulating mutual investment, expanding contacts between entrepreneurs, and implementing joint production projects.
The transport and communications sector is of strategic importance in ensuring economic progress and expanding interregional ties.
The advantageous geographic location of our countries in Central Asia offers significant opportunities for the development of transport corridors connecting the Caspian region, the South Caucasus, the Black Sea region, Turkey, and Europe. To effectively utilize this potential, we believe it is necessary to increase the capacity of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor. In this regard, we are ready to provide the infrastructure of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport.
At the same time, it is necessary to modernize the transport system, improve the conditions for international freight transport, continuously simplify customs procedures, and actively implement digital technologies.
At the same time, I believe it is right to combine efforts to create favorable conditions for increasing the capacity of transit corridors, coordinating logistics operations and transporting goods.
Another important issue is environmental protection and rational use of natural resources.
Turkmenistan views this objective as a key vector of state policy. We attach particular importance to ensuring environmental well-being, mitigating the negative impacts of climate change, strengthening environmental security, and the environmental foundations of sustainable development.
As is well known, the rational use of water resources, combating desertification, countering land degradation, and protecting ecosystems are pressing issues. Developing effective solutions to these issues fully meets the national interests of our countries.
To this end, Turkmenistan has put forward initiatives to establish regional centers for climate change-related technologies and combat desertification in Ashgabat at the UN level. We are confident that these centers will contribute to addressing environmental issues, expanding scientific and practical cooperation, and developing coordinated approaches at the regional level.
The ancient historical and spiritual bond between our peoples forms a solid foundation for cultural and humanitarian cooperation. It embodies such noble principles as the development of cultural heritage, the value of knowledge, the sanctity of family, respect for elders, hospitality, and the pursuit of peace.
To promote these values, we believe it is important to expand cooperation across all social spheres. Developing relationships between higher education institutions, research centers, creative groups, and youth organizations, implementing joint educational programs, and establishing academic exchanges will open up new opportunities in this area.
There are also significant opportunities for developing tourism ties. We support joint initiatives aimed at increasing tourism exchange and promoting the ancient monuments of our countries internationally. Historical sites, natural attractions, and national traditions of our countries are of great importance for the development of international tourism.
Maintaining international peace and security, respect for generally accepted norms of international law, and developing multilateral cooperation are important tasks facing our states.
In this context, particular importance is attached to strengthening cooperation between the Organization of Turkic States and the United Nations. This will make a significant contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, strengthening international trust, developing economic relations, and addressing humanitarian and environmental challenges.
Our country’s international initiatives in these areas are of vital importance. At Turkmenistan’s suggestion, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a special resolution declaring 2028 the Year of International Law. This decision aims to further enhance the importance of international law and ensure strict adherence to its norms and principles in international relations.
Dear heads of state!
I am confident that the results of this summit will provide significant impetus to identifying new vectors of interstate cooperation and implementing joint initiatives.
Taking this opportunity, I express my heartfelt gratitude to all the Presidents of the participating states for their constant attention to the development of fraternal relations with Turkmenistan.
I would also like to thank the Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, Kubanychbek Omuraliev, for his contribution to the fruitful work of the organization and the successful holding of this Summit.
I wish the new Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States success in his responsible work.
In conclusion, I would like to wish the Summit participants good health, happiness, and longevity, and the fraternal peoples well-being, prosperity, and continued success. /// nCa, 31 October 2026 (pictures credit AA / TDH)