Erdoğan and Putin meet in Turkmenistan to discuss regional security and bilateral ties

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for a closed-door discussion on the sidelines of the International Forum for Peace and Trust in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Friday.

The discussions, attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, and senior Russian and Turkish advisors, focused on strengthening bilateral relations and addressing regional challenges, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The forum, which marks the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s UN-recognised permanent neutrality, brought together leaders from across the region, including Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, officials from Kazakhstan and Pakistan, and a special envoy from China. The gathering highlights Turkmenistan’s growing role as a neutral platform for high-level diplomacy in Central Asia.

According to statements from the Turkish Presidency, Erdoğan and Putin discussed economic and energy cooperation, as well as security issues linked to the Ukraine war. The meeting comes amid increased international focus on Eastern Europe and NATO’s ongoing assessments of potential Russian military threats.

Alongside the bilateral talks, Putin also met with Pezeshkian to discuss strategic cooperation in energy, nuclear projects, and transport corridors connecting Russia to South Asia via Iran. Analysts suggest these discussions reflect Moscow and Tehran’s expanding ties as Russia faces increasing diplomatic and economic isolation from Western countries under sanctions

For Turkmenistan, hosting the forum reinforces its position as a neutral convening power. President Serdar Berdymukhamedov highlighted the country’s efforts to modernise governance, diversify the economy, and enhance international engagement while maintaining its official neutrality.

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