AGP Executive Report

CIS Chairmanship in Ashgabat: Prime Minister Ali Asadov used the CIS Council of Heads of Government meeting to push humanitarian cooperation and spotlight Karabakh reconstruction, including “green energy zones” and smart city/village plans as the region’s new growth engine. Turkmen-Azerbaijani Talks: President Serdar Berdimuhamedov met Azerbaijan’s PM Ali Asadov, with both sides stressing expanding cooperation and political dialogue based on mutual trust. Russia Corridor Focus: On the sidelines, Berdimuhamedov met Russia’s PM Mikhail Mishustin, who called the North–South transport corridor a route to new markets and thanked Turkmenistan for support across industry, energy, logistics, and culture. Trade Numbers: Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan trade topped $125 million in Q1 2026, while Kazakhstan’s grain exports rose 13.6% year-on-year, including a 47.7% jump in shipments to Turkmenistan. UN Neutrality Win: The UN General Assembly adopted a neutrality resolution initiated by Turkmenistan, backed by 47 states. Education & AI: Turkmenistan met OpenAI to discuss AI use in education, including AI literacy and possible pilot programs.

Diplomatic Push: Azerbaijan’s PM Ali Asadov met Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedow in Ashgabat, delivering Ilham Aliyev’s greetings and stressing a growing, trust-based strategic partnership with room to expand cooperation across sectors. CIS Governance: Ashgabat is set to host the CIS Council of Heads of Government, chaired by Turkmen Deputy PM Hojamurad Geldimuradov, with a finalized agenda covering economic cooperation, digital transformation, transport, radionavigation, and even CIS Youth Capitals for 2027–2028. Parliament-to-Parliament Links: Turkmen and Belarusian leaders also met in St. Petersburg on the sidelines of the CIS IPA session, with talks focused on lawmaking exchange, youth and women MPs, and joint initiatives. Climate Planning: UNDP and the British Embassy convened a development partners climate group meeting in Ashgabat, centering on updating Turkmenistan’s biodiversity and climate reporting, including NDC preparations. Energy Diplomacy: The Taliban held talks in Turkmenistan on the TAPI pipeline, discussing land, gas pricing, and implementation steps.

TAPI Talks Move Forward: A senior Taliban delegation led by the mines and petroleum minister Hedayatullah Badri met Turkmen officials in Ashgabat to discuss TAPI implementation in Afghanistan, land acquisition, and gas export pricing—plus visits to Turkmengaz and Turkmenbashi port—keeping the long-delayed pipeline on the agenda. CIS Integration in Ashgabat: Belarus’s Aliaksandr Turchyn is in town for the CIS Council of Heads of Government meeting, with a program that includes a separate meeting with President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Border Trade Gets a Boost: Turkmenistan says it has finished modernization of the “Artyk” and “Garabogaz” customs posts, moving clearance fully into digital procedures to speed transit. Water Pressure Underlines Everything: New reporting again flags Turkmenistan’s extreme freshwater withdrawal per capita, driven mainly by irrigation for cotton—an environmental strain that keeps shaping policy and regional risk. Urban Diplomacy in Baku: Turkmenistan’s CAREC and NGOs are active at WUF13, pushing inclusive-city and disability-focused discussions.

World Cup Fallout in Iran: Striker Sardar Azmoun posted a defiant message after being left out of Iran’s preliminary World Cup squad, insisting he loves Iran and pushing back on accusations tied to a past social-media post. China-Turkmenistan Diplomacy: Xi Jinping accepted President Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s invitation to visit Turkmenistan, with both sides stressing their “comprehensive strategic partnership.” Border Trade Boost: Turkmenistan finished modernizing customs posts at Artyk (Iran border) and Garabogaz (Kazakhstan border), moving clearance fully onto digital systems to speed transit. Urban Spotlight: UN-Habitat says it may open an Ashgabat project office as White City Ashgabat 2026 draws global attention to smart, resilient cities. Health Under Heat: UNFPA ran a seminar on extreme heat’s impact on women’s reproductive health. Cotton Harvest Coercion: Reports say state employees are again being forced into the cotton fields or made to pay for replacements. Regional Security & Tech: UNDP helped validate Turkmenistan’s draft AI strategy priorities, while Turkmenistan also keeps pushing international cooperation on digital governance and public security.

Cotton Crackdown: Turkmenistan has again mobilized state employees for the annual cotton harvest, with teachers, doctors and municipal workers ordered to pick cotton or pay for replacements from their own salaries, as even earlier “relaxations” are reportedly being dropped. EU-Turkey Tensions: In Berlin, Turkey’s main opposition warns the EU that Erdoğan’s political direction could limit deeper strategic ties, while Germany signals cooperation is possible only if EU accession standards—democracy, rule of law and human rights—are met. Russia-China Energy Deadlock: Putin left Beijing without a public breakthrough on the long-delayed Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, underscoring how hard it is to lock in big energy deals even as Russia seeks China’s backing. Urban Planning Showcase: Ashgabat is using WUF13 to pitch Arkadag City as a “smart” model focused on safety and seismic monitoring. Water Security Push: Tajikistan and the UN will co-host a major water crisis conference in Dushanbe next week, as Central Asia braces for worsening scarcity.

Diplomacy & Civil Society: Turkmen NGO and CAREC Project Office staff joined the Global South NGO Platform’s first general assembly in Baku, alongside civil society and experts from 110+ countries, while Turkmen representatives also took part in the OTS NGO cooperation forum focused on sustainable development and public diplomacy. Regional Security: Ashgabat hosted the EAG parliamentarians forum on measures against high-tech cybercrime, as China signaled deeper Central Asia security cooperation against telecom fraud and transnational crime. Policy & Integration: Ashgabat is gearing up for the CIS Council of Heads of Government meeting, with an agenda spanning economy, digital transformation, environmental security and youth policy. Energy & Geopolitics: Russia voiced concern over U.S./EU rare-earth moves in Central Asia, warning of attempts to build Western-controlled mineral infrastructure near its borders. Health & Education: Turkmenistan’s delegation met WHO leadership in Geneva and also promoted education reforms and digital transformation at the Education World Forum in London. Sports: India finished third in women’s and fifth in men’s at the Asian Weightlifting Championships; Turkmenistan placed sixth in the men’s team standings.

Caspian Corridor Push: Russia is now looking to China for funding and technology to build a Caspian-to-Iran highway as part of its $40 billion North–South transport plan, with Moscow eyeing Chinese state-bank capital and AI/tech-linked logistics upgrades to keep routes moving despite sanctions. Middle Corridor Logistics: Kazakhstan’s rail operator KTZ is planning its own Caspian maritime fleet and cargo airline to strengthen the Middle Corridor’s sea-air chain. Turkmenistan Abroad: A Turkmen education delegation is in London for the Education World Forum 2026, highlighting climate-resilience and digital learning efforts. Regional Security: Kazakhstan hosted Central Asia–China interior and public security talks focused on transnational crime, cybercrime, and extremism, with Turkmen Interior Minister Muhammet Hydyrov among participants. Local Life: Turkmenistan braces for hot weather with thunderstorms and stronger winds, with daytime highs often above +35°C. Diplomacy & Trade: Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan reviewed economic partnership prospects, including investment, transport, logistics, and energy.

Energy Diplomacy: Putin is set to meet Xi in China this week, with “Power of Siberia 2” expected to be a main topic as Russia pushes new gas volumes toward a key buyer. Regional Security: Kazakhstan’s Tokayev hosted Central Asia and China interior/public security ministers in Astana, focusing on transnational crime, drug trafficking, cybercrime, extremism, and tighter information-sharing as freight traffic grows. Turkmenistan in the Spotlight: Turkmenistan’s “Hero-Arkadag” visited the UK, meeting King Charles III at Windsor, while Ashgabat’s Constitution and State Flag Day continues to be marked abroad, including a Tbilisi landmark lit in Turkmen colors. Human Rights Pressure: The Cotton Campaign renewed calls for Turkmenistan to end forced labor, as an EU-ILO project targets child and forced labor risks in the cotton sector. Water Stress Watch: A new ranking puts Turkmenistan among the world’s highest water consumers per person, underlining how shrinking resources could sharpen regional tensions.

Aviation Under Pressure: Russia’s summer 2026 nonstop flight map is set to shrink sharply as sanctions, drone threats, fuel shortages, and Middle East instability bite—Russians may reach just up to 32 countries by direct flights, down about a quarter from winter, with routes to Algeria, the Seychelles, Cuba, Venezuela, and parts of the Gulf already cut or uncertain. Turkic Politics: Kazakhstan rejects turning the Organization of Turkic States into a military alliance, insisting the bloc is for trade, culture, and people-to-people ties. Turkmenistan Abroad & at Home: Hero-Arkadag arrives in the UK for high-level meetings with King Charles III, while in Tbilisi the Turkmen flag colors light up the TV tower for Constitution and State Flag Day; Ashgabat also prepares for “White City Ashgabat 2026,” a UN-backed urban sustainability dialogue. Rights & Labor: A new EU-ILO project targets forced labor and child labor in Turkmen cotton, as the Cotton Campaign urges urgent reforms. Water Stress: Central Asia ranks among the world’s highest water consumers per person, with Turkmenistan topping the list.

Turkmenistan–UK Diplomacy: Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov (Hero-Arkadag) has arrived in the United Kingdom for high-level meetings at Windsor, with King Charles III highlighting the global renown of Akhal-Teke horses and hopes for Turkmen participation in UK equestrian events in 2027. Constitution & Flag Day: President Serdar Berdimuhamedov marked the holiday with a message stressing the Constitution’s role in neutrality and unity, and the State Flag’s symbolism of renewal, peacefulness, and national cohesion. Trade & Customs Push: Central Asian intra-regional trade hit $12.3bn in 2025, nearly double since 2020, while Turkmenistan’s State Customs call center is reported to be fielding growing business and citizen questions. Markets in Motion: SCRMET auctions logged over $13.06m in transactions, including foreign-currency purchases of liquefied gas and industrial goods. Regional Context: Afghanistan’s U20 drew Kyrgyzstan 0–0, and officials in Afghanistan say new corridors could turn the country into a transit hub linking Central Asia to South Asia.

Afghanistan as Transit Hub: Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Works says new rail and transport corridors could turn the country into a key economic “crossroads,” linking Central Asia to South Asia and global markets, citing nearly 400 km of active railway lines connected via ports to Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran. Turkmen-Azerbaijan Ties: Arkadag City construction chief Deryageldi Orazov met Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev in Baku, exchanging greetings and discussing WUF13 and reconstruction in Fuzuli. Turkic Diplomacy: The US–Turkic Business Alliance launched in New York, aiming to connect entrepreneurs across Turkic states with American partners. Culture & National Day: Turkmenistan marked Constitution and State Flag Day with exhibitions and events, including an art show spotlighting the “white-marble” Ashgabat and Arkadag-themed works. Sports: Uzbekistan U-20 beat Tajikistan 3–0 in CAFA, with their next match against Turkmenistan U-20.

Azerbaijan–Turkmenistan Ties: President Ilham Aliyev met Deryageldi Orazov, Chairman of Turkmenistan’s State Committee for Construction of the city of Arkadag, underscoring continued high-level coordination between the two countries. Food Exports Boom: Seafood exports hit a major milestone, crossing $500 million for the first time, with officials pointing to new access to Russia and a push to expand processing and export capacity. Regional Civil Society: The 2nd Solidarity Forum of NGOs of OTS member states is underway in Baku, bringing together groups from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Northern Cyprus and Hungary, with cooperation forums including Azerbaijan–Turkmenistan. Culture & Diplomacy: Turkmenistan’s “White City Ashgabat 2026” continues to attract international partners, while Turkmen initiatives at the OIC forum in Kazan propose new humanitarian programs tied to Islamic heritage and “smart city” cooperation. Sports & Youth: Turkmenistan is competing in the first Chess Olympiad among Turkic nations in Astana, with youth teams also traveling for junior tennis events.

Turkic NGO Diplomacy: The 2nd Solidarity Forum of NGOs from Organization of Turkic States member countries has kicked off in Baku, bringing civil society from eight countries—including Turkmenistan—for panel sessions and new cooperation tracks, with Azerbaijan hosting Azerbaijan–Turkmenistan NGO dialogue for the first time. Regional Connectivity: Uzbekistan and Russia are continuing work on a Trans-Afghan railway feasibility study, aiming to link Termez–Mazar-i-Sharif–Kabul–Peshawar as expert-level planning resumes after earlier disruptions. Turkmenistan Culture & Education: In Ashgabat, events marking Constitution and State Flag Day run alongside cultural programming, while Turkmenistan also pushes education ties abroad, including Japan-focused talks on STEM, AI, and teacher training. International Industry Linkages: White City Ashgabat 2026 continues expanding partnerships, with Gap İnşaat and Rönesans Holding joining as Silver Sponsors ahead of 24–25 May. Sports: Turkmenistan’s chess team is competing in the first Turkic Nations Chess Olympiad in Astana, with the women’s side reported in first place after early rounds.

Ceasefire Under Pressure: Lebanon and Israel agreed a 45-day extension to their US-brokered truce, but fresh reports say civilians are still being killed after an Israeli strike hit southern Lebanon, killing six including three paramedics. Turkic Civil Society Push: Baku is hosting the second Solidarity Forum of NGOs from Turkic states, bringing together groups from eight countries and setting up new cooperation formats— including a first-ever Turkmen-Azerbaijani NGO cooperation track. Rail Corridor Planning: Uzbekistan and Russia are continuing work on a Trans-Afghan Railway feasibility study, aiming to link Termez–Mazar-i-Sharif–Kabul–Peshawar, with CIS railway talks in Ashgabat as the backdrop. Local Culture & Education: Ashgabat’s Constitution-and-Flag celebrations keep rolling with museum and theater events, while Turkmen-Japanese education cooperation expands via new student and teacher programs. Sports Spotlight: Turkmenistan’s chess team is competing in the first Turkic Nations Chess Olympiad in Astana, with the women’s team reported leading after early rounds.

Trans-Afghan Rail Studies: Russian Railways says specialists from Russia and Uzbekistan are still running technical and economic studies for a Trans-Afghan railway corridor—planned to run from Termez through Mazar-e-Sharif and Kabul to Pakistan’s Peshawar—while Afghanistan’s public works ministry prepares for in-country technical surveys. Tourism Opening: A new report on Turkmenistan’s tourism push says foreign visitors are seeing faster visas and more freedom on the ground, while locals face tighter limits—an image shift that could reshape how the country sells itself abroad. Food Security Drive: Turkmenistan is courting international agribusiness at Agro Pack Turkmenistan-2026 as it tries to cut shortages and import dependence, with FAO support and a focus on modern production and packaging. Wildlife Under Pressure: Persian leopards remain critically endangered across Iran and parts of Central Asia, with retaliatory killings still a major driver of decline. Regional Connectivity Talk: The week also kept spotlight on transport and corridor planning across Eurasia, from rail to highways, as governments compete to move goods faster and cheaper.

Forced Labour Watch: A new report says Turkmenistan’s cotton harvest forced-labour system worsened last year, with schools, hospitals and other public institutions facing penalties for refusals and pressure to meet quotas. The review, compiled by Turkmen.news, TIHR, Progres Foundation and the Cotton Campaign, describes a rollback of earlier “small steps” and says field observers and covert interviews gathered hundreds of testimonies. Diplomacy & Deals: Turkmenistan’s delegation visited Uganda for President Museveni’s inauguration, while Ashgabat also pushed ties with Türkiye’s business council and held a UNFPA technical meeting on adolescent reproductive health. Regional Connectivity: The 84th CIS railway transport council opened in Ashgabat as officials highlighted transport corridors and rail modernization. Human Rights Funding Shock: Separate coverage from Human Rights Watch warns US foreign-aid cuts in 2025 damaged global rights work, echoing the wider pressure on vulnerable communities. Next Up in Ashgabat: The “White City Ashgabat” forum is set for May 24–25, with UN-linked discussions on sustainable cities and innovation.