Ashgabat, Turkmenistan is hosting a gathering of international leaders this week to commemorate 30 years of the nation’s officially declared neutral status. The event, centered around the unveiling of a renovated Monument of Neutrality, comes as the secluded Central Asian country increasingly attracts attention for its foreign policy positioning. Notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin is among those attending, signaling a potential realignment amid broader geopolitical tensions and Western sanctions.
PHOTO NIKOLAY VAVILOV, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Des violonistes participent à la cérémonie d’inauguration du monument de la neutralité rénové à Achgabat, dans le sud du Turkménistan, à la veille du 30e anniversaire du statut d’État neutre du pays. Pour célébrer sa « neutralité permanente », cet État, parmi les plus secrets du monde, accueille ce vendredi des dirigeants de pays aux relations tendues avec les Occidentaux, dont le président russe Vladimir Poutine.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan – As Turkmenistan prepares to mark three decades of its official neutrality, the reclusive nation is hosting a gathering of leaders from countries with strained relations with the West, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The event, taking place Friday, centers around the inauguration of a renovated Monument of Neutrality in the southern city of Ashgabat. Violinists performed at the ceremony, according to images released by Agence France-Presse. The celebration underscores Turkmenistan’s long-held policy of “permanent neutrality,” a stance that has kept the country largely isolated on the international stage.
The arrival of President Putin and other leaders from nations facing Western scrutiny highlights a potential shift in geopolitical alignment, as countries seek alternative partnerships. The development underscores growing regional tensions and a desire for diplomatic options outside traditional alliances.
Turkmenistan first adopted its neutral status in December 1995, enshrined in a constitutional amendment. The country has since maintained a policy of non-alignment in international conflicts and limited engagement with foreign powers.
