AGP Executive Report

White City Ashgabat 2026 Momentum: Ashgabat is in full swing ahead of the opening of the XXV International Exhibition and Conference, with the city’s “Ashgabat–2045” push front and center—new housing plans, major infrastructure upgrades, and a packed international delegate roster. Deals and Investment Signals: On the first day, Turkmenistan signed a package of 11 documents with foreign partners covering digital energy, heavy industry, and capital infrastructure, including cooperation memorandums tied to energy and industrial maintenance. UN-Habitat Spotlight: UN-Habitat says Ashgabat could become a regional hub for investment and innovation, praising the “Vision of Ashgabat 2045” as a framework linking urban planning, digital governance, and sustainability. Regional Diplomacy in Ashgabat: CIS leaders’ talks focused on digitalization and transport integration, while Turkmen officials met counterparts from Uzbekistan and Ukraine to discuss cooperation across political, trade, and cultural-humanitarian tracks. Culture and Soft Power: The forum’s agenda runs alongside high-profile cultural programming, including carpet holiday preparations and major city celebrations. Context Check: Outside Turkmenistan, the World Bank and IMF warn Central Asia and the South Caucasus are entering a slower, post-windfall adjustment phase.

WTO Push: Turkmenistan’s Cabinet reviewed progress toward joining the World Trade Organization, with a June 10 working-group meeting planned to finalize the “Memorandum on foreign trade rules,” plus a new national negotiating group to drive talks and training. Diplomatic Outreach: Ashgabat also marked fresh ties abroad as Turkmenistan’s ambassador presented credentials to U.S. President Donald Trump, with both sides pointing to trade, energy, security and cultural cooperation. CIS Momentum: President Serdar Berdimuhamedov met CIS leaders and visiting prime ministers in Ashgabat, underscoring logistics and humanitarian exchange as key priorities ahead of major CIS meetings. Carpet Holiday Countdown: Preparations are underway for large-scale celebrations of the Turkmen Carpet Holiday, including international expert participation and a ceremony honoring top female carpet weavers. Sports & Culture: Football fans saw “Arkadag” crush “Ahal” 4–0, while Ashgabat is gearing up for the opening of “White City Ashgabat 2026” with hundreds of delegates and companies.

CIS Diplomacy in Ashgabat: President Serdar Berdimuhamedov met Russia’s PM Mikhail Mishustin, Uzbekistan’s PM Abdulla Aripov, Tajikistan’s PM Kokhir Rasulzoda, Belarus’s PM Alexander Turchin, Kazakhstan’s PM Olzhas Bektenov, and CIS chief Sergey Lebedev ahead of the CIS Council of Heads of Government, with talks repeatedly stressing trade, logistics, and multilateral cooperation. Grain Harvest Push: Berdimuhamedov set start dates for Turkmenistan’s grain harvest—June 3 in Ahal, Lebap and Mary, and June 10 in Balkan and Dashoguz—urging fast, loss-free work and seminars in the regions. June Cultural Calendar: The Cabinet approved a packed June program of major cultural, sporting and environmental events, including celebrations tied to the 35th independence anniversary and the Arkadag “smart city” third anniversary. Border Security Upgrade: The EU launched the 11th phase of BOMCA in Bishkek, focusing on border management, organized-crime prevention, and human rights. White City Ashgabat 2026: Ashgabat prepares for the May 24–25 exhibition/conference, with multiple sponsors backing the construction and infrastructure forum. Sports: Kazakhstan’s junior tennis team finished second at Junior Davis Cup qualifiers, losing the decisive match to Australia.

Sports Diplomacy: Bahrain confirmed it will send U23 women’s and men’s 3x3 teams to the FIBA Youth Nations League stop in Singapore (Aug 20–26), with Turkmenistan among the six participating nations; the event also serves as a qualifier for the U23 World Cup in China (Sep 15–19). Urban Development & Industry: Ashgabat’s “White City Ashgabat 2026” (May 24–25) keeps stacking sponsors and partners, with CAI Interbudmontazh named Gold Sponsor and additional construction firms joining the lineup, signaling deeper ties between domestic engineering and international investment. Regional Politics: Turkmenistan hosted Belarus–Turkmen foreign ministry consultations in Ashgabat, focusing on trade, economic cooperation, and preparations for the next intergovernmental commission meeting. CIS Integration: On the sidelines of the CIS Council of Heads of Government in Ashgabat, leaders pushed connectivity and digital roadmaps, including a transit integration concept and a long-term plan for digital transformation in mining and metallurgy. Education & Tech: Turkmenistan met OpenAI representatives to discuss practical AI use in education, including AI literacy and potential pilots using ChatGPT Edu.

Nuclear Delay Talks: Rosatom says Kazakhstan’s Lake Balkhash nuclear plant needs at least a year of extra site observation to finalize reports—pushing timelines as sanctions squeeze Rosatom’s financing and a 2025 contract still awaits full deal terms. CIS Power-Meet in Ashgabat: On the sidelines of the CIS Council of Heads of Government, Turkmenistan’s Serdar Berdimuhamedov met Russia’s Mishustin and Azerbaijan’s Ali Asadov, with transport corridors, trade, logistics, and energy cooperation front and center. Trade Numbers: Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan mutual trade topped $125m in Q1 2026, while Kazakhstan’s grain exports rose 13.6% overall—boosting shipments to Turkmenistan by 47.7% and to Afghanistan by 2.3 times. Education Tech Push: Turkmenistan met OpenAI to explore AI use in schools, including AI literacy and possible ChatGPT Edu pilots. Culture & Society: Ashgabat hosted Turkish Cuisine Week events and a women-focused diplomacy gathering in Türkiye, while student art exhibitions and a national tennis championship added lighter headlines.

Diplomatic Push: Azerbaijan’s PM Ali Asadov met Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedow in Ashgabat, delivering Ilham Aliyev’s greetings and stressing a fast-growing, trust-based strategic partnership with talks on expanding cooperation across sectors. CIS Power-Play: Turkmenistan is set to chair the CIS Council of Heads of Government in Ashgabat, with the agenda already cleared—covering economic cooperation, digital transformation in mining and metallurgy, transport, radionavigation, and even CIS Youth Capitals for 2027–28. Parliament-to-Parliament: On the sidelines of CIS IPA events in St. Petersburg, Turkmen Mejlis chair Dunyagozel Gulmanova met Belarus’s Natalya Kochanova and Russia’s Valentina Matviyenko, with emphasis on lawmaking exchanges and youth/women parliamentary ties. Environment Agenda: Turkmenistan has started updating its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for 2026–2030 through UNDP-supported regional seminars. Regional Aid: Uzbekistan sent a second humanitarian aid shipment to Iran via the Turkmen-Iran border, including medicines and medical supplies.

Iraq Turkmen Momentum: A Kirkuk governor of Turkmen origin has been elected after nearly a century, reviving hopes that Turkmens in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region can build on the Kirkuk breakthrough—while Türkiye’s ties with the PUK appear to be thawing after long strains. TAPI Talks: The Taliban sent a senior delegation to Turkmenistan to discuss the TAPI gas pipeline—route land, export pricing, and implementation steps—showing the project is still moving despite Afghanistan’s security and financing hurdles. Ashgabat’s International Push: Turkmenistan is using major forums to project its agenda, from UN-Habitat’s interest in an Ashgabat office to CAREC and NGOs taking part in WUF13 in Baku. Water Pressure: New reporting flags Turkmenistan’s extreme freshwater withdrawal per capita, driven mainly by irrigated cotton—another reminder that climate and water stress remain central to regional stability.

Sports & Politics: Iran striker Sardar Azmoun says he “loves” Iran and backs the World Cup squad after being left out of the preliminary roster, while earlier reports tied his absence to an injury and social-media fallout. China–Turkmenistan Diplomacy: Xi Jinping has accepted President Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s invitation to visit Turkmenistan, with both sides stressing their “comprehensive strategic partnership.” Border Trade Modernization: Turkmenistan has finished upgrading the Artyk (Iran border) and Garabogaz (Kazakhstan border) customs posts, expanding capacity and moving clearance fully onto digital procedures. Urban Development Push: UN-Habitat is considering opening a project office in Ashgabat as White City Ashgabat 2026 approaches, spotlighting smart and resilient city planning. Health & Climate Impact: UNFPA held a seminar on extreme heat’s effects on women’s reproductive health, training specialists on heat-stress diagnosis and care adaptation. Human Rights Spotlight: Authorities have again mobilized state employees for the cotton harvest, with reports of forced participation or salary-funded replacement labor.

Cotton Crackdown: Turkmenistan has again mobilized state employees for the annual cotton harvest, with teachers, doctors and municipal workers reportedly ordered to work in the fields or pay for replacements from their own salaries, as activists warn “toxic” cotton risks still reaching global supply chains. EU-Turkey Friction: In Berlin, Turkey’s opposition warns that Ankara’s political direction is limiting how deep EU ties can go, even as Germany signals openness to strategic cooperation. Russia-China Energy Standoff: Putin left Beijing without a public breakthrough on the long-delayed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, keeping Russia’s China hopes tied up in negotiations. Urban Future Talk in Baku: Turkmen officials used WUF13 to pitch Arkadag City as a “smart” model focused on safety and seismic monitoring. Regional Security & Trade: Turkmenistan also keeps pushing international cooperation—at the UN and through WTO accession talks—while TAPI pipeline work in Afghanistan reports steady progress.

NGO Diplomacy in Baku: Turkmen CAREC and local NGOs took part in the Global South NGO Platform’s first general assembly and the OTS NGO cooperation forum, pushing talks on sustainable development, climate priorities, inclusive urbanization, and public diplomacy. CIS Integration Agenda: Ashgabat is gearing up to host the CIS Council of Heads of Government meeting on 22 May, with draft plans spanning macroeconomic ties, environmental security, youth policy, transport, radionavigation, and digital transformation. Cybercrime Focus in Ashgabat: Parliamentarians met in the EAG forum to discuss measures against high-tech cybercrime, as regional lawmakers align on digital-era financial and security threats. Security Cooperation: China signaled deeper Central Asia security work—counter-terrorism, telecom fraud, and transnational crime—while Russia voiced concern over U.S./EU rare-earth moves in the region. Sports & Culture: India finished third in women’s and fifth in men’s at the Asian Weightlifting Championships; Turkmenistan also marked Constitution and Flag Day with ceremonies in Ashgabat.

Caspian-to-Iran Corridor Push: Russia is now looking to China for financing and technology to build a Caspian Sea highway stretching toward Iran and onward to Southern Asia, tying it to its long-discussed $40bn North–South “eastern branch” plan. Middle Corridor Logistics: Kazakhstan’s rail operator KTZ is moving beyond land routes, signing for Caspian/Black Sea multi-purpose vessels and preparing an air cargo unit—aimed at making the Middle Corridor more complete. Turkmenistan in London: A Turkmen education delegation is in the UK for the Education World Forum 2026, highlighting climate-resilience and digital learning upgrades. Security at the Crossroads: Kazakhstan hosted Central Asia–China law-enforcement talks on transnational crime, cyber threats, and extremism—warning that growing freight traffic raises smuggling risks. Regional Trade Ties: Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan reviewed prospects for deeper economic partnership across investment, transport, logistics, and energy. Weather Watch: Turkmenistan braces for hot days with thunderstorms and stronger winds.

Energy Diplomacy: Putin is set to visit China this week, with the Kremlin saying the “Power of Siberia 2” gas pipeline will be a key topic—another major bet as Russia leans harder on Asian buyers after sanctions squeeze Europe. Migration Pressure: Georgia logged 201 registered asylum seekers in the first quarter of 2026, but also expelled 904 foreign nationals—showing a sharp gap between arrivals and removals. Regional Security: Kazakhstan’s Tokayev met Central Asia and China interior/public security ministers in Astana, pushing tighter cooperation against transnational crime, cyber threats, drugs, and human trafficking as freight volumes rise on Eurasian routes. Water Stress: A new ranking puts Turkmenistan at the top globally for water use per person, underlining how shrinking rivers and aging irrigation could turn into a future security issue. Turkmenistan Spotlight: Turkmenistan’s Arkadag leader met King Charles III in Windsor, while the country marks Constitution and State Flag Day.

Aviation Shock: Russia’s summer 2026 direct flight map is set to shrink sharply as sanctions, drone threats, and fuel shortages bite—Russians may reach nonstop destinations in up to 32 countries, down from 43 in winter, with routes to Algeria, the Seychelles, Cuba, Venezuela, and parts of the Gulf already cut. Turkic Politics: Kazakhstan rejected turning the Organization of Turkic States into a military alliance, stressing the bloc should stay focused on trade, culture, and people-to-people ties. Turkmenistan in the Spotlight: The Hero-Arkadag’s visit to the UK kicked off with meetings at Windsor Castle, while Tbilisi’s TV tower lit up in Turkmenistan’s flag colors for Constitution and State Flag Day. Rights & Labor: A new EU-ILO project targets forced labor in Turkmen cotton, as the Cotton Campaign again urged urgent action to end state-imposed forced labor. Regional Watch: Central Asia’s water use remains among the world’s highest, with Turkmenistan topping per-capita consumption rankings.

Caspian Loophole Diplomacy: A fresh wave of reporting argues Russia is keeping Iran’s military capacity alive despite the U.S. blockade, using Caspian routes to move key components for drones—shifting the pressure point from sea lanes to land-and-water workarounds. Turkmenistan at Home: Turkmenistan marked Constitution and State Flag Day, with President Serdar Berdimuhamedov stressing neutrality, unity, and the legal weight of the Basic Law. London and Horses: Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s UK visit highlights high-level meetings at Windsor and renewed focus on Akhal-Teke horse ties. Trade That Moves: Central Asian intra-regional trade hit $12.3bn in 2025, nearly doubling since 2020, while Turkmenistan’s customs call center and SCRMET auctions show continued push for smoother commerce. Energy Corridor Talk: Turkmen and Afghanistan energy officials discussed progress on a 500 kV transmission line. Sports: Afghanistan U20 drew Kyrgyzstan 0–0 in Dushanbe, while Turkmenistan’s youth football and domestic league action continued across the region.

Transit Ambitions: Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Works says new rail and transport corridors could turn the country into a key connectivity hub, linking Central Asia to South Asia and global markets, citing nearly 400 km of active rail lines connected through ports to Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran. Diplomacy & Cities: Turkmenistan’s Arkadag City construction chief Deryageldi Orazov met Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev, passing greetings from Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and discussing WUF13 and reconstruction in Fuzuli. Turkic Civil Society: The 2nd Solidarity Forum of NGOs of the Organization of Turkic States opened in Baku, bringing together groups from eight countries and launching new Azerbaijan-Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan NGO cooperation forums. Sports: Uzbekistan U-20 beat Tajikistan 3–0 in CAFA, setting up a May 19 match against Turkmenistan U-20. Culture & National Day: Turkmenistan marked Constitution and State Flag Day with exhibitions and performances, including a fine-arts display of works by Turkmen artists.

Construction & State Visits: Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev met Turkmenistan’s Arkadag city construction chief Deryageldi Orazov, underscoring continued high-level ties between Baku and Ashgabat. Turkmenistan in the Spotlight: A British director spent days in Kazakhstan’s Ustyurt Plateau filming “TASBAQA,” a rare Central Asian tortoise story that highlights how harsh landscapes shape life on a tight seasonal clock. Trade Milestone (Pakistan, but regional signal): Seafood exports crossed $500m for the first time in Pakistan’s fiscal year, driven by new access to Russia and a push to expand processing and market approvals—an example of how regional exporters are chasing Eurasian demand. Civil Society & OTS Links: In Baku, the 2nd Solidarity Forum of NGOs of the Organization of Turkic States opened, bringing together civil society from eight countries including Turkmenistan and setting up new Azerbaijan–Turkmenistan NGO cooperation. Culture & Tourism Openness: Reports say Turkmenistan is easing some travel frictions for foreigners, with faster visa processing and fewer rejections, while still keeping tight control of public behavior.