Turkmenistan and United Kingdom Strengthen Bilateral Ties During High-Level Talks in London
London, The Gulf Observer: On February 26, 2026, a bilateral meeting was held at Lancaster House between Turkmenistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov and the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Yvette Cooper. The talks were also attended by the UK Minister for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories, Stephen Doughty.
During the negotiations, the sides discussed a broad range of issues covering bilateral cooperation, regional developments, and current international matters. The importance of the first ministerial meeting in the “Central Asia – United Kingdom” format was highlighted, with both parties expressing readiness to enrich the platform with practical initiatives.
Turkmenistan reaffirmed its commitment to resolving international issues exclusively through peaceful political and diplomatic means, in accordance with international law and the principles of the UN Charter.
The ministers reviewed prospects for expanding economic partnership, including collaboration in green technologies, digitalization, and transport, as well as strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties.
At the conclusion of the talks, both sides confirmed their interest in further enhancing Turkmen–British partnership and discussed the prospects for organizing high-level visits in the future. A number of bilateral documents were subsequently signed.
Following the meeting, a working lunch was held for the foreign ministers of Central Asian countries and the United Kingdom, hosted on behalf of Yvette Cooper.
Discussions during the luncheon focused on regional cooperation, including security issues, sustainable development, and strengthening interregional connectivity.
In his remarks, Rashid Meredov presented several concrete initiatives aimed at advancing practical cooperation and enhancing regional security. These included the launch of joint training programs and the establishment of a new “Turkmenistan–United Kingdom Cultural Dialogue” format.
The importance of supporting Afghanistan’s peaceful development through infrastructure projects was underscored, particularly the implementation of the TAPI gas pipeline, power transmission lines, and railway construction projects in the Afghan direction.
The Turkmen Foreign Minister also proposed expanding technical and advisory cooperation through the engagement of British legal and consulting firms, as well as introducing digital solutions to ensure transparency in cross-border trade.
Both sides emphasized the significance of combining the United Kingdom’s technological potential with the diplomatic efforts of Central Asian states to promote stability and sustainable development across the region.
