Erdogan Meets Putin and regional leaders in Ashgabat for Peace Forum Diplomacy

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan engaged in a series of high-level diplomatic meetings on Friday during the International Peace and Trust Forum in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The talks underscored Türkiye’s central position in regional diplomacy.

Key Bilateral Engagements

According to communications from the Turkish Presidency on social media platform X, Erdogan’s schedule featured separate one-on-one discussions with three key leaders. He met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and host nation leader President Serdar Berdimuhammedov. These meetings are seen as a continuation of Türkiye's balanced and proactive foreign policy outreach.

Broader Forum Context

The forum itself is a significant event, convened to mark both the United Nations’ designation of 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s neutral status. Prior to a group photo session, President Erdogan also had an exchange with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, further expanding the scope of his diplomatic interactions on the sidelines.

Strategic Significance for Türkiye

Analysts view this flurry of diplomacy as reinforcing Ankara’s strategic intent to maintain open channels with both Eastern and Western partners. For Türkiye, such multilateral forums provide a critical platform to advance its national interests and promote its vision for regional stability, leveraging its unique geopolitical position.