The Day of Neutrality is observed annually on December 12th, a designation established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2017.In an increasingly polarized world where multilateralism and cooperation are core principles, neutrality maintains critical relevance.
While the United Nations Charter obliges member states to settle international disputes by peaceful means and to refrain from the threat or use of force, a state’s national policy of neutrality is seen as a tangible mechanism to contribute to strengthening international peace and security.
“Neutrality is basically defined as the legal status arising from the abstention of a state from all participation in a war between other states, the maintenance of an attitude of impartiality toward the belligerents, and the recognition by the belligerents of this abstention and impartiality.”
Significance of Neutrality
The policy of neutrality is crucial because it serves as a key factor for providing the conditions and building a platform for peaceful negotiations. It plays an important role in developing peaceful, mutually beneficial relations between countries.
This is not a passive stance but an active diplomatic approach, which is closely interconnected and based on the tools of preventive diplomacy, which refers to diplomatic action taken to prevent disputes from escalating into conflicts and is a core function of the UN.
National interests may sometimes challenge a state’s commitments to its principles, neutrality and specifically the Turkmenistan model of “positive neutrality”, which is presented as a mechanism that enhances diplomatic leverage, trade opportunities and security partnerships by preventing entanglement in major power rivalries.
By promoting non-interference, trust and balanced foreign relations, neutrality allows states to engage with diverse international actors and can serve as an effective tool for conflict resolution and global mediation.
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Turkmenistan’s Journey to Permanent Neutrality
The status of permanent neutrality is given to Turkmenistan. This status traces its roots back to ancient political practices of Turkmenistan, which historically valued peaceful coexistence, compromise and mutual respect.
The policy was first proclaimed as the basis of the country’s foreign policy course at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) summit in Helsinki in 1992.
The official international recognition of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality came on December 12, 1995 when the UNGA adopted resolution 50/80. The resolution welcomed the country ‘s desire for peaceful relations with other states.
Since this recognition, the UN has repeatedly affirmed its support for this policy. In June 2015, resolution 69/285 was passed, reiterating UN support.
Most recently, on March 21, 2025, the UNGA adopted a second resolution on Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality by consensus. The status is embedded in both the domestic and foreign policy of the country and its constitutional law as well.
Neutrality as a Framework
For three decades, the principle of neutrality has shaped Turkmenistan’s foreign policy and led to initiatives aimed at promoting global peace. The country’s leadership actively promotes this status as an achievement and a defining feature of the state.
This reverence is reflected in such acts as the addition of an olive branch to the national flag, renaming Karl Marx Square in Ashgabat to Neutrality Square and declaring December 12th as a national holiday.
Turkmenistan uses its neutrality as a platform for active diplomatic engagement, and tends to give the message that “Neutrality is not withdrawal from conflicts, but active participation in building peace. It highlights its practical implementation of the policy through its contribution to inter-Tajik talks in Ashgabat in 1995 and 1996.
These negotiations were part of an international effort to resolve the conflict in Tajikistan by urging the Tajik parties to comply with obligations like the temporary cease-fire agreement covering the Tajik-Afghan border. The goal was to contribute to a lessening of tensions, which included welcoming the establishment of a United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) liaison post in northern Afghanistan.
Read More: Turkmenistan Launches Neutrality Website for the International Year of Peace and Trust
Similarly, Turkmenistan hosted inter-Afghan talks, demonstrating its ability to maintain dialogue with opposing sides, consistent with its principle of non-interference in the domestic affairs of another country.
The commitment to preventive diplomacy and peaceful resolution was further institutionalized by the establishment of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) in Ashgabat in December 2007. This special political mission of the UN supports Central Asian countries and the international community in bringing peace and addressing regional challenges.
Economically, Turkmenistan has leveraged its status to advance regional energy and infrastructure projects, such as the TAPI pipeline, which are promoted as embodiments of peaceful cooperation and mutually beneficial relations in a complicated region.
This strategic approach ensures that the country’s foreign policy enshrined in its Constitutional Law is a dynamic tool for enhancing diplomatic leverage, securing foreign investments and creating security partnerships, all while preventing entanglement in major power rivalries.
Turkmenistan is undertaking extensive preparations to mark this anniversary on a broad international scale. The central event will be the high-level International Forum “Peace and Trust: Foundations of Global Stability”, scheduled for December 12, 2025, in Ashgabat. Through this forum, Turkmenistan aims to convey its message of dialogue, guaranteeing peace and to introduce a new model in international relations that places positive neutrality at the forefront of solutions to 21st-century crises.
To encourage global involvement in the forum and promote its commitment to peace, Turkmenistan established a multilingual digital platform in Turkmen, English and Russian. This comprehensive website will provide detailed forum agenda and facilitates international participation via simple online registration.
Beyond logistical information, the platform serves as a diplomatic showcase, highlighting Turkmenistan’s strategic foreign policy, its national achievements across key sectors including the economy and the education. It also features an archive of publications and a photo gallery of its international activities
Turkmenistan’s commitment to its positive Neutrality is not merely an abstention from conflict; it is a dedicated diplomatic function. By actively providing a platform for difficult negotiations and reconciliation efforts, the country has demonstrated the power of neutrality to mitigate serious geopolitical tensions and advance stability.
As Turkmenistan prepares to host the world for its 30th anniversary celebration during the International Year of Peace and Trust in 2025, its example offers a practical blueprint for how diplomatic balance can be strategically utilized to promote trust and cooperation in the global arena.
