Awaza, Turkmenistan — From August 5 to 8, the coastal city of Awaza on the Caspian Sea is hosting the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3). This global event marks a pivotal moment in Turkmenistan’s emergence as a key player in international affairs, showcasing how the country’s permanent neutrality is evolving into a platform for global engagement.
LLDCs—Landlocked Developing Countries—represent a group of nations uniquely disadvantaged by geography. Lacking direct access to seaports, they face exorbitant trade costs, logistical delays, and constrained access to global markets. According to Meredov et al. (2025), LLDCs face trade costs up to 74% higher than the global average and represent only 1.2% of global trade, despite housing over 570 million people.
Recognizing these challenges, the Vienna Programme of Action (VPoA) 2014–2024 laid out a roadmap to support LLDCs. LLDC3 builds upon this foundation, aiming to redefine these nations from landlocked to land-linked.
High-Level Attendance and Robust Agenda
The event is attracting top-level participation. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has already arrived, with leaders from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Nepal, including Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, scheduled to attend.
The four-day summit includes plenary sessions, five high-level roundtables, and a Private Sector Forum, emphasizing strategic partnerships and investment. According to the Belgium Times, the conference focuses on five key areas:
- Structural transformation
- Infrastructure and connectivity
- Trade facilitation
- Regional integration
- Resilience building
These priorities are supported by five flagship initiatives that aim to tackle structural constraints while promoting inclusive growth.
LLDC3 in Awaza: A Strategic Venue
Awaza, a growing tourist and logistics hub, is symbolic of Turkmenistan’s aspirations. Major investments have transformed the city and the nearby Turkmenbashi International Seaport into a multimodal transport hub. Notably, Turkmenbashi serves as a critical node on the Middle Corridor, connecting Central Asia with the Caucasus and Europe.
According to Aksoltan Ataeva, Turkmenistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN:
“We are proud to host this event on the Caspian Sea coast. It demonstrates Turkmenistan’s unwavering commitment to connectivity, cooperation, and sustainable development.”
Transport Diplomacy of Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is geographically located at a vital crossroads of international transport networks. Through the successful implementation of major 21st-century transport projects, the country is breathing new life into the historic Great Silk Road, transforming the region into both a commercial hub and a cultural crossroads.
Under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Turkmenistan has advanced major international transport initiatives. These are central to the “Foreign Policy Concept of Neutral Turkmenistan for 2022–2028” and the “Program for the Development of Transport Diplomacy of the President of Turkmenistan for 2022–2025.”
Turkmenistan has played a proactive role at the UN, securing adoption of multiple resolutions such as:
- “The Role of Transport and Transit Corridors in Ensuring International Cooperation for Sustainable Development” (2014)
- “Towards Comprehensive Connectivity Between All Modes of Transport” (2015)
- “Strengthening Transport to Achieve SDGs” (2017, 2021)
- “World Sustainable Transport Day” (2023)
These resolutions highlight Turkmenistan’s growing leadership in global transport diplomacy.
Though landlocked, Turkmenistan’s Caspian Sea access gives it maritime leverage. The country is strategically developing port infrastructure and logistics corridors linking South Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Key transport corridors include:
- Afghanistan–Turkmenistan–Azerbaijan–Georgia–Türkiye (multimodal corridor)
- Turkmenistan–Azerbaijan–Georgia–Romania (Caspian–Black Sea route)
- China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan–Türkiye–Europe
- Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan–Iran–Oman (Central Asia to Middle East)
- Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan–Iran Railway (part of North-South corridor)
- Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan–Iran–Türkiye
- Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Tajikistan Railway (East-West integration)
These corridors not only diversify trade routes but also enhance regional resilience, helping LLDCs reduce dependence on limited transit pathways.
Permanent Neutrality: A Strategic Foreign Policy Tool
2025 marks the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s policy of permanent neutrality, enshrined in its constitution since 1995. Far from isolationist, this policy has empowered the nation to foster peace and serve as a mediator in global crises.
At the 78th UN General Assembly, Turkmenistan spearheaded the adoption of Resolution A/RES/79/279, declaring 2025 the International Year of Peace and Trust. The country is also providing humanitarian aid to conflict zones, including Palestine and Iran, reinforcing its humanitarian and diplomatic credentials.
Turkmenistan’s neutrality is anchored in:
- Non-interference and sovereignty respect
- Refusal to join military blocs
- Promotion of UN-led diplomacy
- Prohibition of foreign military bases
Expanding Diplomatic and Economic Partnerships
Since President Serdar Berdimuhamedov assumed office in 2022, Turkmenistan has adopted a forward-looking foreign policy that blends neutrality with multilateral engagement.
Bilateral agreements with countries like the United States, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, and Iran are complemented by active participation in regional cooperation frameworks, including:
- SPECA (Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia)
- Caspian Economic Forums
- Dialogue of Central Asian Women, established with UN support in 2020
Green Diplomacy and Sustainable Development
Climate change and sustainability are high on Turkmenistan’s international agenda. The country promotes “green diplomacy” and links environmental efforts with peacebuilding and economic growth.
The LLDC3 Awaza Programme of Action focuses on:
- Food and energy security
- Youth and gender empowerment
- Multilateral infrastructure investment
- South–South cooperation
Forums during the conference include:
- Parliamentary Forum
- Civil Society and Youth Forums
- Women Leaders’ Forum
- High-Level Ministerial and Round Table Meetings
- Private Sector Forum on Connectivity
Conclusion: Turkmenistan’s Global Evolution
Turkmenistan’s role in LLDC3 is a defining moment in its diplomatic evolution. The country’s 30 years of neutrality have created a stable foundation upon which it now builds global relevance and regional leadership.
Through visionary transport diplomacy, inclusive multilateralism, and a firm commitment to sustainable development, Turkmenistan is no longer simply a neutral state—it is a neutral power actively shaping the future of connectivity, cooperation, and peace.
By successfully hosting LLDC3 and pushing forward international development agendas, Turkmenistan confirms its growing place on the world stage—a reliable, neutral bridge linking East and West, landlocked and global.
SOURCE : AGENCIES VIA LLDC & UN | Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |
