Ashgabat May Soon Follow Baku in Defining Ties with Turkey with the Formula ‘One Nation, Two States,’ Turkish and Russian Commentators Say

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Oct. 16 – Commentators in both Ankara and Moscow are suggesting that Ashgabat may soon adopt the formula Baku already has for its relations with Turkey “one nation, two states,” a remarkable turn of events for a country that has long insisted on the strictest neutrality as its national policy.

            This shift, as well as Turkmenistan’s accession to the Organization of Turkic States, could occur during the upcoming visit of Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdymukhamedow to Ankara, Viktoriya Panfilova of Moscow’s Nezavisimaya Gazeta suggests in an article that surveys these commentaries (ng.ru/cis/2023-10-15/6_8852_formula.html).

            If that happens, it will reverse to a large degree Turkmenistan’s consistent commitment to neutrality and open the way for its greater integration with the West, especially on gas and other energy cooperation measures, as well as open the way for greater involvement in Central Asia by Turkey.