Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan Boost Regional Ties Ahead of 2026

Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are setting the tone for closer regional coordination in 2026 following a high-level phone call between National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

During the call, the sides exchanged New Year greetings and discussed preparations for major international events planned for 2026, The Caspian Post reports via Turkmen media.

It was noted that 2026 will be the Year of the Horse under the Eastern calendar. In this context, Turkmenistan has declared the year as “Independent Neutral Turkmenistan - the Homeland of Purposeful Winged Horses,” highlighting its cultural symbolism and national identity.

President Mirziyoyev praised Turkmenistan’s development under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, emphasizing the successful continuation of initiatives launched by the national leader of the Turkmen people.

The Turkmen national leader expressed confidence that the strategic partnership between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will continue deepening. He proposed launching joint efforts from the very first days of 2026 to organize major international forums, including the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, as well as the next meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State, both to be held in Turkmenistan.

A key focus of the discussion was water security. Berdimuhamedov, who is also the chairman of the Halk Maslahaty (People's Council) of Turkmenistan, stressed the importance of placing water issues high on the agenda of upcoming summits and developing a joint action program to address water challenges in Central Asia, the Aral and Caspian regions, and the Amu Darya basin.

The Turkmen national leader also voiced confidence in Mirziyoyev’s support for preparing coordinated proposals on organizational, substantive, legal, and other aspects of the forthcoming summits.

The conversation concluded with warm New Year wishes for 2026, as both sides wished each other good health, happiness, and continued success in their state responsibilities.