Ashgabat, January 12 | ORIENT. Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov held meetings with the ambassadors of Azerbaijan and Iran at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the talks, a roadmap for cooperation through 2026 was outlined.

The meeting with Ambassador of Azerbaijan Gismet Gezalov focused on preparations for the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission, which will be held in Ashgabat. In addition to traditional trade and economic ties, the parties discussed a new aspect of cooperation: horse breeding.

Considering that 2026 is the year dedicated to "purposeful winged horses" in Turkmenistan, Baku and Ashgabat plan to develop joint projects in equestrian sports and horse breeding. Furthermore, Days of Azerbaijani Culture will be held in the Turkmen capital this year. During talks with Ambassador of Iran Ali Mojtaba Rouzbehani, the focus was on implementing previously reached agreements. The parties compared notes on regional security issues and outlined a schedule of trade and economic meetings for 2026. Iran remains a crucial logistics partner for Turkmenistan, providing access to Persian Gulf ports.

The timing of these meetings at the beginning of the year is no coincidence. Turkmenistan is actively building a balance between its Caspian neighbors, transforming the region into a zone of stability and transit connectivity. The integration of traditions into diplomacy deserves special attention: the topic of "heavenly" horses is becoming a lingua franca even in serious interstate matters.