A working visit by a Turkmen government delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov to the United Kingdom began on February 24 with a series of meetings that set long-term directions for engagement between Ashgabat, London, and international institutions, Orient.tm reports.
Talks with the IMO
A key early event was Rashid Meredov's meeting with Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The parties discussed integrating Turkmen maritime infrastructure into global supply chains and aligning national regulatory frameworks with IMO international conventions.
Particular attention was given to the outcomes of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, held in Avaza in August 2025, reaffirming Turkmenistan's ambition to become a key maritime hub in the Caspian region.
Structural Dialogue with the United Kingdom
On February 25, the third round of the "Structural Dialogue" between the foreign ministries of Turkmenistan and the United Kingdom took place. The UK side was represented by Hamish Falconer, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
Both sides noted positive momentum in political and economic dialogue, emphasizing the need to more actively leverage the potential of the Turkmen-British Trade and Industry Council.
The regional segment of the talks addressed the situation in Afghanistan, where Turkmenistan continues to implement large-scale infrastructure projects viewed as a foundation for stability and support for the Afghan people.
Signed Documents
The visit concluded with the signing of a Cooperation Programme between the foreign ministries of Turkmenistan and the United Kingdom for 2026–2027, establishing a legal framework for collaboration in areas including regional security, economic cooperation, and educational exchanges.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
February 26, 2026