Turkmenistan Considers Limiting Security Exposure

After a 17-year absence, Turkmenistan participated in the 37th meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Council of Defense Ministers' Air Defense Coordination Committee on July 11 in Kyrgyzstan. A small country surrounded by larger ones, Turkmenistan has always shunned or remained neutral toward military alliances. Unlike several of its neighbors, Turkmenistan has not joined the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and is merely an unofficial associate member of the CIS. Instead, Ashgabat has mostly relied on bilateral ties and unofficial security agreements with Russia for protection.

But two recent regional events may temporarily have changed Turkmenistan's mind about its official neutrality toward Russian-dominated security institutions. First, neighboring Uzbekistan left the CSTO, purportedly to deepen its relationship (including in military matters) with countries outside the bloc. Second, tensions have escalated recently between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. Given the context, Ashgabat could be rejoining the defense meetings of the Russian-led CIS to ensure Turkmen security against Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.