Political relations

The central element of Turkmen foreign policy is the country’s permanent neutrality. Turkmenistan pursues a policy geared to compromise, stability and peace in the region with a focus on the international framework.

Germany and Turkmenistan have maintained diplomatic relations since 1992. Germany is one of four EU member states (along with France, Italy and Romania) to have an embassy in the region, while the EU is represented by a delegation.

The strategic regional partnership with Central Asia established in Berlin in 2023 also includes Turkmenistan. On 29 September 2023, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Chairman of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan, visited Germany on the occasion of a first summit and had meetings with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin. A follow‑up meeting was held in Astana in September 2024.

Economic relations

In Turkmenistan, German businesses are considered reliable partners supplying sustainable high‑quality products. Bilateral trade totalled 220 million euro in 2023. The main topics of discussion in economic forums are industry, agriculture, water, medicine, energy and logistics.

Development and cultural cooperation

As a middle-income country, Turkmenistan is not one of Germany’s partner countries for bilateral development cooperation. However, governmental development cooperation does take place through regional projects for Central Asia, focusing in particular on spheres in which challenges can be tackled more successfully at regional and cross‑border level, such as climate and environmental protection, the management of natural resources and disaster risk reduction.

Four university partnerships with the country are in place in addition to a DAAD lector. There are approximately 30,000 learners of German in Turkmenistan.