UN General Assembly Adopts Turkmenistan-Initiated Resolution on the Role of Neutrality Policy

On 20 May 2026, during its 82nd plenary meeting, the United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus the resolution entitled “The role and importance of a policy of neutrality in maintaining and strengthening international peace, security and sustainable development” , initiated by Turkmenistan.

The resolution was co-sponsored by 47 Member States, reflecting broad international support for peace-oriented initiatives of the President of Turkmenistan and the National Leader of turkmen people, and the growing recognition of the importance of permanent neutrality in international relations.

The adopted resolution became the first UN document adopted under the separate General Assembly agenda item entitled “Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace: Neutrality for Peace and Security”. This establishes a distinct area within the work of the United Nations dedicated to issues of neutrality and its practical application for the benefit of international peace, security and sustainable development.

In the preamble of the resolution, the General Assembly recognizes the leading role of Turkmenistan in promoting dialogue, peace, trust and confidence-building through its policy of permanent neutrality, including within the framework of the International Year of Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace and the International Year of Peace and Trust.

The resolution contains a number of important provisions aimed at strengthening the role of neutral States in conflict prevention, mediation and peaceful settlement of disputes. In particular, the General Assembly recommends expanding the practice of utilizing the potential of neutral States in preventive diplomacy and international mediation efforts.

For the first time within the United Nations framework, the resolution highlights the importance of continuing efforts, together with Member States and international organizations, to develop under the United Nations auspices a Global Security Concept based on neutrality.

The resolution also supports Turkmenistan’s proposal to establish, jointly with the University for Peace and the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, an Academic Centre for the Study of Peace, Neutrality and Preventive Diplomacy.

In addition, the document reaffirms support for the initiative to establish in Turkmenistan a Mediation Chamber for Peace under the auspices of the United Nations and envisages the development of Guidelines on the observance and implementation of the principles of neutrality for peace and security.

The adoption of the resolution creates a solid basis for the further advancement of Turkmenistan’s international initiatives in the fields of neutrality, preventive diplomacy and the promotion of a culture of peace and trust in international relations.