Peace And Confidence Summit Brings Regional Leaders Together In Ashgabat

An international summit titled“Peace and Confidence” was held on Friday, December 12, in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, bringing together leaders from across the region to discuss security, economic cooperation, and stability.

The summit was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, along with leaders from Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, and Hungary. The gathering aimed to strengthen regional partnerships and promote dialogue on shared challenges.

During the summit, Putin held bilateral meetings with several regional leaders to discuss coordination on regional security threats, trade initiatives, and multilateral cooperation. He also highlighted the importance of United Nations missions in fostering peace and stability, according to the report.

This meeting follows a similar summit held in Uzbekistan about a month earlier, which focused on boosting cooperation and addressing cross-border security, trade, and humanitarian issues.

Notably, the Taliban did not participate in the conference. Analysts say this absence reflects ongoing international reluctance to formally engage with the current administration in Kabul amid persistent security and counterterrorism concerns.

Observers suggest that gatherings like these are critical for coordinating regional responses to shared threats, fostering economic development, and addressing migration and security challenges. Smaller regional powers also benefit by aligning policies alongside major players such as Russia.

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