Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedow Makes First State Visit to Georgia
By Messenger Staff
Friday, July 17, 2026
Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedow arrived in Georgia on July 16 for the first state visit by a Turkmen leader, marking another step in Tbilisi's effort to strengthen relations with Central Asia.
The visit, scheduled for July 16-17, follows a series of high-level diplomatic exchanges between Georgia and Central Asian countries. In June, Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze traveled to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan over three consecutive weeks. Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also visited Tbilisi earlier this month, when Georgia formalized strategic partnership agreements with both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Berdimuhamedow landed in Tbilisi on July 16 accompanied by a government delegation. Georgian Dream Defense Minister Irakli Chikovani welcomed him at the airport before an official reception at the Orbeliani Presidential Palace, where Georgian Dream-backed President Mikheil Kavelashvili hosted the visiting leader.
According to the presidential administration, the two presidents discussed ways to expand cooperation across several sectors. Their talks focused on increasing trade and investment, strengthening cooperation in energy, transport and logistics, and improving the use of the Middle Corridor for regional transit.
The leaders also discussed Georgia's role as a transport link between Europe and Asia. They spoke about expanding transit opportunities through the country's Black Sea ports, including the planned Anaklia Deep Sea Port.
Beyond economic issues, the meeting covered cooperation in education, culture, and science.
Kavelashvili thanked Berdimuhamedow for Turkmenistan's continued backing of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Speaking after the meeting, Kavelashvili said Berdimuhamedow's visit "represents a significant stage in the development of relations between the two countries and is a clear demonstration of the strengthening of high-level political dialogue."
