At the 13th summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emphasized the need for stronger unity and cooperation among Turkic nations. The summit, themed “Turkic Century: Unity in Language, Thought and Action,” gathered leaders and senior representatives from member and observer states, including the presidents of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, as well as representatives from Azerbaijan and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
During his address at the Presidential Complex, Erdoğan highlighted historical and cultural ties as a foundation for enhanced political, economic, and diplomatic collaboration. He announced that Türkiye had taken over the OTS rotating chairmanship from Azerbaijan and committed to transforming existing agreements into tangible outcomes. Key priorities outlined by Erdoğan include promoting a common language, expanding cultural exchanges, facilitating travel, and increasing women’s participation in society.
Erdoğan also reaffirmed Türkiye’s support for Northern Cyprus and advocated for Turkmenistan’s eventual full membership in the organization. He called for sustained efforts to achieve peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia and encouraged diplomatic solutions to regional tensions involving Iran. Additionally, Erdoğan stressed the importance of increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza and supporting its reconstruction, reiterating Türkiye’s backing of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Economic connectivity was a significant topic at the summit, with Erdoğan underscoring the potential of the Trans-Caspian East-West Middle Corridor to boost the economic influence of the Turkic world by connecting Asia and Europe. He urged greater collaboration in areas like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and digital trade, proposing a joint satellite project and a shared digital commerce platform.
Other leaders at the summit suggested expanding investment and technological partnerships. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed launching 100 strategic joint investment projects, while Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev advocated for strengthening the organization’s international profile. Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov highlighted the need for cooperation in sectors such as energy and transport.
The summit concluded with a joint declaration reinforcing commitments to closer cooperation and regional partnerships. Erdoğan expressed gratitude to the outgoing OTS Secretary-General Kubanychbek Omuraliev and welcomed the new Secretary-General Mirvahid Azimov.