The 13th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States convened in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, from October 29 to 30. In his opening address, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emphasized the need for enhanced solidarity among member states and deeper comprehensive cooperation, leveraging shared linguistic and cultural ties to strengthen the organization’s influence across Eurasia.
The Organization of Turkic States, commonly referred to as the Turkic States Union, comprises five full members: Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan. Three observer states are also affiliated: Hungary, Turkmenistan, and Northern Cyprus.
The summit focused on several key issues. First was progress on the so-called “Middle Corridor” trans-Caspian transport initiative, aimed at streamlining customs procedures and establishing efficient logistics networks between Europe and Asia to facilitate rapid movement of energy and goods. Second was coordinated energy cooperation—given that most member states are resource-rich, discussions centered on joint development of oil and gas projects, cross-border energy trade, and optimization of energy transmission infrastructure. Third was regional security dialogue, with member states exchanging views on geopolitical risks in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, and aligning positions accordingly.
Additional topics included economic investment, digital economy development, and cultural and tourism exchanges, with proposals to promote mutual understanding and integrated tourism initiatives among Turkic-speaking nations. The summit concluded with an agreement to transfer the rotating chairmanship to Azerbaijan, which will host the next summit.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880449130318848/
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