The cooperation agenda among member and observer countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), located across a vast geographical area, is no longer limited to political and economic relations.
One of the main issues facing the organization is ensuring energy and transport security. The remarks made by President Ilham Aliyev while receiving security officials of OTS member states on September 17 also indicate that this issue has become an important part of the overall security architecture. The head of state emphasized that OTS countries have great potential and are located across a vast geographical area.
Important elements of national and regional security
Modern geopolitical realities show that it is not sufficient to assess security solely from military and political perspectives. The uninterrupted supply of energy resources, the resilience of transport routes, and countries' access to global markets are also important elements of national and regional security. President Ilham Aliyev's statement in his speech that energy security is of particular importance, especially against the backdrop of the current situation along the borders, highlights precisely this approach.
One of the advantages of the OTS region is that it brings together countries with rich natural resources and important geographical locations. Central Asia's energy resources, the Caspian basin and Azerbaijan's energy infrastructure, along with Türkiye's access to European markets, create significant potential for the formation of a unified economic and logistics chain. Thus, energy cooperation is not only about the production and export of resources but also about delivering them to consumer markets through secure routes.
Azerbaijan is one of the main transit links in the OTS region
Azerbaijan's geographical position is of particular importance in this process. The Caspian Sea serves as a natural link between Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan. The transportation of cargo from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries across the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan and then through Georgia and Türkiye to European markets makes our country an important link in East-West connectivity.
In this regard, the development of the Middle Corridor cannot be viewed solely as a commercial and logistics project. The diversification of routes serves to organize international trade more sustainably, expand countries' alternative transport opportunities, and strengthen regional economic ties. President Ilham Aliyev also noted at the previous OTS Summit that the Zangezur Corridor is an important new transport artery within both the Middle Corridor and the North-South routes.
Energy and transport projects complement each other
Reliable pipelines, ports, railways and other logistics infrastructure are required to deliver energy resources to international markets. At the same time, a stable energy supply is essential for the efficient operation of transport corridors.
Azerbaijan is one of the main locations where these two areas intersect. The country's energy infrastructure connects the Caspian basin with international markets, while its transport infrastructure enables the movement of cargo flows between Central Asia and Europe. In this regard, Azerbaijan's role within the OTS is not limited to its status as a transit country. The country also serves as a regional platform where various energy and transport projects are coordinated.
New cooperation opportunities for the OTS
Closer cooperation among OTS countries in the energy and transport sectors is also important for realizing the organization's economic potential. Increasing mutual investments, coordinating infrastructure projects and expanding transit opportunities could strengthen connectivity between the economies of member countries. The establishment of joint investment funds between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan also demonstrates the expansion of the institutional foundations of cooperation in this direction.
Energy and transport corridors in the OTS region are not merely projects that generate economic revenue but are also components of a broader security system. The diversification of energy sources and transport routes increases member countries' access to foreign markets, makes their interdependence more systematic, and strengthens regional resilience. The connections Azerbaijan has established between Central Asia and Europe across the Caspian Sea further highlight our country's strategic role in this process. President Ilham Aliyev's emphasis on the great potential of OTS countries to strengthen the organization's international role also indicates that this cooperation could develop into a broader security and economic agenda in the future.
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