Political

On October 6–7, the city of Gabala hosted the 12th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). The two-day event brought together Turkic leaders and served as an important platform for defining the organization’s future strategic directions.

Held under the motto “Regional Peace and Security,” the summit demonstrated the ability of Turkic-speaking countries to act from a united position in a time of increasing geopolitical tension, contributing to stability and collective security. The participants adopted decisions to deepen cooperation in political, economic, transport, defense, and humanitarian spheres. Notably, the Middle Corridor and regional security issues were among the key topics discussed.
The Gabala Summit was significant for consolidating Turkic unity, enhancing the international standing of the OTS, and marking a new phase of integration.

In his speech, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that the organization, founded on shared values, has transformed into a strategic center of power on the global stage through its political, economic, and military strength.

“Today, the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) has evolved from merely a platform for cooperation into one of the significant geopolitical centers. It is gratifying to see our Organization’s prestige grow on the international stage. Our shared historical and ethnic roots, along with common national and spiritual values, bring us together as a family. To support the work of the Organization, our country has contributed 2 million U.S. dollars to the account of the OTS Secretariat. Internal political and economic stability, a strategic geographical location, positive demographics with a young population, vast potential in transport and logistics, rich natural resources, and growing capabilities in the military and defense technology sectors position the OTS as a significant actor on the global stage,” the President stated.

OTS as a Unified Power Center

According to political analyst Elxan Shahinoglu, the Gabala Summit highlighted the strategic importance of the Turkic states acting as a unified power center for regional security.

“Since the establishment of the Organization of Turkic States in Nakhchivan in 2009, cooperation has expanded across all fields. It is no coincidence that the theme of this year’s summit was ‘Regional Peace and Security.’ This topic was chosen due to the risk of wars in surrounding regions spilling over into the area, making it necessary to enhance security cooperation among Turkic states. Alongside political and economic relations, avenues of cooperation in the military-technical sphere must also be explored, including joint military exercises. President Ilham Aliyev also underlined at the Gabala meeting the importance of strengthening cooperation in defense and military fields among member states. He stressed that ‘It is crucial for the Turkic states to act as a unified power center,’ ‘Development is impossible without security,’ ‘Military and military-technical cooperation is one of the key factors in relations between our countries,’ and ‘In today’s world, military power is a fundamental guarantee of every country’s independence and territorial integrity,” he said.

Azerbaijan’s hosting role: A display of political and symbolic power

Azerbaijan’s hosting of the summit reaffirmed the country’s leadership role in the Turkic world. The choice of Gabala was deliberate. As one of Azerbaijan’s oldest cultural centers, the city combines historical-cultural symbolism with strategic geography, making it an ideal venue.

During the summit, President Ilham Aliyev held a number of important bilateral meetings with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Ersin Tatar, Chairman of the OTS Council of Elders Binali Yıldırım, and Secretary-General Kubanychbek Omuraliev. These talks laid the groundwork for further deepening cooperation within the organization. Through this summit, Azerbaijan positioned itself not only as a host but also as a proactive, agenda-setting actor. Ilham Aliyev’s remarks and proposals became key elements shaping the future content of political and economic cooperation in the Turkic world.

President Ilham Aliyev unites Turkic States in Karabakh

Through strategic initiatives, President Ilham Aliyev is uniting OTS member and observer states around a common political will and shared goals in Karabakh, ushering in a new historical stage. Today, Karabakh has become a living symbol of solidarity, political unity, and strategic integration in the Turkic world. Türkiye was the first to take part in the reconstruction of the region immediately after its liberation. The construction of Fuzuli International Airport became a symbol of the joint strength of the two brotherly nations. Turkish companies have also actively participated as contractors in the restoration of roads, water, and energy infrastructure in the liberated territories. These efforts have set an example for other Turkic states. In 2023, Uzbekistan built the Mirzo Ulugbek School for 960 students in Fuzuli, inaugurated with the participation of heads of state. In 2024, Kazakhstan opened the “Kurmangazy” Children’s Creativity Center in Fuzuli, while Kyrgyzstan built a school for 528 students in Khidirli village of Aghdam. Observer state Hungary is involved in the reconstruction of Soltanli village in Jabrayil. During the summit, Turkmenistan announced plans to build a mosque in Fuzuli, with a groundbreaking ceremony held online. All these projects bring Turkic solidarity in Karabakh to a practical level, showcasing the power of political unity through tangible outcomes and reinforcing the foundation of a new geopolitical reality in the region.

Middle Corridor and Zangezur Corridor: Pillars of Eurasian integration

One of the summit’s key strategic focuses was the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route — the “Middle Corridor,” the shortest and most reliable transit route connecting Europe and Asia.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized that the geographic location of Turkic states naturally positions the Middle Corridor as a bridge between continents. This route will accelerate the transit of goods and boost the region’s economic weight.

President Ilham Aliyev underscored Azerbaijan’s pivotal role in the development of transport links within the OTS: “Transport and communication links hold strategic significance within the Organization of Turkic States. Efforts to harness the potential of the Turkic world in transport, communication, transit, and related fields have resulted in the realization of projects with global impact. Azerbaijan is an active player in the East-West and North-South transport corridors, serving as a vital bridge between Türkiye and Central Asia across geographic, economic, transport, and other domains. Since 2022, cargo traffic through the Middle Corridor has increased by approximately 90%. Transit time along the route has significantly decreased. Assets such as the Caspian Sea’s largest trade fleet, the International Trade Port of Alat, which is expected to reach a capacity of 25 million tons per year in the coming years, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, 9 international airports, the region’s largest cargo airline, and other factors have contributed to establishing Azerbaijan as a major international transport hub. In this context, one of the key outcomes of the Washington summit was the opening of the Zangezur Corridor. This corridor is significant as a new transport artery and serves as a second route within both the Middle Corridor and the North-South Corridor.”

Security and military cooperation: Building common power

The second key direction of the summit was deepening cooperation in the security field. In this context, President Ilham Aliyev proposed holding joint military exercises of OTS member states in Azerbaijan in 2026. This initiative could mark the beginning of practical security integration in the Turkic world, helping enhance defense capabilities, coordinate responses to common threats, and strengthen political trust.

Highlighting the importance of joint exercises in a period of gross violations of international law, President Aliyev stressed that military power remains the fundamental guarantee of every nation’s independence and territorial integrity: “It is well understood that development cannot be achieved without ensuring security. In a time when the norms and principles of international law are being gravely violated, cooperation among our countries in military and defense-technical fields becomes one of the crucial factors. In this regard, we maintain strong cooperation with our ally, Türkiye. Just in the past year, over 25 bilateral and multinational military exercises have been carried out jointly with Türkiye. Considering the extensive cooperation between our countries in military, defense, and security areas, we propose holding joint military exercises for the member states of the Organization of Turkic States in Azerbaijan in 2026.In today’s world, military strength is a crucial element in safeguarding the independence and territorial integrity of any country.”

Political analyst Elxan Shahinoglu described this initiative as a strategic step toward strengthening security cooperation among Turkic states:

“Although economic relations and trade among Turkic states are growing, there is a need to strengthen cooperation in the military and defense fields. Azerbaijan and Türkiye aim to involve Central Asian countries in this military partnership, which includes increasing joint exercises and co-production of military equipment. Kazakhstan, though a member of the Russia-led CSTO, understands that the Kremlin’s attack on Ukraine represents a security risk for itself as well. Therefore, strengthening military cooperation with Azerbaijan and Türkiye is also in Astana’s own interest.”

Gabala Summit gives new momentum to Turkic unity

The 12th OTS Summit in Gabala can be considered the beginning of a new phase in the integration of the Turkic world. By hosting this summit, Azerbaijan strengthened its leadership within the organization and positioned itself as a strategic actor in Eurasia’s geopolitical balance.

Transport corridors, economic integration initiatives, security cooperation, and joint cultural projects can transform the OTS into a globally significant political-economic center in the future.

The Gabala Summit once again demonstrated that the unity of Turkic states is reinforced not only by historical and cultural ties but also by shared contemporary political and economic interests. This unity contributes both to regional stability and to the creation of new strategic realities across the Eurasian continent.

According to analysts, the international community’s attitude toward the OTS is twofold: the US and EU support integration through the Zangezur Corridor and the 5+1 format, while Russia, China, and Iran perceive it as a threat, despite the fact that Turkic integration is not directed against any state and is a demand of the times.

The OTS’s growing international influence

In his address, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that the OTS has become an important geopolitical center in international politics. Observer states — Hungary, Turkmenistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus — actively participated in the summit, demonstrating the organization’s expanding geographic and political influence. Hungary’s involvement also opens interesting perspectives for integrating Turkic cultural elements into Europe. At the same time, the organization is broadening its relations with the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and European structures, becoming a more visible and influential player internationally.

According to Elxan Shahinoglu, global interest in the OTS is growing: “Many countries are drawn by the region’s resources and transit opportunities. Central Asian states have gained access to global markets through Azerbaijan and Türkiye. In the future, the Zangezur Corridor will further strengthen the power of Turkic states. Therefore, the issue of granting observer status to interested countries has become more relevant. Due to the strong interest, a ‘TDT+’ format has become necessary, similar to those used by the EU and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. For example, non-EU countries are invited to EU Political Community summits, and non-SCO states can participate as observers. Ukraine has also expressed interest in joining the OTS as an observer, as the Tatars in Ukraine are of Turkic origin. Similarly, Mongolia and South Korea have also shown interest.”

Historic document – The Gabala Declaration

The signing of the Gabala Declaration was the culmination of the summit. This document is regarded as a reaffirmation of solidarity, mutual trust, and commitment to sovereignty and statehood principles within the Turkic world.
The Declaration is not just a political statement but also a concrete strategic framework for long-term cooperation. Through this document, OTS member states outline joint action plans and strengthen the legal and political basis for future integration processes.

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