The Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) is rapidly transforming into a strategic regional hub, offering member states an independent geopolitical path, analysts say.
Its growing influence now spans security, trade, digital innovation, and economic integration across Eurasia.
This transformation was highlighted at the 12th Summit, held on 7 October 2025 in Gabala, Azerbaijan, where leaders adopted the Gabala Declaration, committing to deepen cooperation across more than 40 sectors, including security, economy, education, innovation, transport, and space collaboration.
Another key development at the summit was the launch of OTS+, a framework designed to allow partnerships with non-Turkic states and external organisations, signalling a shift from an ethnic-based model to a broader geopolitical platform.
Innovation is emerging as a core priority. Kazakhstan aims to become a fully digital state, Uzbekistan is developing a tech workforce of over 200,000 professionals, and Türkiye continues exporting defence and digital technologies.
The OTS is coordinating the creation of a Turkic Digital Innovation Centre and a Turkic AI Network, while digitising transport corridors, Times of Central Asia reports.
For member states, security remains central. Leaders described the OTS as an emerging “power centre,” capable of promoting regional stability and coordinating defence initiatives.
By linking transport, trade, digital, and economic integration, the organisation is increasingly positioning itself as a fully-fledged regional bloc, with the potential to shape the Caucasus, Central Asia, and broader Eurasian geopolitics.
Infrastructure and trade initiatives
Member states reaffirmed support for key transport corridors, including the Trans-Caspian International East–West Middle Corridor and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway, connecting Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Europe.
Analysts suggest these corridors could facilitate trade worth billions of dollars in the coming years.
The summit also included participation from the Turkic Investment Fund, which supports projects across member states. The OTS now oversees more than 40 multilateral programmes, covering AI, green technology, digital government, and SME support.
From hosting working group meetings in Baku to coordinating multi-billion-dollar corridors and partnerships with non-Turkic states, the OTS demonstrates a rapid evolution from a symbolic cultural organisation into a strategic regional hub.
The Middle East crisis intensifies after the deadly attack on the compound of the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei on Saturday t...
The U.S.-Iran crisis has entered its third day, with further strikes reported across the Middle East and the death toll rising. Oil prices have sur...
Israel carried out heavy airstrikes on the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut on Monday (2 March), af...
Türkiye and Iran have suspended day-trip passenger crossings at their shared border, Türkiye's trade minister said Monday, as a ...
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov following recent mil...
A new platform uniting Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) from the Member Countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was launched in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan, on Tuesday, with MP Azer Allahveranov elected as its chairman.
Leaders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) signed the Gabala Declaration at the 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State, outlining new priorities for political, economic, and cultural cooperation across the Turkic world.
President Ilham Aliyev welcomed the heads of state and government participating in the 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States, held in Gabala on October 7.
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev chaired the first OTS Central Banks Council meeting in Astana, calling for greater financial cooperation amid global economic shifts.
Follow the latest developments and global reaction after the U.S. and Israel launched “major combat operations” in Iran, prompting retaliation from Tehran.
Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Saudi Aramco closed its Ras Tanura refinery on Monday following an Iranian drone strike, an industry source told Reuters as Tehran retaliated across the Gulf after a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iranian targets over the weekend.
The Kremlin is utilising the recent United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran to validate its ongoing war in Ukraine. Russian officials are pointing to the escalation in the Middle East as evidence that Western nations do not adhere to international rules.
The Middle East crisis intensifies after the deadly attack on the compound of the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei on Saturday that killed him, other family members and senior figures. Iran has launched retaliatory strikes on U.S. targets in the region.
Ayatollah Alireza Arafi has moved into a pivotal constitutional role following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, becoming the clerical member of Iran’s temporary leadership council under Article 111 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Türkiye and Iran have suspended day-trip passenger crossings at their shared border, Türkiye's trade minister said Monday, as a U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran entered its third day.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov following recent military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on targets in Iran, as tensions in the Middle East continue to rise.
Uzbekistan has expressed deep concern over the rapid escalation of tensions in the Middle East, urging restraint and diplomatic resolution as the conflict begins to affect civilian aviation and regional security.
As tensions escalate in the Middle East, Kazakhstan is assessing the impact on its trade routes, diplomatic ties and citizens in the region. Analysts say the crisis could test Astana’s ability to balance economic interests, security concerns and foreign policy priorities.
Israel carried out heavy airstrikes on the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut on Monday (2 March), after the Iran-backed group launched missiles and drones towards Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment