Erdoğan’s Kazakhstan visit highlights deeper Turkic cooperation amid global instability

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Kazakhstan comes amid rising geopolitical uncertainty across Eurasia, as conflicts in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East reshape trade routes, security priorities, and regional cooperation.

Against this backdrop, Türkiye and Kazakhstan are increasingly positioning their relationship within both bilateral frameworks and broader multilateral platforms, particularly the Organisation of Turkic States.

The visit also comes amid growing efforts by Turkic states to strengthen coordination in emerging sectors such as digital development, artificial intelligence, and transport connectivity. At the same time, the Middle Corridor - linking Asia and Europe via the Caspian region - has gained renewed strategic importance as global supply chains diversify away from traditional routes.

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Against this backdrop, AnewZ’s Bakhtiyar Hasanov spoke to Yaşar Sarı, Director of the Heydar Aliyev Centre for Eurasian Studies, to assess the significance of the visit and whether it signals a new phase in Türkiye–Kazakhstan relations.

“The visit has two important reasons”

Speaking to AnewZ, Sarı outlined the dual focus of President Erdoğan’s visit, highlighting both bilateral cooperation and broader regional coordination.

“The visit is has two important reasons. The first is the bilateral relation between Türkiye and Kazakhstan. Erdoğan attended the sixth meeting of the Kazakhstan–Türkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Astana. And the second reason is the unofficial meeting of the head of the state of the organisation of Turkic state. Especially, they are concentrated on a very important area, artificial intelligence and digital development.”

He noted that the relationship between the two countries has traditionally been based on both bilateral and multilateral cooperation, but is now increasingly shifting towards a stronger focus on investment, trade, and strategic economic connectivity.

“Long time, the Türkiye-Kazakhstan relation is based on the bilateral and the multilateral relations. But this time, they emphasise on the investment and trade level. Currently, the trade level of Türkiye and Kazakhstan is the $5.4 billion. These two presidents, both Erdoğan and Tokayev, wants to increase this trade economic relation.”

Regional instability shaping cooperation

Sarı also stressed that wider geopolitical instability is accelerating cooperation among Turkic states, particularly as global supply chains and transit routes are reassessed. He said this context is strengthening interest in alternative corridors linking Asia and Europe, with the Middle Corridor emerging as a key strategic route.

“In that sense, this is not only the both side wants to increase the relation. But also, as we know already, fighting's happening in the Gulf region, in the Ukraine. That's giving the opportunity to organisation of Turkic state, to act together in order to benefit the current condition, and making the Middle Corridor most reliable, viable corridor linking the East and West.”

Key agreements signed during Erdoğan’s visit to Astana

Türkiye and Kazakhstan signed 13 agreements covering investment, energy, defence, education, media, infrastructure, and finance during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Astana.

Among the key outcomes was a joint declaration on eternal friendship and partnership between the two countries, alongside agreements on investment promotion and protection, cultural centres, and amendments to legal cooperation in civil matters.

In education and cultural cooperation, the sides agreed on a joint scholarship programme and plans to establish Turkish Maarif Foundation schools in Kazakhstan.

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Infrastructure and investment cooperation was also expanded through agreements involving Almaty International Airport and hospital construction projects.

Media and financial cooperation were strengthened through a broadcasting memorandum and an agreement between the Astana International Financial Centre and the Istanbul Financial Center.

In the energy sector, agreements were signed on oilfield services and joint oil and gas development projects, while defence cooperation included plans for a joint venture focused on the production and maintenance of ANKA unmanned aerial vehicles.

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