Turkic states set out plans to deepen cooperation on transport, energy and trade at a summit in Ankara as the ongoing crisis in the Middle East continues raising new opportunities for the Turkic states. In a surprise move during the summit, Kazakhastan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev suggested inviting Russia to participate in the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) through its OTS Plus format or as an observer, “in order to enhance the standing and credibility of our Organisation." The proposal was made at the organisation's 13th summit hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, which concluded with the adoption of the Ankara Declaration. No agreement on Russia's participation was announced.
The OTS comprises Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan and is an alliance promoting economic and political cooperation among member states. The gathering also included Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, representing an observer state, while Azerbaijan was represented by Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. Turkey assumed the organisation's rotating chairmanship from Azerbaijan.
Erdoğan stressed the importance of unity among Turkic states amid growing geopolitical uncertainty, but focused much of his address on practical cooperation in cybersecurity, space technologies and digital trade. He proposed a common digital trade platform and a shared Turkic large language model covering the Oghuz, Kipchak and Karluk language groups. The Ankara Declaration called for progress on a cybersecurity agreement and consultations on establishing an OTS Cybersecurity Council.
It welcomed the completion of a joint 12U CubeSat and the signing of a framework agreement on space-industry cooperation. Erdoğan also backed contacts between Azerbaijan and Armenia aimed at lasting peace in the South Caucasus and called for diplomatic solutions to regional tensions. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called for expanding the OTS's international partnerships through an “Organization of Turkic States Plus” format involving third countries.
He proposed the “Turkic World – 100” programme, encompassing 100 strategic joint investment and industrial projects, with an emphasis on technological cooperation. On transport connectivity, he called for transforming the Middle Corridor and connected routes into an integrated economic system, supported by jointly managed logistics hubs. His other proposals included a multilateral agreement on mutual legal assistance in commercial matters, a Turkic Tourism Alliance and simplified cross-border travel using national identity cards.
Tokayev highlighted the growing importance of the Middle Corridor, which connects Central Asia with Europe through the Caspian Sea and the South Caucasus. He reported that freight volumes along the route had increased by 30% during the first nine months of the year, while transit shipments had risen by 90%. Rail freight between Kazakhstan and OTS countries had approached 40 million tonnes.
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