Euronews: Turkic states outline ambitious agenda at Gabala summit in Azerbaijan VIDEO

Leaders from Turkic-speaking countries gathered in Gabala, Azerbaijan, for the 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS), in what Euronews described as a forum “from regional unity to global influence.”

The feature report notes that, amid changing geopolitical landscapes and expanding economic clout, the Turkic states are emerging as a significant force on the world stage.

The summit brought together the heads of state of Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, with Turkmenistan and Hungary attending as observer countries. According to Euronews, the organisation has expanded far beyond its original mandate, now coordinating across 40 areas of cooperation—from infrastructure and trade to water management and even space exploration.

Azerbaijan, the host country, emphasised defence cooperation, previously a rarely discussed topic. Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Department, said the summit “is dedicated to the theme of Peace and Security. Today, security remains a key concern and top priority for all nations. Turkic World is our common family and emerging as a global centre of power."

OTS Secretary-General Kubanychbek Omuraliev highlighted the new OTS PLUS initiative, aimed at broadening collaboration with external partners. Uzbekistan proposed the creation of a permanent Turkic Economic Partnership Council, designed to establish a Turkic industrial alliance across sectors, including engineering, mining, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and food production. Plans were also announced for a “Green Corridor” electronic system to streamline trade and harmonise technical standards.

Kazakh Foreign Minister Ermek Kosherbaev outlined the country’s technological initiatives, emphasising Kazakhstan’s goal to become a fully digital state. The government has launched a national AI forum and developed the LM-AI system, which operates on Central Asia’s first supercomputer. Kazakhstan is inviting OTS partners to collaborate in accelerating digitalisation across member states.

The summit concluded with the adoption of the 14-page Gabala Declaration, containing 121 points. The declaration outlines intentions to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, and economic development, with a focus on the Trans-Caspian international transport route, while also strengthening border and cyber security.

By Aghakazim Guliyev