Turkic states set priorities Key takeaways from Bishkek Summit

On November 6, Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, hosted the 11th Summit of the Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), focusing on the theme "Empowering the Turkic World: Economic Integration, Sustainable Development, Digital Future, and Security for All." The summit, chaired by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, brought together the leaders of Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev; Kazakhstan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev; Uzbekistan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev; Türkiye, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan; and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, President Ersin Tatar. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán also participated.

In addition to the heads of state, the summit was attended by the secretaries-general and leaders of various Turkic cooperation organizations, including TURKSOY, TURKPA, the Turkic Investment Fund, the Council of Elders of the OTS, the Turkic Academy, and the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation.

The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was officially established on October 3, 2009. A significant milestone in the development of relations among Turkic countries was the signing of an agreement 15 years ago in Nakhchivan. At that time, the presidents of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Türkiye signed the Nakhchivan Agreement, which laid the foundation for the creation of the international organization known as the Turkic Council. In 2012, the flag of the Turkic Council was adopted. On November 12, 2021, during the 8th Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States in Istanbul, Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that the Turkic Council was officially renamed the Organization of Turkic States.

Azerbaijan, as one of the leading countries in the broader Turkic world, plays a key role in strengthening the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). This fact has been repeatedly emphasized by President Ilham Aliyev. During his inauguration speech on February 14, 2024, he highlighted: "This [OTS] is the main international organization for us, because it is our family. We have no other family. Our family is the Turkic world."

This commitment is primarily due to Azerbaijan’s strong focus on developing ties with Turkic-speaking countries. In this context, the following statement by the Azerbaijani president is particularly significant: "The Organization of Turkic States should become one of the prominent international forces." He made this remark during the informal summit of OTS heads of state held in Shusha on July 6, at which the landmark Garabagh Declaration was signed. In essence, this document serves as a "roadmap" for the entire Turkic world and is crucial for further strengthening Turkic unity and enhancing the international standing of the OTS. It is clear that the Shusha summit elevated the functionality of the organization to a qualitatively new level.

The Bishkek summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is particularly notable as it marks the 15th anniversary of the Nakhchivan Agreement. President Ilham Aliyev, in his address, emphasized the successful development of the organization over this period. Reflecting on the Garabagh Declaration signed during the informal summit in Shusha in July, Aliyev highlighted its contribution to further deepening cooperation within the OTS framework.

"Azerbaijan will continue its efforts to strengthen the Organization of Turkic States," the president assured, noting that the Garabagh Declaration was a key step in reinforcing ties between OTS members and reaffirming Azerbaijan's commitment to the organization’s growth.

Addressing global threats, Aliyev underscored the strategic importance of cooperation in defence, security, and the defence industry among Turkic states. " Given the growing global threats, our cooperation in defence, security, and the defence industry is of tremendous importance. Cooperation among our law enforcement and security agencies has expanded in recent times," said the president.

The upcoming COP29 climate conference, set to take place in Baku, was also a key focus of President Ilham Aliyev’s speech. Given that nearly 200 countries supported Azerbaijan’s candidacy in December 2023, the president expressed confidence that OTS member states would actively participate in the upcoming event, seeing it as a sign of respect and support from the international community for Azerbaijan.

"I am sure that the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States will actively participate in the COP29 conference," said President Aliyev, sending a strong message to the international community.

In the context of the OTS, it is also significant that Hungary, a European country, is involved, sending a message to the European Union that Hungary does not view the EU as its only path forward. Furthermore, it has been revealed that Budapest will host the informal OTS summit in 2025, as announced by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov during a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

"We fully support Hungary’s initiative to host the next informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Budapest in 2025. We have already expressed our support for your initiative. We are very pleased that the Budapest informal summit will take place under our chairmanship of the Organization of Turkic States," assured President Sadyr Japarov.

Hungary’s example demonstrates that the Turkic factor holds a special place even in the heart of Europe, which undoubtedly reflects the high authority of the OTS within the international arena. It is particularly noteworthy that the strong, friendly relations between the leaders of Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Hungary have played a significant role in expanding the OTS’s geographic scope to include a European country that has preserved its sovereignty within the EU.