The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) has agreed to deepen cooperation on transport, energy, trade and digital technology at a summit in Ankara, highlighting the growing importance of links between Central Asia, the South Caucasus and European markets.
The Ankara Declaration set out priorities including the Middle Corridor, customs cooperation, cybersecurity and space technology. Kazakhstan also proposed that Russia could participate in the organisation’s wider OTS Plus format or become an observer, although no agreement on Russian participation was announced.
What was agreed at the Ankara summit?
The 13th OTS summit was hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and concluded with the adoption of the Ankara Declaration. Turkey took over the organisation’s rotating chairmanship from Azerbaijan, while Uzbekistan was selected to host the next summit in 2027.
The OTS includes Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan attended as an observer state, while Azerbaijan was represented by Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.
The declaration and summit discussions focused on several areas:
- Developing transport corridors linking Asia with Europe
- Improving customs coordination and logistics infrastructure
- Expanding trade, investment and energy cooperation
- Building cooperation in cybersecurity and space technology
- Exploring digital trade and artificial intelligence projects
The Middle Corridor becomes a central priority
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, commonly known as the Middle Corridor, connects Central Asia with Europe through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. It offers an alternative to routes that cross Russia, although its expansion depends on improvements to ports, border procedures, rail links and logistics capacity.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said freight volumes on 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 other OTS countries had approached 40 million tonnes, according to the information presented at the summit.
The declaration also supported closer coordination on the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway and the proposed Trans-Afghan railway. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov called for the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan line to be connected with the Middle Corridor.
For European businesses, stronger east-west connections could create additional options for moving goods between China, Central Asia and the European single market. However, the corridor remains constrained by infrastructure gaps, limited port capacity and different customs systems.
Uzbekistan proposes 100 industrial projects
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed a “Turkic World – 100” programme involving 100 strategic joint investment and industrial projects. The initiative would place particular emphasis on critical minerals, green-energy equipment and higher-value manufacturing.
Mirziyoyev called for greater processing of rare and strategic minerals within the region, alongside the localisation of equipment production for renewable energy. He also proposed an OTS Plus framework to expand partnerships with countries outside the organisation.
Other Uzbek proposals included jointly managed logistics hubs, a commercial legal-assistance agreement, a Turkic Tourism Alliance and simpler cross-border travel using national identity cards.
Digital trade, cybersecurity and space cooperation
President Erdoğan used his address to promote practical cooperation in cybersecurity, space technology and digital commerce. He proposed a common digital trade platform and a shared large language model designed to cover the Oghuz, Kipchak and Karluk language groups.
The Ankara Declaration called for further work on a cybersecurity agreement and consultations on creating an OTS Cybersecurity Council. It also welcomed the completion of a joint 12U CubeSat and the signing of a framework agreement on space-industry cooperation.
Tokayev stressed that the organisation should remain focused on cooperation rather than becoming a military alliance. His comments reflected the OTS’s stated emphasis on economic, political and cultural coordination.
Energy and regional diplomacy
Turkmenistan said it was ready to make greater use of the Turkmenbashi port to expand transit across the Caspian Sea. The country also called for closer cooperation in energy, industry and agriculture.
Azerbaijan’s foreign minister highlighted his country’s role in regional energy infrastructure, digital connectivity and the Middle Corridor. He also supported efforts to obtain observer status for the OTS at the United Nations General Assembly.
Discussions also addressed relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Bayramov said a de facto peace existed in the South Caucasus but argued that further political and legal steps were needed before a peace treaty could be signed. Erdoğan welcomed the reconciliation process and called for diplomatic solutions to regional tensions.
Turkey strengthens ties with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan
Separate bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit produced additional agreements. Turkey and Uzbekistan agreed to establish a High-Level Business Support Council and signed arrangements covering preferential trade, social security cooperation and customs information exchange.
In talks with Tokayev, Erdoğan reaffirmed Turkey and Kazakhstan’s ambition to raise bilateral trade to $15 billion, approximately €13.5 billion. The discussions also covered transport, energy, investment, artificial intelligence and defence-industry cooperation.
What happens next?
Uzbekistan will host the next OTS summit in 2027. Mirvokhid Azimov was named as the organisation’s incoming secretary general, succeeding Kubanychbek Omuraliev.
The immediate challenge will be turning the Ankara Declaration’s political commitments into funded projects, functioning logistics links and coordinated rules. For European markets, the Middle Corridor could become more significant as governments and companies seek diversified supply chains, but its competitiveness will depend on reliable transit times, efficient customs procedures and continued regional stability.
The summit therefore represents a framework for cooperation rather than a completed transport agreement or a new binding European policy. Its importance will be measured by whether the participating states can deliver the infrastructure, digital systems and commercial arrangements needed to connect Central Asia more effectively with Europe.
Conclusion
The Ankara summit placed the Middle Corridor, industrial investment and digital cooperation at the centre of the Organization of Turkic States’ agenda. For Europe, the plans could create additional trade and supply-chain links with Central Asia, but substantial infrastructure and coordination work remains before those opportunities can be fully realised.