Turkic states adopt Ankara Declaration at summit as Kazakhstan floats Russia role

Leaders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) adopted the Ankara Declaration at their 13th summit in Ankara, setting out plans to deepen cooperation on transport, energy and trade. Euronews reported the summit was hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev suggested inviting Russia to take part in the organization through its OTS Plus format or as an observer, "in order to enhance the standing and credibility of our Organisation." No agreement on Russia's participation was announced.

The OTS comprises Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdimuhamedov attended for an observer state, while Azerbaijan sent Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. Turkey took over the rotating chairmanship from Azerbaijan.

Tokayev said freight volumes on the Middle Corridor, which links Central Asia with Europe via the Caspian Sea and the South Caucasus, rose by 30 per cent in the first nine months of the year. He said transit shipments increased by 90 per cent and rail freight between Kazakhstan and OTS countries neared 40 million tonnes.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called for turning the corridor and connected routes into an integrated economic system with jointly managed logistics hubs. The declaration also cited the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway and the proposed Trans-Afghan railway, endorsed closer customs cooperation and encouraged a common transport corridors strategy.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov urged linking the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway with the Middle Corridor. Berdimuhamedov said Turkmenistan was ready to use its Turkmenbashi port to expand Caspian transit.

Mirziyoyev proposed a "Turkic World – 100" program of 100 strategic joint investment and industrial projects. "Priority should be given to the full processing of rare and strategic minerals, the localization of production of equipment for green energy, and the manufacture of high-value added products," he said. He also called for an "OTS Plus" format involving third countries.

Erdoğan proposed a common digital trade platform and a shared Turkic large language model covering the Oghuz, Kipchak and Karluk language groups. The declaration called for progress on a cybersecurity agreement and consultations on an OTS Cybersecurity Council, and welcomed a completed joint 12U CubeSat.

Tokayev reiterated that the organization should not become a military bloc. "The Organization of Turkic States is not and in the future should not turn into a military alliance. This is Kazakhstan's position," he said.

Before the summit, Turkey and Uzbekistan signed agreements to create a High-Level Business Support Council, expand preferential trade, strengthen social security cooperation and improve customs information exchange. Erdoğan and Tokayev reaffirmed a goal of raising bilateral trade to $15 billion.

Bayramov said a de facto state of peace exists in the South Caucasus but that Azerbaijan expects Armenia to take steps toward a peace treaty. The summit named Uzbekistan's Mirvokhid Azimov as the next OTS secretary general, succeeding Kubanychbek Omuraliev, and chose Uzbekistan to host the 2027 summit. Japarov proposed hosting an informal summit on Aug. 5-6, 2027.