In today’s world where the global system is increasingly shifting into a very polarized structure, the importance of the regional organizations is rising significantly. The Turkic world, with its rooted economical, strategical and cultural connections in the Eurasian territory, is showing an effort to unite around a new shared vision for this new period. The Organization of Turkic States (OTS), founded in 2009, draws attention as one of the most concrete organizational reflections of this vision. The organization is not only a form of political solidarity mechanism, but also the driving force of the economic, technologic and cultural integration. The initiative to quickly launch the Turkic Investment Fund at the 12th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States stands out as a strong indicator of the mutual commitment about the future of the Turkic world.
Gabala Summit has become a turning point where the political and economic agenda of the Turkic world was redefined from the very beginning. Various leaders from Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and the other non-member observer states have participated in the meeting hosted by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. The key message that stands out at this summit is that Turkic unity must be based not only on historical and cultural roots, but also on common economic interests and security strategies. As emphasized in Aliyev’s speech, “development is impossible without security”; and on this account it is that of vital importance for the preservation of regional peace and the sustainability of economic cooperation.[i]
Within this scope that the implementation of the Turkic Investment Fund is considered as a step to further increase the capacity of the organization’s economic solidarity. Kazakhstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Yermek Koşerbayev has expressed that the fund was not only founded as a financial instrument but also as a platform to accelerate the partnership of the Turkic world on technological transformation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digitalization. It has also been emphasized at the summit that a multifaceted business partnership on certain sectors such as transportation, energy and defense must be carried out. The strengthening of the Trans-Caspian trade route, also known as the Middle Corridor, provides the Turkic states with the opportunity to become a strategic logistics hub between Asia and Europe.
The attempts of Azerbaijan to operationalize the Zangezur Corridor also is of great importance in this regard. It is expected of the Zangezur route to not only shorten the transportation around commercial routes but also to strengthen the economical and geopolitical integration between the Turkic states.[ii] In light of these developments, it is seen to be highly likely that the Organization of Turkic States will become a regional power center in areas such as energy security, transportation and the digital economy.
The call to the Turkic world to “engage in joint production in the field of AI with a large language model”, emphasized by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, represents a forward-thinking vision which blends cultural unity with technological innovation. This proposal carries the nature of a concrete step in the process of preserving and developing the digital cultural heritage of the Turkic world. Based on the plan to further develop the artificial intelligence supported language models, it is anticipated that this will initiate a new period that strengthens mutual alphabet and language unity. Within this, OTS is advancing steadily towards creating an integrated system, not only economically, but also in terms of cultural digital sovereignty. The shared emphasis of the leaders who participated in the Gabala Summit was to converge around the idea that “Turkic unity is a civilization project”. This perspective emphasizes a culture of solidarity based on shared identity, history and vision for the future, going far beyond traditional geopolitical calculations. Natural reserves, young population and geostrategic location of the Turkic world constitute the fundamental elements supporting this integration.[iii] In addition to these, the partnership established between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan within the framework of green energy applications also serves as an example to other countries, in terms of sustainable development. It is to be expected that the Turkic states will act together during the energy transition period, thereby contributing to regional energy security.
In conclusion, the development of OTS demonstrates that the historical ties of the Turkic world have been reshaped in line with the requirements of the current period. The Gabala Summit and the initiative of the Turkic Investment Fund, which took place on 7th of September 2025, has strengthened regional solidarity by institutionalizing economic partnerships. These actions also support the goal of Turkic states to become more visible and effective actors, not only on a regional level, but also on a global scale. Acting in like with the principles of peace, security and sustainable development, it is likely that the OTS will become one of the axes of stability in Eurasia in the future. Joint initiatives to be developed in the fields of technology, energy, and cultural diplomacy will strengthen both the material and spiritual unity of the Turkic world, thus, laying the groundwork for a shared vision of a “Turkic Century”.
[i] “Gabala hosts 12th Summit of OTS Council of Heads of State”, Aze Media, https://aze.media/gabala-hosts-12th-summit-of-ots-council-of-heads-of-state/, (Access Date: 08.10.2025).
[ii] “Kazakh FM Urges Swift Launch of Turkic Investment Fund to Boost Regional Cooperation”, The Astana Times, https://astanatimes.com/2025/10/kazakh-fm-urges-swift-launch-of-turkic-investment-fund-to-boost-regional-cooperation/, (Access Date: 08.10.2025).
[iii] Ibid.
