The 12th Summit of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (TDT), held in Gabala, Azerbaijan, on October 7, 2025, marked a new milestone in the geopolitical and economic integration of the Turkic world under the theme “Regional Peace and Security.” The summit, attended by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, with Hungary, Turkmenistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) serving as observers, saw significant decisions made in the areas of political, economic, security, and cultural cooperation.
The “TDT+” format, highlighted at the summit, reflects the organization’s goal of strengthening its multifaceted foreign policy approach and establishing balanced relations with global powers. Furthermore, decisions to hold a joint military exercise in 2026, monitor threats originating from Afghanistan, and increase coordination with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) demonstrate the TDT’s commitment to developing its regional security capacity. In this context, the Gabala Summit can be considered a significant step toward strengthening the strategic autonomy of the Turkic world and establishing an alternative geopolitical axis in Eurasia[i].
One of the most notable outcomes of the summit was the establishment of the TDT+ format. This format aims to expand TDT’s cooperation with external partners such as the United States (US) and European countries and support projects connecting the Turkic world to the West. Initiatives such as the Trump Pathway to International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), in particular, aim to strengthen TDT’s role in global energy and trade networks[ii].
Geopolitical Implications:
Integration with the West: The TRIPP and Middle Corridor initiatives have the potential to reduce Russia’s historical influence in the region by more strongly integrating Turkic states into Western economies. This increases the global importance of the TDT in terms of energy supply, transportation security, and trade corridors.
Risks: Russia is concerned about the weakening of its influence in the former Soviet region due to the corridors offering an alternative to its own energy lines. Therefore, Moscow risks slowing down the projects through diplomatic or economic means. Meanwhile, while China’s investments in Central Asia offer economic opportunities to member states, they also pose the risk of impacting regional stability due to increasing competition with the US.
Turkic World Strategy: Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s emphasis that the TDT “should not be an introverted structure” clearly demonstrates the organization’s goal of pursuing an autonomous foreign policy that balances relations between Russia, China, and the US. This approach reflects the Turkic World’s desire to be an independent actor, determining its own direction in Eurasian geopolitics.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s proposal at the summit to hold a joint TDT military exercise in 2026 is a significant step toward strengthening the organization’s security capacity. Türkiye’s NATO membership and other member states’ participation in the “Partnership for Peace” program demonstrate TDT’s potential for developing closer cooperation with Western security systems. Furthermore, the lifting of the long-standing US military embargo on Azerbaijan is considered a strategic development that strengthens TDT’s institutional capacity in the defense sector. Defense cooperation talks held among TDT countries during the 17th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) held in Türkiye in July 2025 reinforced this commitment. According to the decision taken at the summit, the next IDEF meeting will be held in Azerbaijan in 2026[iii].
The summit highlighted the security risks posed by instability in Afghanistan to TDT member countries. A potential conflict in the region could negatively impact the organization’s economic development and its ability to attract foreign investment. Therefore, TDT aims to develop joint security mechanisms to monitor and prevent threats originating from Afghanistan.
The Second Meeting of the Ministers of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation, held in Baku on October 24, 2025, marked a significant milestone that solidified the TDT’s vision of technological integration. TDT Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliyev stated that the updated 2025-2026 Activity Plan aims to strengthen cooperation among member states in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI), digital and green technologies, standardization, space research, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Drawing on the outcomes of the 12th TDT Summit held in Gabala on October 7, 2025, this plan aims to accelerate the organization’s transition from strategic partnership to technological integration[iv].
Ömüraliyev emphasized that the working groups and subgroups established under the 2024 Action Plan are advancing knowledge sharing in the fields of AI and digital transformation. International technology festivals, such as Technofest in Türkiye and Innoweek in Uzbekistan, play a key role in the development of innovation ecosystems. These events facilitate technology transfer between member countries and strengthen the innovation capacity of young entrepreneurs[v].
Common Turkic Patent Organization (CTPO): The first meeting of the heads of intellectual property institutions, held in Bishkek, initiated the process for establishing the CTPO. The CTPO is defined as a strategic regional initiative developed to protect intellectual property rights and promote innovation. This step increases the potential for TDT member countries to strengthen their technological autonomy and gain a competitive advantage in global value chains[vi].
The updated plan supports sustainable development goals by prioritizing green technologies. Standardization efforts increase technological compatibility among member states and facilitate efforts to establish a common market. Furthermore, support for space exploration and SMEs strengthens TDT’s economic diversification and innovation-focused growth strategies[vii].
The Turkic States Insurtech Summit, held in Baku on October 28-29, 2025, is emerging as a significant platform for strengthening economic and technological cooperation among TDT member countries[viii]. With the participation of regulatory authorities and insurance industry representatives from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), the summit focuses on digital transformation, innovative insurance technologies (InsurTech), and AI applications in the insurance sector. The support of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, the organizational leadership of the Turkish Ministry of Trade, and the collaboration between the Azerbaijan Insurers Association and the Service Exporters Association align the event with TDT’s strategy to enhance regional economic integration and global competitiveness[ix].
The 2025-2026 Action Plan enhances the potential of CIS countries to create an alternative technological and economic hub for Russian energy routes by integrating them with projects such as TRIPP. Cooperation in AI, digital technologies, and space exploration will enable CIS countries to become more competitive in global value chains. For example, the trade volume between CIS countries reaching $25 billion in 2024 has strengthened the economic basis for integration.
The 12th TDT Heads of State Summit held in Gabala demonstrates that the Turkic world has entered a new phase in political, economic, and security spheres. The summit not only supported the institutional development of the TDT but also demonstrated the organization’s determination to redefine its role in the global balance of power. In this context, the Gabala Summit can be considered a turning point in the Turkic world’s maturation of the vision of “strategic autonomy.”The TDT+ format, highlighted at the summit, institutionalizes the organization’s goal of positioning itself as a balancing actor in the multipolar international system. This format demonstrates the TDT’s determination to transform from a mere cultural solidarity platform into a geopolitical and economic powerhouse. The balanced relations established with the US, Europe, China, and Russia open up new avenues for maneuver for the Turkic states in both energy and transportation corridors and in the field of technology. Thus, the TDT is transforming from a passive bridge between East and West into an autonomous Eurasian actor that determines its own strategic direction.
However, the strategic rise of the TDT also poses certain geopolitical risks. Russia’s efforts to maintain its influence in the Middle Corridor, China’s economic dependence on regional investments, and security instability in Afghanistan stand out as key factors that could undermine the TDT’s regional integration process. Therefore, the TDT’s long-term success depends on its ability to diversify external partnerships and strengthen institutional coordination among member states.
In conclusion, the Gabala Summit was a decisive step in the process of establishing a strategic identity aligned with the requirements of the contemporary international system, drawing strength from the TDT’s historical legacy. The summit elevated the TDT beyond being merely a regional cooperation platform; it solidified the organization’s orientation toward becoming an independent Eurasian axis built on the principles of security solidarity, economic integration, and technological innovation. The Turkic World is emerging as a geopolitical center in its own right, ceasing to be a passive bridge in the multipolar order of the 21st century.
[i] “TDT Summit Advances Turkic Autonomy and Multi-Vector Foreign Policy”, The Jamestown Foundation, https://jamestown.org/program/TDT-summit-advances-turkic-autonomy-and-multi-vector-foreign-policy/, (Access Date: 24.10.2025).
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] “6th Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition”, ADEX, https://adex.az/en/main, (Access Date: 24.10.2025).
[iv] “TDT’den Sanayi, Bilim ve İnovasyon Alanında Önemli Adımlar”, TRT AVAZ, https://www.trtavaz.com.tr/haber/tur/turkistandan/tdtden-sanayi-bilim-ve-inovasyon-alaninda-onemli-adimlar/68fb26a97c27bb7ed1829a5f, (Erişim Tarihi: 24.10.2025); “Turkic States set course for technological integration under updated 2025–2026 TSO plan, Azernews, https://www.azernews.az/region/249257.html, (Access Date: 24.10.2025).
[v] Ibid.
[vi] Ibid.
[vii] Ibid.
[viii] “Baku to host Turkic States Insurtech Summit”, Apa, https://en.apa.az/finance/turkic-states-insurtech-summit-to-be-held-in-baku-481741,(Access Date: 24.10.2025).
[ix] Ibid.
