Astana and Ankara Are Investing in a New Regional Architecture
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s state visit to Kazakhstan marked one of the most significant foreign policy developments for the entire Turkic world. In Astana, the leaders of the two countries held bilateral talks and reaffirmed their intention to elevate Kazakhstan-Türkiye cooperation to a new qualitative level.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described the Turkish leader’s visit as a “historic event,” emphasizing the “unwavering friendly, brotherly relations and eternal partnership” between Kazakhstan and Türkiye. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, for his part, stated that the current meeting would “make a significant contribution to strengthening the unity of the brotherly peoples.”
Against the backdrop of increasing geopolitical turbulence, the transformation of global logistics routes, and the strengthening of the Organization of Turkic States’ role, the talks in Astana take on significance far beyond the bilateral agenda. Experts are increasingly viewing Kazakhstan and Türkiye as the emerging center of a new Eurasian cooperation architecture.
inbusiness.kz discussed the strategic importance of the visit, the future of the Organization of Turkic States, the Middle Corridor, and the roles of Astana and Ankara in Eurasia with Prof. Dr. Mehmet Seyfettin Erol, President of ANKASAM, faculty member at Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University, and an expert on Turkish international relations and Eurasian geopolitics.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit as a historic event capable of giving a strong impetus to bilateral cooperation. Can the current stage of Kazakhstan-Türkiye relations truly be assessed as a new level of strategic partnership?
— Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s state visit to Kazakhstan on May 13–14, 2026, marks a historic step toward deepening the “enhanced strategic partnership” between the two countries at both the institutional and practical levels.
The current stage of cooperation between Türkiye and Kazakhstan clearly demonstrates that the Turkic world has moved beyond being merely a traditional geographical region and is increasingly transforming into one of the most important geopolitical, energy, and logistics hubs in a multipolar world.
For this reason, the visit in question should be viewed as a turning point that will further deepen the Eurasia-centered geopolitical and economic ties between the two states.
The meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council is not only the institutional foundation of this transformation but also its most concrete manifestation.
Today, the leaders of the two countries are also holding the sixth meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. What significance do such mechanisms hold for long-term and sustainable partnership?
— We can say that relations between Türkiye and Kazakhstan have shifted from a cyclical model to a process of structural deepening.
This situation signifies the strengthening of long-term mutual interdependence, which will ensure that cooperation is far less affected by political fluctuations.
Such mechanisms form the institutional resilience of our relations. They lay the groundwork for deeper integration in the fields of the economy, logistics, energy, the digital economy, and regional security.
In my view, in the coming years, the volume of bilateral trade will not only exceed the current target of $10 billion but could also approach the $15 billion mark.
The development of joint projects, particularly in the fields of energy, logistics, mining, and the digital economy, will be of great importance.
In recent years, Kazakhstan and Türkiye have been actively expanding their cooperation in the fields of trade, logistics, education, the defense industry, and diplomacy. Which areas hold the greatest strategic potential?
— The most strategic sector is undoubtedly transportation and logistics
The development of the Middle Corridor could transform Kazakhstan and Türkiye into a key transit bridge between China and Europe.
Energy cooperation is equally important. While Kazakhstan possesses significant energy and mineral resources, Türkiye aims to become an energy hub.
In the defense industry sector, there is also significant potential, particularly in unmanned technologies, joint production, and technology transfer.
In the future, joint projects in the fields of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, space technologies, and higher education will gain increasing importance.
While President Tokayev has repeatedly emphasized the importance of Kazakhstan’s multifaceted foreign policy, President Erdoğan is actively strengthening Türkiye’s influence in Eurasia. How are Astana and Ankara balancing national interests with regional integration today?
— To be frank, we are seeing a highly balanced and long-term approach.
Kazakhstan and Türkiye are striking a successful balance between national interests and regional integration, based on pragmatic projects grounded in the “win-win” principle and full respect for sovereign rights.
President Tokayev’s multifaceted foreign policy and Türkiye’s strategy to strengthen its presence in Eurasia do not conflict with one another. On the contrary, they are increasingly creating a complementary synergy.
In this context, the development of the Middle Corridor, the strengthening of the Organization of Turkic States, economic diversification, and defense industry cooperation have become top priorities.
Tomorrow, an informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States will be held in Turkistan. Could the OTS eventually evolve into a more effective geopolitical and geoeconomic platform for Eurasia?
— Yes, the Organization of Turkic States could, over time, evolve into a far more effective geopolitical and geoeconomic platform in Eurasia.
Recent international crises, including the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions surrounding Iran, demonstrate just how much the importance of transportation corridors, energy security, and regional coordination has grown.
In this context, the Turkic states are increasingly feeling the need to deepen their integration.
The development of the Middle Corridor is of particular importance, as this route is becoming one of the key pathways connecting the East and the West today.
In fact, we are witnessing the institutionalization process of Turkic geopolitics.
The world is currently undergoing a period of significant geopolitical fragmentation. How can Kazakhstan and Türkiye play a joint role in strengthening stability and cooperation in Eurasia?
— As of today, Kazakhstan and Türkiye are playing a balancing and stabilizing role in Eurasia.
These two countries possess complementary capabilities. While Kazakhstan is a resource-rich Central Asian state, Türkiye serves as a vital logistical and diplomatic hub connecting Europe, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean.
Together, they can establish a new Eurasian balance based on geopolitical complementarity.
This is particularly significant in the current period, as global supply chains undergo major transformations.
As the importance of the Middle Corridor grows, within the context of energy security and supply diversification, Kazakhstan and Türkiye can emerge not only as states adapting to the new multipolar system but also as nations capable of shaping new rules and balancing interests in Eurasia.
How do you assess the personal role of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in strengthening bilateral relations?
— Undoubtedly, the personal diplomacy of the two leaders plays a very important role here.
The approach of both presidents is shaped by a strategic vision, pragmatism, and a quest for constructive cooperation.
For this reason, President Erdoğan’s visit to Kazakhstan should be viewed not as a routine diplomatic event, but as a new phase in the strategic deepening of ties within the Turkic world.
Today, relations between Kazakhstan and Türkiye are increasingly moving beyond traditional bilateral cooperation and evolving into a multi-layered geopolitical partnership.
https://inbusiness.kz/ru/last/kazahstan-i-turciya-ukreplyayut-vliyanie-v-evrazii
