Organization of Turkic States

The Organization of Turkic States (OTS; Turkish: Türk Devletleri Teşkilatı, TDT) is an intergovernmental organization established by the Nakhchivan Agreement on 3 October 2009. Full members are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. The secretariat is based in Istanbul.

The organization's former name was the Turkic Council. At the eighth summit in Istanbul on 12 November 2021, leaders decided to change the name to Organization of Turkic States. Uzbekistan became a full member at the seventh summit in Baku in 2019. Current observer members are Hungary (2018), Turkmenistan (2021), the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (2022), and the Economic Cooperation Organization (2023).

Origins and structure

Meetings of leaders of Turkic-speaking states began in 1992 and then became regular summits without a permanent institutional framework. The 2009 Nakhchivan Agreement replaced this with a formal structure featuring a permanent secretariat, annual summits, and decision-making based on consensus. In 2021, leaders adopted a strategic document entitled "Turkic World Vision 2040", which sets long-term goals in trade, transportation, education, culture, and research.

Structure and leadership

The supreme body is the Council of Heads of State, which holds an annual summit. There is also a Council of Foreign Ministers, which prepares documents for signature, and a secretariat based in Istanbul. The current Secretary General is Kubanychbek Omuraliev, ambassador of Kyrgyzstan, who has held office since November 2022; he was preceded by Baghdad Amreyev of Kazakhstan (2018–2022). Nursultan Nazarbayev was appointed honorary chairman.

Affiliated bodies

The organization oversees several bodies specific to the Turkic world: TÜRKSOY (culture and arts), TURKPA (Parliament of Turkic States), the International Turkic Academy, the Foundation for Turkic Culture and Heritage, and the Turkic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI). These bodies implement cultural and educational programs through formal meetings.

Economics and transport connectivity

Economic cooperation centres heavily on the Middle Corridor—a transport route through Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, and the Caucasus that moves goods to Europe without passing through Russia. In 2022, leaders decided in Samarkand to establish the Turkic Investment Fund (TIF); the founding agreement was signed at an extraordinary summit in Ankara on 16 March 2023 and entered into force on 24 February 2024 after ratification by member states. Initial capital was stated as 500 million dollars, with the first Governing Board meeting held in Istanbul on 18 May 2024.

Recent summits

The ninth summit took place in Samarkand (2022), the tenth in Astana (November 2023), the eleventh in Bishkek (6 November 2024), and the twelfth in Gabala, Azerbaijan, on 6–7 October 2025 on the theme "Peace and Security in the Region". The Gabala summit was preceded by a joint statement from Azerbaijan and Armenia on 8 August 2025. The thirteenth summit is planned for Ankara on 29–30 October 2026.

Regional political context

Regional analysts note that the organization has shifted from purely cultural cooperation to an agenda encompassing economics, transport, and, latterly, security. Moscow views the growth of Ankara's influence as a shift from its traditional cultural position in Central Asia, while Beijing is wary of positions relating to Turkic identity recognition due to concerns over Xinjiang. Member states, particularly Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, maintain a balanced foreign policy that does not antagonize their relations with Russia and China.