Leaders and senior officials of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) adopted a comprehensive 163-point Ankara Declaration on October 30, 2026, at the close of the organization’s 13th Council of Heads of State Summit in Ankara.
Hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan under the theme “Turkic Century: Unity in Language, Thought and Deed,” the gathering marked Türkiye’s assumption of the rotating chairmanship from Azerbaijan and the appointment of a new secretary-general.
The summit brought together presidents from Kazakhstan (Kassym-Jomart Tokayev), Uzbekistan (Shavkat Mirziyoyev), Kyrgyzstan (Sadyr Japarov), and Turkmenistan (Serdar Berdimuhamedov, as observer), along with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Tufan Erhürman (observer).
Azerbaijan was represented by Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. Hungary also holds observer status. The event coincided with celebrations of the 103rd anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye.
Key Outcomes and Leadership Transition
Türkiye took over the OTS term presidency, which it will hold until the next summit. Leaders appointed Mirvokhid Azimov of Uzbekistan as the new Secretary-General, succeeding Kubanychbek Omuraliev of Kyrgyzstan. The 14th summit is scheduled for Uzbekistan in 2027, with an informal summit planned in Kyrgyzstan the same year.
The Ankara Declaration, signed in Turkish, Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Uzbek, reaffirmed respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and internationally recognized borders.
It welcomed progress on a draft Treaty on Strategic Partnership, Eternal Friendship and Brotherhood among Turkic states and encouraged completion of the OTS Strategy for 2027–2031 as the next phase of the Turkic World Vision 2040.
Priority Areas of Cooperation
The declaration outlined plans to deepen ties across multiple domains:
Defense and security: Leaders called for exploring the establishment of an OTS Defense Industry College program hosted by Türkiye to enhance technical expertise, personnel training, and knowledge sharing. This builds on a defense industry cooperation roadmap adopted earlier in Baku. They also accelerated consultations on creating an OTS Cybersecurity Council and a Council for Combating Crime, alongside broader security consultations.
Transport and connectivity: Emphasis was placed on developing the Trans-Caspian East-West Middle Corridor, maximizing the capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, advancing the Zangezur Corridor, and related regional links to boost Asia-Europe trade.
Energy: Support was expressed for regional green energy corridors, including progress on the Central Asia-Azerbaijan Green Energy Corridor and related projects linking the Caspian, Black Sea, and Europe, as well as existing infrastructure such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and Southern Gas Corridor.
Trade, digital, and economic integration: The document welcomed growth in intra-OTS trade and called for simplifying customs procedures, reducing barriers, mutual recognition of electronic signatures, and digital cooperation. Cultural measures included support for a common Turkic alphabet of 34 letters.
Regional and International Positions
On Cyprus, the leaders stressed the need for a sustainable settlement based on the island’s existing realities and support for the inherent equal rights of Turkish Cypriots.
On Gaza, they called for an immediate ceasefire, full implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions including Resolution 2803, delivery of humanitarian aid, and a lasting two-state solution. The declaration also affirmed support for Syria’s unity, territorial integrity, security, stability, and reconstruction.
In his address, Erdoğan highlighted the shared heritage of Turkic nations and framed closer cooperation as a strategic necessity, stating there is “no room for division, separation or discord” in the Turkic world.
He outlined priorities for Türkiye’s chairmanship, including stronger cultural and linguistic ties, facilitated travel, and greater integration.
The Ankara Declaration positions the OTS as an increasingly influential platform for regional coordination and a constructive contributor to international peace, stability, and prosperity.
It reflects the member states’ intent to translate historical and cultural affinity into practical cooperation across security, economy, connectivity, and culture.
