Turkic ‘family’ set for key Ankara summit to tackle challenges

Türkiye is preparing to host leaders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Ankara on Oct. 29-30. Turkish officials often describe the meeting as a “family council” of kindred countries, and critical decisions are expected on the path toward the “Century of the Turkic World” vision.

The presidents of member states Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, along with observer states Hungary, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Turkmenistan, are expected to attend. The OTS presidency will pass from Azerbaijan to Türkiye, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will hold bilateral meetings with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and other leaders. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is scheduled to arrive in Ankara on Oct. 28 for a bilateral visit.

Economic and trade ties, transport and energy connectivity, and cooperation in education and technology are on the agenda. The OTS was established as the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States under the Nakhchivan Agreement signed on Oct. 3, 2009, and renamed at the 2021 Istanbul summit.