Turkic States Organization enters new phase as Türkiye takes chair from Azerbaijan

The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) has continued its institutional development over the 17 years since the Nakhchivan Agreement was signed, despite regional crises and wars. With Türkiye taking over the rotating chairmanship from Azerbaijan, the organization is expected to move into a new phase of economic, political and strategic cooperation.

International relations expert Buğra Bekir Işılak said the member and observer states cover about 4.8 million square kilometers and a population of 180 million. He noted that their combined gross domestic product is about $2.11 trillion and foreign trade volume reaches $1.12 trillion, and said the key task ahead is turning this potential into concrete gains.

The 13th OTS Summit, held in Ankara on October 30, also brought a change in the post of secretary general. Kyrgyzstan's Kubanichbek Omuraliev was followed by Uzbekistan's Mirvahid Azimov. Işılak also pointed to Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's proposal of 100 joint investment and industrial projects, which he said could give greater prominence to economic cooperation.