THE ROLE OF KAZAKHSTAN AND TURKEY IN THE FORMATION OF THE ORGANIZATION OF TURKIC STATES (OTS)

Abstract

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, new independent states with predominantly Turkic populations emerged on the global stage. The independence of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan marked the beginning of a new era of geopolitical and cultural integration within the Turkic world. Before this period, the Republic of Turkey was the only internationally recognized Turkic-speaking state [1]. During this historical moment, Turkey’s efforts to strengthen cultural, economic, and political ties with these countries played a crucial role. The Nakhchivan Summit in 2009 was a pivotal step toward establishing the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). While the organization existed before this under a different format, summits of Turkic-speaking states had been held since the early 1990s. The OTS was created to deepen cooperation based on the shared historical, cultural, and economic heritage of Turkic countries.

Kazakhstan, with its multi-vector foreign policy, has been recognized as one of the founding nations of the OTS, making a significant contribution to promoting stability and peace in the Eurasian region. Turkey, leveraging its international political experience and economic strength, has played an essential role in enhancing the OTS’s global reputation and consolidating its foundation. In 1992, the first summit of Turkic-speaking states’ leaders was held in Ankara, marking an important step toward unifying the Turkic world and forming the infrastructure of the Turkic Council. The close cooperation between Turkey and Kazakhstan was fundamental to the success of this process. The Nakhchivan Agreement, signed in 2009, established the institutional framework of the Turkic Council, elevating the bilateral cooperation between the two countries to a strategic level. This article examines the contributions of Kazakhstan and Turkey to the institutional development of the OTS, as well as their partnership in implementing joint economic and political initiatives. Furthermore, it explores the OTS’s role in deepening cultural integration among Turkic nations and ensuring regional security. The authors emphasize the leadership of Kazakhstan and Turkey within the OTS framework and assess the organization’s future development prospects. This study is one of the key scholarly works aimed at identifying new opportunities for international cooperation among Turkic-speaking states.