Turkic States Summit to Forge New East-West Corridors

Leaders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) are set to convene in Gabala, Azerbaijan, on October 6-7 for their 12th summit, with a focus on “Regional Peace and Security.” The meeting comes at a time of significant global shifts, where cooperation and integration among Turkic nations are gaining unprecedented importance, according to OTS Deputy Secretary General Omer Kocaman, who spoke at a recent conference of OTS think tanks in Baku.

The precursor event in Baku, the 11th conference of its kind, gathered analysts to brainstorm on the theme of the OTS as a regional actor amidst global uncertainty. Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Board of the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center), highlighted the organization’s expanding membership and growing authority. “Today, we can confidently say that the OTS truly serves peace and cooperation in the region, as its framework, unlike others, is based on the principle of equality,” Shafiyev remarked.

Outlining the organization’s ambitious vision, Kocaman emphasized the collective strengths of the Turkic world, including its vast geography, powerful military potential, rich resources, strategic transport corridors, and youthful population. “We must unite our efforts for the OTS to become an influential player and a center of power on the world stage,” he stated, underscoring Azerbaijan’s pivotal role as a hub for trade, transport, and logistics.

Connectivity is at the heart of this strategy, with the Middle Corridor—also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route—being a central focus. Hungary, an observer state in the OTS, is prepared to act as a gateway for Turkic integration with the European Union, according to Laszlo Vasa of the Hungarian Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Zhandos Shaimardanov, Director of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, described the corridor as more than a transport route, calling it a “Turkic symbol of diplomacy and transport connectivity” that strengthens stability.

Parallel to this, the Zangezur corridor project is gaining momentum. Turkey has already initiated the construction of a 224-kilometer railway line from Kars to Dilucu, which will connect its rail network to Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian territory. This route is seen as a critical element for fostering sub-regional cooperation between Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey, boosting trade and linking industrial zones. Mirvohid Azimov, another OTS Deputy Secretary General, called the Zangezur corridor a “key transport artery, comparable in importance to the Bosphorus,” essential for connecting Central Asia to Europe and establishing Azerbaijan as a primary Eurasian transit hub.

The strategic importance of these corridors has not gone unnoticed by global powers. The United States has expressed interest in the Zangezur route for energy transit. “Azerbaijan has rich energy resources, and I believe that through the corridor… it is possible to deliver more natural gas from the country to Europe,” U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright was quoted as saying on September 27. He emphasized that developing Azerbaijan’s resources for export to Western markets, bypassing Russia, opens up significant opportunities for future cooperation.

Further enhancing regional logistics, the OTS is developing additional projects, including a joint ferry service on the Caspian Sea. A recent memorandum signed by Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, with Turkey expected to join, will create a trilateral mechanism to significantly increase cargo transport and strengthen infrastructure links. Other key projects include a green energy corridor across the Black Sea and a fiber-optic cable line between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, forming what experts term a Caspian-Black Sea “double corridor.” As Shaimardanov noted, “Shared infrastructure creates shared interests,” fostering trust and reducing vulnerabilities.

For Uzbekistan, the OTS is already its third-largest trading partner, with an annual turnover of around $10 billion. Tashkent views the Middle Corridor not merely as a transit route but as a foundation for joint industrial and economic projects. Azizjon Karimov of Uzbekistan’s Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies highlighted the goal of developing manufacturing, light industry, and high-value-added products. The concept of creating a joint “Turkic brand” has also been floated to unify the region’s industrial, raw material, and human capital potential, solidifying its economic space.