Ankara:Türkiye is set to host the 13th summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), focusing on enhancing 'unity in language, thought, and deed' among its member states. The event will be held in Ankara on Thursday and Friday, under the theme 'Turkic Century Unity in Language, Thought and Deed,' and will be led by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
According to Anadolu Agency – English, the summit will bring together heads of state and high-level representatives from both member and observer states to discuss cooperation within the OTS. The meeting will also mark Türkiye's assumption of the OTS chairmanship from Azerbaijan, and discussions will include the appointment of a new secretary general and the organization's strategic priorities for the forthcoming period.
The OTS, established in 2009 and formerly known as the Turkic Council, includes Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan as its members, with Turkmenistan, Hungary, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and the Economic Cooperation Organization holding observer status. The summit will focus on reviewing progress in priority areas and enhancing unity and solidarity among Turkic states, with a particular emphasis on the Turkic World Vision 2040.
Turan Gafarli, a non-resident fellow at the Baku-based Topchubashov Center, emphasized the importance of political solidarity among Turkic states, especially during times of global uncertainty. He highlighted the summit's potential to strengthen economic relations, transport corridors, and political coordination. Similarly, Shairbek Dzhuraev, president of the Crossroads Central Asia research institute, noted that progress in the economic sphere, particularly in transport and transit, can be measured by improvements in time and cost efficiencies.
Additionally, the summit will address digitalization and sports cooperation. Kursad Zorlu, the AK Party's deputy chair in charge of relations with Turkic states, announced plans for players from Turkic states to be classified as domestic rather than foreign in each other's leagues, promoting a unified football ecosystem across the Turkic world.