On October 7, the 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was held in Gabala, marking an important milestone in the history of the Turkic world. The meeting of OTS leaders holds historical significance not only in terms of current political developments but also in shaping a long-term strategy for the future development of Turkic nations.

As one of the prominent sons of the Turkic world, Bakhtiyar Vahabzadeh, once said: “A Turk has no right to be an enemy to another Turk!” – and these words once again found their confirmation in Gabala.

The summit demonstrated that the Turkic states are uniting not only based on shared history and cultural heritage but also around common goals and a shared vision for the future. Independent, strong, and dynamically developing nations, acting together, are becoming a key factor in ensuring stability, security, and prosperity in the region.

In his address at the summit, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev put forward concrete and pragmatic proposals for the further development of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). His initiative to hold joint military exercises among the member states of the organization in 2026 is aimed at strengthening cooperation in the fields of defense and security, enhancing regional stability, and protecting shared interests.

At the Gabala Summit, discussions focused on strengthening cooperation among Turkic countries in economic, transport, energy, humanitarian, and other areas, as well as on enhancing the institutional capacity of the organization and improving strategic coordination among member states.

Particular attention was given to economic and technological partnership. The participants emphasized the need to intensify the work of mechanisms such as the Turkic Investment Fund and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkic States, and to support joint initiatives in the fields of green energy and innovation.

The Gabala Declaration, adopted on October 7 in the Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkish, and Uzbek languages, reaffirms the shared political will, mutual trust, and solidarity of the Turkic world, strengthening the organization’s position as an essential strategic actor on the global stage.

The document expresses the leaders’ support for the efforts to launch and develop the Zangezur Corridor, as well as their commitment to the effective use of the Baku – Tbilisi – Kars railway. It also underscores the importance of developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor) and the China – Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan railway to enhance interregional connectivity and diversify trade routes between Europe and Asia.

Among the summit’s resolutions, truly historic decisions stand out: in 2026, the member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) will jointly create the 12U TDT-SAT satellite. Under the auspices of the organization, and through the combined experience and technological capabilities of the member countries, the process of manufacturing and launching the satellite will be accelerated.

According to the decision, the 13th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States will be held in Türkiye in 2026, while an informal meeting of the leaders will take place in Kazakhstan.

Thus, the Gabala Summit marked the beginning of a new era in the development of the Turkic world. It reaffirmed that Turkic unity serves as a key guarantee of stability and sustainable development in the region.

Efsaleddin Agalarov,

Head of the news website Azxeber.com

UzA