“Ankara Declaration” of the 13th OTS Summit issued

The Organization of Turkic States concluded its 13th Summit in Ankara on Friday with the unanimous adoption of a comprehensive 163-point accord aimed at reinforcing strategic partnerships across Eurasia. Convened under the chairmanship of President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the summit marked the official transition of the alliance’s rotating leadership to Türkiye. High-level delegations and state leaders representing Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus gathered to reaffirm their commitment to mutual sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peaceful international relations while advancing work on a foundational treaty of eternal friendship and brotherhood.

Security and defense integration featured prominently in the agreed framework, highlighted by a proposal for Türkiye to host an official Defense Industry College program to enhance technical capacity, joint personnel training, and expertise sharing among member militaries. This defense initiative builds directly upon a multilateral roadmap adopted during an earlier defense agency gathering in Baku. Parallel security measures prioritize accelerated consultations toward establishing a dedicated Cybersecurity Council and signing a regional cybersecurity agreement, alongside intensified joint operations against terrorism, violent extremism, separatism, arms smuggling, drug trafficking, and transnational criminal networks.

On foreign policy and regional diplomacy, member nations expressed unified solidarity with Turkish Cypriots, recognizing them as an integral component of the broader Turkic community and advocating for a negotiated, realistic settlement to the island’s ongoing status based on existing realities. Addressing broader international conflicts, the assembly called for the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 and the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict to support a lasting two-state resolution, while simultaneously reiterating firm backing for Syria’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and post-conflict reconstruction.

To accelerate economic integration, the Ankara Declaration prioritizes the expansion of key transit and energy corridors linking East and West. Leaders pledged to enhance the capacity of the Trans-Caspian International East-West Middle Corridor, streamline its connection with the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars rail line, and support the development of both the Zangezur Corridor and the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway line. Energy cooperation will center on securing vital infrastructure including the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Southern Gas Corridor, while jointly advancing green energy ventures and leveraging the Turkic Investment Fund to boost regional commerce, simplify customs procedures, and expand digital trade.

Technological advancement and futuristic initiatives formed another crucial pillar of the summit outcomes. Participating leaders celebrated the final manufacturing milestone of the joint 12U OTS-SAT CubeSat satellite project, urging swift progress toward its upcoming orbital deployment. Complementing satellite developments, the member states agreed to deepen technical collaboration in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure expansion, and the broader Digital Silk Road initiative. The summit concluded with Uzbekistan agreeing to host the fourteenth regular summit in 2027, alongside an informal summit hosted by Kyrgyzstan later that same year, with the final declaration officially signed in Turkish, Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Uzbek.