This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
Turkish The Organization of Turkic States is an international organization established to enhance political, economic, cultural and social cooperation among Turkic-speaking states. Originally known as the Council of Turkic-Speaking Countries, the organization was formally established in 2009 through the Nakhchivan Agreement and renamed the Organization of Turkic States at the 2021 Istanbul Summit.
The Organization of Turkic States currently has five complete member states: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Türkiye. Hungary, Turkmenistan and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus hold observer country status within the organization.
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan gained independence in 1991; Türkiye was the first country to recognize them. Subsequently, the process of establishing the Organization of Turkic States began with the Turkic-Speaking Countries Summit held in Ankara in 1992 under Türkiye’s chairmanship. This peak marked the first step toward multilateral cooperation among the newly independent Turkic states. Between 1992 and 2008, summits primarily focused on culture, education and linguistic unity.
The turning point came with the signing of the Nakhchivan Agreement on 2–3 October 2009 in Nakhchivan. Signed by the founding states of Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the agreement established the “Council of Turkic-Speaking Countries” and granted the organization the status of an intergovernmental organization under international law. At the 2010 Istanbul Summit, the name “Turkic Council” was adopted, and regular meetings began following the 2011 Almaty Summit.
Uzbekistan joined the council in 2019. Hungary became an observer member in 2018, Turkmenistan in 2021 and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 2022. At the 2021 Istanbul Summit, the organization adopted the name “Organization of Turkic States” and transitioned into a more institutionalized structure. The organization’s headquarters is located in Istanbul.
The Organization of Turkic States operates through various bodies activity:
Established in 1993 by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Türkiye. Its headquarters is in Ankara. TÜRKSOY promotes cultural ties among Turkic peoples by organizing various cultural activities aimed at promoting shared values and transmitting them to future generations. It oversees events such as Nevruz celebrations and the designation of Turkic World Cultural Capitals.
Established in 2012 by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Türkiye. It aims to coordinate research on the Turkic language, history and culture and to support academic projects. In this context, it produces scientific publications and organizes international symposia.
Established in 2008 by the Speakers of the Parliaments of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Türkiye. TURKPA, headquartered in Baku, is an international organization seeking to enhance political dialogue and legislative cooperation among member states through parliamentary diplomacy. It prepares joint legislative proposals and reports.
Its goal is to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the Turkic world at the international level. The foundation adopted its charter in 2012 and began operations in 2015. Its General Secretariat is in Baku. It aims to carry out activities in various fields including restoration, promotion, education, exhibitions, seminars and workshops to safeguard Turkic culture and heritage.
Established in 2019. Its General Secretariat is in Istanbul. It aims to enhance cooperation among member states in trade and industry to elevate their development to a higher level.
The first joint financial institution established by the Turkic states, founded in 2023. Its purpose is to strengthen commercial and economic cooperation among member countries. The fund aims to contribute to the socio-economic development of member states by supporting projects in sectors such as agriculture, energy, logistics, industry, tourism, education and the environment.
Established in Istanbul in 2013 following decisions taken at the 2012 and 2013 summits. The union’s primary objective is to promote integration in higher education across the Turkic world by encouraging student and academic exchange, conducting joint research projects and developing joint degree programs among universities in member states.
An international student and academic exchange program developed under the umbrella of the Organization of Turkic States to strengthen higher education cooperation. Launched in 2017 following the establishment of the Turkic Universities Union, the Orhon Exchange Program aims to facilitate mutual exchange of students and faculty, enable the delivery of joint courses, simplify diploma recognition processes and promote the execution of joint academic projects.
Within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States, with the contributions of the Turkish Language Association and the International Turkic Academy, the Turkic World Common Alphabet Commission was established to develop a common alphabet standard replacing the diverse scripts currently used by member states. The first meeting was held in Astana in May 2023. This initiative aims to unify Turkic languages under a common alphabet, facilitate the preparation of joint publications and educational materials, and simplify digitalization efforts in software and technology.
Mid Corridor refers to an international transport route within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States, extending from China through Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus and Türkiye to Europe. Officially known as the Trans-Caspian International East-West Mid Corridor, it encompasses road, sea and rail transport. It has the capacity to reduce transit time between China and Europe to approximately 15 days and is regarded as one of the shortest and safest trade routes between Asia and Europe in global commerce.
To enhance the efficiency of the corridor, the Organization of Turkic States has initiated efforts to harmonize customs procedures, remove logistical barriers and reduce costs. As part of these efforts, the Kervansaray Project and the Simplified Customs Corridor Agreement have been implemented.
The Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP) is a strategic energy corridor developed to transport natural gas from Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz-2 field through Georgia and Türkiye to Europe. The project forms the main backbone of the Southern Gas Corridor.
Zangezur Corridor is a transport route designed to establish a land and rail connection between western Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. This corridor strengthens the geographical unity of the Turkic world by creating a direct link between Azerbaijan and Türkiye and serves as a complementary route enhancing the effectiveness of the Mid Corridor.
The organization’s fundamental goals are to strengthen integration among member states through cooperation in the areas of politics, economy, culture and security, thereby contributing to regional peace and stability. In particular, the sectors of agriculture, defense and energy have been identified as priority development areas. Strategic priorities have been institutionalized in the “Turkic World 2040 Vision” document, which envisions economic integration, development of transport and energy corridors, preservation of cultural heritage and a more influential Turkic world presence internationally.
The Organization of Turkic States focuses on objectives such as simplifying customs procedures and enabling free movement of goods and services to boost regional trade. In this context, the Turkic Investment Fund was established, and joint customs practices, logistics centers and integrated trade networks have been prioritized. The Mid Corridor Project aims to enhance efficiency along trade routes connecting China to Europe.
Turkic states possess rich reserves of oil, natural gas and renewable energy resources. The Organization of Turkic States develops policies on energy security and infrastructure projects common. The foundation of this cooperation lies in the hydrocarbon resources of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and Türkiye’s role as an energy bridge to Europe. Projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline and TANAP exemplify energy integration. In addition, strengthening transportation infrastructure under the Mid Corridor, including the development of rail and road connections, remains a long-term priority of the organization.
The Organization of Turkic States collaborates with institutions such as TÜRKSOY (International Organization of Turkic Culture) and the Turkic Academy to preserve and promote the Turkic language, history and cultural heritage close. Academic initiatives include support for student exchange programs, joint research projects and university collaborations. The preservation of Turkic history, cultural heritage and shared values holds a central place in the organization’s institutional agenda. The Turkic World 2040 Vision document supports joint educational projects, bursary programs and cultural festivals.
Defense industry and military cooperation are among the key areas identified by the organization. Within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States, joint military exercises, defense industry collaborations and military education programs are prominent. Member states also aim to cooperate on counterterrorism, border security and cybersecurity.
The Turkic World 2040 Vision is the foundational document outlining the long-term strategic roadmap of the Organization of Turkic States. Adopted at the summit held in Istanbul on 12 November 2021, this document aims to institutionalize multidimensional cooperation across the Turkic world and establish a shared vision for the future up to the year 2040.
According to the document, the priority goals are:
Concrete steps taken toward these goals include, in the cultural sphere, the Turkic World Cultural Capitals program, the preparation of joint history and literature textbooks and the institutionalization of common alphabet initiatives. In education, cooperation in higher education has been facilitated through the Turkic Universities Union (TÜRKÜNİB); mutual mobility of students and academics is supported by the Orhon Exchange Program, laying the foundation for a Turkic Higher Education Area.
Between economic and development goals, the establishment of the Turkish Investment Fund, support for SMEs among member states, liberalization of trade, and strengthening of economic ties through joint projects are included. This objective is directly linked to transportation and energy projects. Initiatives such as the Central Corridor Project, the Kervansaray Project, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway provide a safe and rapid connection between Europe and Asia, while in the energy sector, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline, TANAP, and future Trans-Caspian projects guarantee not only the energy security of member states but also the energy supply of Europe.
In the field of youth and sports, the World Nomadic Games have been institutionalized as a brand, and it has been decided to organize symposia, competitions, and cultural events to strengthen a shared culture and identity among young people.
On 2–3 October 2009, the Nakhchivan Agreement was signed by Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, establishing the “Council for Cooperation of Turkish-Speaking Countries.” This decision marked a turning point in the institutionalization of relations among Turkic states.
At the summit held on 15–16 September 2010, the name “Turkic Council” was adopted. The Council of Heads of State, the Council of Foreign Ministers, the Committee of Senior Officials, and the Council of Elders were established.
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History
Organizational Structure
Administrative Structure
Subsidiary Bodies
International Organization of Turkic Culture (TÜRKSOY)
Turkic Academy
Turkic States Parliamentary Assembly (TÜRKPA)
Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation
Turkic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TTSO)
Turkic Investment Fund (TYF)
Supported Institutions and Projects
Turkic Universities Union (TÜRKÜNİB)
Orhon Exchange Program
Common Alphabet Initiatives
Mid Corridor Project (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route)
Kervansaray Project
Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP)
Zangezur Corridor
Goals and Strategic Priorities
Economic Cooperation
Energy and Infrastructure Projects
Cultural and Academic Cooperation
Defense and Security Cooperation
Turkic World 2040 Vision
Organization of Turkic States Summits and Decisions
Summits of Turkish-Speaking Countries (1992–2008)
2009 Nakhchivan Summit
2010 Istanbul Summit
Turkic Council Summits (2011–2021)
Organization of Turkic States Summits (2022–Present)
