The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is turning heads in international affairs, but its prospects as a global powerhouse will depend on its member states’ ability to leverage their unique strengths without abandoning their traditional ties or upsetting other regional and global powers, especially Russia and China.

Composed of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan as full members, along with Turkmenistan, Hungary and Turkish Cyprus as observers, OTS held its 11th summit in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek on Nov. 6. The theme of the summit — "Strengthening the Turkic World: Economic Integration, Sustainable Development, Digital Future, and Security for All” — focused especially on how to finance climate-resilient agriculture and economic growth.

Experts who spoke to Al-Monitor pointed out that OTS members enjoy unique advantages through their central location in the Eurasian trade and logistics routes, bountiful natural resources, common cultural heritage and intensified cooperation in the field of geopolitics (especially through Turkish arms). But they also warned that expectations of a “Turkic integration” like that of the European Union might be a long way off, so Turkey should not see OTS as an alternative to its Western ties.

Turkic world and Turkey