Turkic leaders seek closer digital and transport ties

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press
TURKISTAN, Kazakhstan — Leaders of the Organization of Turkic States met in Kazakhstan’s historic city of Turkistan to advance cooperation on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, transport routes, energy security and regional ties.

According to Euronews, the informal summit was hosted by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev under the theme “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev attended the meeting, which focused on strengthening coordination among Turkic states at a time of rapid geopolitical and technological change.

Turkistan sends a message of unity

The choice of Turkistan carried strong symbolic meaning. The city is widely regarded as a spiritual center of the Turkic world and is home to the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Mausoleum, a major historical and cultural landmark built in the 14th century.

The leaders posed together in front of the mausoleum, holding hands in a gesture of unity. The image underlined the summit’s broader message: that shared history, culture and economic interests can form the basis for deeper cooperation among Turkic states.

Tokayev said strengthening the unity of the Turkic world was an important priority for Kazakhstan. At the same time, he rejected claims that the organization was becoming a military bloc or a purely geopolitical project.

Tokayev rejects military bloc claims

Tokayev described the Organization of Turkic States as a platform for trade, economic, high-tech, digital, cultural and humanitarian cooperation among brotherly countries. He said the organization should be understood as a mechanism for cooperation and progress, not confrontation.

His remarks reflected Kazakhstan’s broader diplomatic position, which emphasizes regional dialogue, economic links and balanced international relations. The statement also appeared aimed at reassuring outside actors that the OTS is not designed as a military alliance.

The leaders nevertheless acknowledged that the world is entering a more competitive era, where technology, energy routes and transport corridors are increasingly tied to political influence.

Artificial intelligence becomes a central theme

Artificial intelligence was one of the summit’s main topics. Leaders agreed that Turkic states must work together to keep pace with global technological change and avoid falling behind in digital competition.

Tokayev said digital transformation and artificial intelligence should support the common progress of the Turkic world. Proposals discussed at the summit included the creation of joint AI centers, cooperation in cybersecurity, new digital public services and educational programs for young people.

OTS Secretary General Omuraliev told Euronews that almost every sector is now connected to artificial intelligence and digital development. He said member states had agreed to cooperate in at least 58 areas related to digital technologies and AI.

Digital Turkic Corridor proposed

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed building a unified digital space among Turkic states and developing a “Digital Turkic Corridor” to support regional data exchange and technological integration.

He also announced a “Five Million AI Leaders” program aimed at preparing young people for future professions linked to artificial intelligence. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are also creating a joint venture fund to support start-up projects by young entrepreneurs.

Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev said Kazakhstan had strong experience in online public services and wanted to share that expertise with other Turkic countries. He noted that Kazakhstan ranks highly in UN digital service indicators and online service platforms.

Trans-Caspian cable gains importance

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said the world was entering a new stage of development and that Turkic states should play a leading role in this process. He pointed to the “Digital Silk Road” project connecting Europe and Asia as one of the region’s most important initiatives.

As part of that project, a Trans-Caspian fiber-optic cable line between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan is expected to become operational in the coming months. The cable is seen as a key step in improving digital connectivity across the Caspian region.

Madiyev said the project could help attract major technology companies and hyperscale computing firms to place resources in Turkic countries. Such infrastructure could make the region more important in global data and cloud computing networks.

Türkiye, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan work on satellite project

The summit also highlighted cooperation in space and scientific technology. Türkiye, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are developing a scientific satellite known as CubeSat, which is expected to be launched next year.

Madiyev said each country could contribute its own technology to the project. Over time, he added, the satellite could become part of a wider satellite constellation.

The initiative shows that cooperation among Turkic states is expanding beyond traditional areas such as culture, trade and transport into more advanced technological fields.

Middle Corridor remains a strategic priority

Transport and logistics were another major focus of the summit. Foreign ministers of OTS countries met separately to discuss global transport routes, with particular emphasis on the Middle Corridor.

The Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, connects China and Southeast Asia with Türkiye and Europe through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia. It combines rail, sea and land routes and has gained importance as global supply chains face disruption.

Erdoğan said crises in nearby regions showed the strategic value of solidarity within the Turkic world. He said transport projects connecting Turkic countries, especially the Middle Corridor, would remain a priority for years to come.

Energy and security concerns shape cooperation

Erdoğan also referred to regional crises, including tensions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, as well as conflicts involving Palestine, Lebanon, Iran, Ukraine and other areas. He said these developments showed the need to strengthen defense capacity and increase industrial cooperation.

At the same time, the summit’s overall message remained focused on economic, technological and regional cooperation rather than military alignment.

Aliyev said the Turkic world should become one of the influential geopolitical power centers of the 21st century. He also said the Zangezur Corridor, which is moving toward implementation, could become a key segment of the Middle Corridor.

Economic potential reaches $2.4 trillion

Mirziyoyev said the meeting was taking place at a time of rising global tension, weakening trust in international relations and declining influence of global institutions. He said these challenges required stronger dialogue and common positions among Turkic states.

The Uzbek president said the total economic potential of the Organization of Turkic States reached $2.4 trillion in 2025. That figure, he argued, shows the organization’s growing importance as an economic and regional actor.

The Organization of Turkic States was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Istanbul. Its members include Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The Turkistan summit showed that the organization is seeking a more coordinated role in digital technology, transport connectivity, energy security and strategic regional cooperation.

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