ASTANA — As the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) prepares for its Oct. 30 summit in Ankara, experts say its expanding ambitions in trade, transport, energy and security present Kazakhstan with both opportunities and challenges, particularly in turning political commitments into economic gains while preserving its independent foreign policy.
Leaders gather for the 12th Organization of Turkic States Summit in Gabala, Azerbaijan, in October 2025. Photo credit: Akorda For Kazakhstan, translating political commitments into practical economic benefits, strengthening regional connectivity and maintaining independent foreign policy priorities will be central to the organization’s development, experts told The Astana Times.
Gabit Zhumatay, professor at the School of Law and Public Policy at Narxoz University. Photo credit: Zhumatay’s personal archives “The OTS should not be viewed as a new geopolitical bloc or a zero-sum alternative to other regional organizations,” said Gabit Zhumatay, professor at the School of Law and Public Policy at Narxoz University.
“Its greatest potential lies in complementing existing frameworks and expanding the strategic choices available to its members. For Kazakhstan, the real opportunity is to transform Turkic solidarity into greater economic resilience, stronger regional connectivity, and greater diplomatic influence, while preserving its strategic autonomy,” he said.
The summit, hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan under the theme Turkic Century: Unity in Language, Thought and Deed, will review cooperation in political, economic and humanitarian fields. Türkiye will assume the OTS chairmanship from Azerbaijan, with leaders expected to adopt the Ankara Declaration and discuss the organization’s institutional development, including the appointment of a new secretary general.
Institutional expansion and implementation priorities Zhanibek Arynov, an assistant professor at Nazarbayev University, described the OTS as one of the most active regional institutions involving Kazakhstan, following an expansion of its activities over the past five to six years.
Its agenda now covers trade, investment, transportation, energy, education and cultural exchanges, supported by additional agreements and dialogue mechanisms. Zhanibek Arynov, assistant professor at Nazarbayev University. Photo credit: Arynov’s personal archives According to Arynov, Kazakhstan’s approach remains pragmatic, with participation focused on areas that correspond to its national interests.
The growing number of initiatives has provided additional opportunities for cooperation, although the organization’s limited resources and institutional capacity could affect their implementation.