Erdoğan advocates for unified Turkic alphabet at OTS summit

At the 12th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Gabala, Azerbaijan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced a bold step toward adopting a common alphabet for Turkic-speaking nations.

He revealed plans to publish works, including those of Cengiz Aytmatov (a Kyrgyz author who wrote mainly in Russian) and the Oğuznameler (the oral and written legendary accounts of Oghuz Khagan and Oghuz Turks), in this shared alphabet, with copies distributed to summit leaders.

The Organization of Turkic States (OTS), established in 2009, is a regional intergovernmental organization uniting Turkic-speaking countries to promote cultural, economic, and political cooperation. Its members include Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, with Hungary, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and Turkmenistan as observers. Headquartered in Istanbul, the OTS focuses on strengthening linguistic and cultural ties, enhancing trade, energy, and transport connectivity (notably via the Trans-Caspian/Middle Corridor), and fostering security collaboration. It aims to amplify the collective influence of Turkic nations in Eurasia while balancing relations with global powers.

The participation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as an observer in OTS, despite being recognized internationally only by Turkey, has sparked diplomatic tensions, as some countries and organisations view its inclusion as a challenge to Cyprus’ sovereignty and international norms.

Hungary’s observer status in OTS stems from its historical and cultural ties to Turkic peoples, particularly through the shared heritage of the Huns and Magyars, as well as its strategic interest in fostering economic and diplomatic relations with Turkic nations.

Erdoğan expressed gratitude to host President Ilham Aliyev for his hospitality and commended outgoing OTS chairman Sadyr Japarov for his leadership, noting the summit’s timely theme of “regional peace and security.”

The Turkish President criticised the diminishing effectiveness of the global multilateral system, particularly the UN Security Council’s inaction on pressing issues. He urged stronger operational cooperation within the OTS, endorsing the “TDT+” initiative to foster partnerships with non-member states. The “TDT+” format adopted by OTS expands cooperation beyond its core member states by engaging third-party countries and organizations in joint initiatives.

Key priorities included enhancing security, energy connectivity, and transport infrastructure. Erdoğan emphasized the importance of optimising the Trans-Caspian/Middle Corridor—an East-West trade route bypassing Russia – and called for accelerated energy and telecommunications projects to strengthen ties across the Turkic world.

The Middle Corridor, spanning Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, offers a vital trade route that complements China’s Belt and Road Initiative and boosts members’ geopolitical leverage. For Central Asian states, it provides a counterbalance to Russia and China, opening alternative routes to European markets.

On security, Erdoğan stressed the need for a unified OTS response to challenges like terrorism, irregular migration, cyber threats, and climate change. He welcomed the inaugural meeting of OTS defence industries in July as a step toward deeper collaboration. Addressing regional instability, he condemned Israel’s actions against neighboring countries, advocated for a just two-state solution for Palestine, and supported stabilization efforts in Syria through dialogue with the Damascus government.

He also praised recent diplomatic progress, including the Azerbaijan-Armenia joint statement and the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border agreement.

Beyond geopolitics, Erdoğan highlighted cultural and technological ambitions. He proposed developing a large-scale Turkish-language AI model to keep pace with global advancements and suggested designating 15 December as “Turkic Language Family Day” at the upcoming UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand. Additionally, he announced the Turkic World Publishers Congress, set for January in Ankara.

Diplomatically, the summit saw notable attendance from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (an observer) and “TRNC President” Ersin Tatar, with Turkmenistan recognised for its growing role as an observer in OTS institutions.

Erdoğan urged members to appoint permanent representatives to the OTS Secretariat to streamline operations.

The Azerbaijan summit of OTS marked another step of the evolution of this organisation toward a robust platform for soft power and strategic influence in which Turkey seeks to play a leading role.

Edited by g.g.

Caption: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the 12th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Gabala, Azerbaijan, 7 October 2025 [X account of the President of Turkey]