Baku: Azerbaijan has taken over the chairmanship of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) from Kyrgyzstan at the 12th summit attended by leaders from Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Hungary. The transition marks a new phase of regional cooperation centered on defense, energy, and connectivity.
President Ilham Aliyev proposed hosting joint military exercises for OTS member states in Azerbaijan in 2026. He said unity among Turkic nations is vital in an evolving global security environment. Azerbaijan and Türkiye have already conducted more than 25 joint military drills, reflecting strong defense ties within the bloc.
Aliyev also highlighted the initialing of a peace agreement with Armenia at the White House two months earlier. He pointed to the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group as a sign of progress toward lasting peace in the South Caucasus.
On economic and environmental fronts, Aliyev presented the Zangezur Corridor as a key link between the Middle Corridor and the North-South route. Cargo traffic through this route has increased by 90 percent since 2022. Azerbaijan currently exports natural gas to 14 countries and plans to develop a green energy corridor connecting Central Asia, Türkiye, and Europe. The country targets 40 percent renewable energy production by 2030.
Outgoing chair Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, who organized 124 high-level events during his term, expressed confidence in Azerbaijan’s leadership to strengthen the OTS’s role as a regional and global actor.
