In recent days, Gabala, Azerbaijan, has become the center of discussions and key decisions on issues of importance to Turkic countries. Azerbaijan is currently hosting the summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) — an alliance that is gaining authority within the global political system and increasingly acting as a driving force.
The OTS member states are joining efforts amid existing threats and challenges, forming a unified space for cooperation and the development of shared values. Security is one of the most crucial issues for these countries, as it directly determines the future development of the organization and its members. Thus, the security strategy has become a central item on the OTS agenda.
The editorial team of Minval Politika spoke with Rasim Musabayov, a political scientist and member of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis, about the organization’s significance, Azerbaijan’s role, and other pressing issues.
Musabayov believes the OTS does not claim a global geopolitical role. “Its influence lies mainly within the Eurasian space. As the OTS, we do not affect Africa, China, or the American continent. But within Eurasia — from the Mediterranean and the Balkans to China’s borders — the OTS must be taken into account. We’re talking about the EU, Russia, China, and India — since the organization has a multi-regional significance,” he explained.
Preventing Conflicts and Addressing Threats
According to Musabayov, one of the OTS’s missions is to prevent threats and conflicts that directly or indirectly affect its member states.
“It’s important to note that the Turkic states lie along the arc of instability that Henry Kissinger once spoke of — starting from China’s Xinjiang region, through Afghanistan, Iran, and the Middle East, all the way to the Mediterranean. And now, on the other side, Russia has become another source of conflict and threat. In this situation, one of the OTS’s roles is to protect its members from these risks,” he said.
He emphasized that Baku lies at the very center of these conflict-prone zones, which makes discussions on peace and regional security even more essential. “What matters is not only that the leaders meet to discuss these issues, but that they maintain constant contact and dialogue, share information, and coordinate positions. The same should be done by foreign ministers, defense ministers, and heads of security structures. This constitutes a form of a unified space of peace and security,” the MP underlined.
Economic Priorities and Connectivity
From an economic perspective, Musabayov noted that strong communication and transport links are a top priority. “During the Soviet era, all communications went through Moscow. Now we need horizontal links, and serious work is being done in that direction. Azerbaijan fully implements its transport connections through Georgia — and now also through Armenia and Iran to Turkey. All of this promotes economic integration. Without transport and logistics, economic cooperation cannot reach its full potential.”
He added that economic interaction among Turkic states is still not dominant. “Azerbaijan’s main partners are Italy and Turkey — Turkey’s share is only about 10%, and all other Turkic states together make up maybe 4%. This direction needs to be developed further. For the Central Asian countries, the main partners are China and Russia, though Turkey is gradually increasing its presence.”
Musabayov stressed that infrastructure and energy projects offer major opportunities and that member states should create preferential economic environments to encourage investment and private entrepreneurship — not just for large state-backed corporations.
The OTS as a Viable and Growing Organization
Overall, Musabayov believes the OTS has proven its vitality and resilience. “We see that member countries have strong ties — not only multilaterally but also bilaterally. There are regular meetings with Turkey, and increasingly active exchanges with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Recently, there have been positive developments in relations with Turkmenistan. Our countries are moving forward.”
He also mentioned an important but often overlooked area — linguistic and cultural convergence: “The work on creating a common alphabet and aligning terminology — especially in the scientific, legal, and official domains — is essential. The goal is to make these systems at least close, if not identical.”
Musabayov concluded by affirming: “The OTS has demonstrated its vitality, and nothing stands in the way of its further development.”
