On November 4th, 2024, Dr. Shairbek Dzhuraev, President of Crossroads Central Asia, addressed a roundtable titled Strengthening Regional Unity: The Role of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Central Asia and Beyond. Hosted by Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, the event preceded the 11th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States, scheduled for November 6th in Bishkek.
Dr. Dzhuraev’s remarks focused on two questions: the key trends shaping international relations in Central Asia and the relevance of the OTS in navigating these dynamics. He pointed to three developments have been shaping the region’s international engagement. First, geopolitical tensions are intensifying, fueled by the war in Ukraine and Central Asia’s proximity to Russia, a power whose influence looms large over the region. Second, the demand for alternative land-based transport corridors is rising. This shift, driven by the Ukraine conflict, China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and pandemic-induced disruptions to global supply chains, underscores Central Asia’s emerging role in transcontinental connectivity. Finally, intra-regional cooperation has been gradually, if cautiously, improving since 2016.
Against this backdrop, Dr. Dzhuraev positioned the OTS as an increasingly vital institution in three ways. Foremost, it serves as a platform to bolster regional integration. While Central Asia has historically grappled with uneven cooperation, the OTS adds a fresh dimension to existing multilateral mechanisms, such as the SCO, CSTO, and C5+1 formats. By introducing new priorities and participants to the conversation, the OTS both reflects and reinforces a growing appetite for collaboration within the region.
Equally important, Dr. Dzhuraev argued, is the OTS’s potential to elevate Central Asia as a bridge between East and West. For decades, the region has been dismissed as a remote and landlocked backwater. Yet, with the proliferation of transcontinental trade routes, this narrative is being rewritten. The OTS is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this momentum, fostering economic partnerships in trade and transport. Azerbaijan, in particular, was singled out as pivotal to this transformation.
Finally, the OTS exemplifies Central Asia’s embrace of a multi-vector foreign policy. Despite narratives to the contrary, many major powers view their interests in the region through a zero-sum lens. In this context, the OTS serves as a manifestation of Central Asia’s desire to maintain diverse and mutually inclusive relationships with the world. Thus, for Dr. Dzhuraev, the OTS is not just a tool for political, cultural, or economic integration but also a vehicle for advancing the region’s broader geopolitical ambitions.