TURKISTAN, Friday, May 15, 2026 (WNP): President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday underscored the importance of stronger political, economic and cultural cooperation among Turkic states, while emphasizing digital transformation, regional connectivity and defense collaboration during the Informal Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) held in Turkistan, Kazakhstan.
Addressing the summit in the historic city of Turkistan, which he described as the city of Hoca Ahmet Yesevi, President Erdoğan said the gathering carried special significance for the Turkic world and expressed hope that the summit would bring prosperity and unity to all friendly and brotherly countries.
He highlighted the participation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the summit, describing the Turkish Cypriot people as an inseparable part of the Turkic world.
Erdoğan said he hoped the Turkic world would continue strengthening its ties with Northern Cyprus across political, economic and cultural spheres.
President Erdoğan said the summit’s theme, “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development,” reflected the future priorities of the Turkic world. He stressed the need for member states to adopt a shared vision centered on digitalization and technological advancement to remain competitive in an evolving global environment.
Referring to ongoing regional tensions and conflicts, Erdoğan said recent crises had once again demonstrated the strategic importance of solidarity among Turkic nations. He noted that the Organization of Turkic States should swiftly operationalize the proposed “TDT Plus” format to deepen cooperation among member countries.
The Turkish president also highlighted the strategic significance of transportation and connectivity initiatives linking Turkic nations, particularly the Middle Corridor, amid continuing instability around the Strait of Hormuz and other global trade routes.
He said the crises in Palestine, Lebanon, Iran and Ukraine underscored the urgent need to strengthen collective defense capabilities and expand cooperation in the defense industry among Turkic states.
“As Türkiye, we are ready to share with the members of our Organization the experience we have gained in the defense industry shaped by high technology,” Erdoğan said.
The summit brought together leaders and representatives of member and observer states of the Organization of Turkic States to discuss regional cooperation, digital innovation, connectivity, trade, and security challenges facing the wider Turkic region.
