The 11th meeting of the Turkic Council was held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on November 6, 2024, with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and leaders of the member states. The summit was held under the theme “Strengthening the Turkic World: Economic Integration, Sustainable Development, the Digital Future, and Security for All.” At the conclusion of the summit, the council issued the “Kyrgyz Declaration,” which called for enhancing cooperation in various fields among the Turkic world. The declaration included the signing of 16 agreements, decisions, and cooperation protocols, in addition to urging the cessation of genocide in Gaza and calling for an urgent and permanent ceasefire in Lebanon. This summit held particular significance, coinciding with the escalation of regional conflicts, the election of Donald Trump as the U.S. president, and the geopolitical shifts in Central Asia.
Important Outcomes
The Kyrgyzstan summit revealed a rise in levels of cooperation among the Turkic Council, leading to several key outcomes outlined as follows:
Support for Inter-Economic Cooperation Opportunities:
The Kyrgyz summit showed notable interest in supporting and enhancing economic cooperation among Turkic member states. The Secretary-General of the Council, Kubanychbek Omar, announced the signing of several economic cooperation protocols between member countries. A broad range of agreements and cooperation protocols were signed during the Kyrgyz summit to strengthen Turkic collaboration, alongside the signing of the “Bishkek Declaration” by the Council of Heads of Member States, which included the establishment of a Green Economic Financing Council and the founding of a Council of Central Banks for member countries, along with the approval of cooperation in the digital economy.
It is notable that the member states possess significant economic capacities, primarily due to their geographical and strategic location at the heart of Asia. According to estimates, the gross domestic product (GDP) of the member states amounts to 1.5trillion,whilethetradevolumeofmemberstatesintheglobaleconomyis1.5trillion,whilethetradevolumeofmemberstatesintheglobaleconomyis536 billion. Additionally, trade exchanges among the Turkic Council member states reached around $42 billion by the end of 2023.
Enhancing the Policy of Expanding the Council:
The Kyrgyz summit demonstrated a commitment to expanding and solidifying the role of external parties within the Turkic Council, evidenced by the participation of the President of Northern Cyprus and the Prime Minister of Hungary as observer members. The “Bishkek Declaration” included an agreement for Hungary to host the informal summit of the council in 2025. The member states welcomed this decision, particularly since Hungary is among the most supportive countries of Turkey’s policies and the Turkic Council, as well as a strong advocate for Turkey’s interests within the European Union framework. This step follows the signing of a “joint action plan” in May 2024 between the Turkic Council and the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, aiming to support the development of relations between the council and Hungary.
Recognition of a Common Linguistic Alphabet:
The outcomes of the Kyrgyz summit emphasized the importance of developing a broad linguistic model for the Turkic Council through the commitment to establishing a common alphabet system. Consequently, the summit approved the activation of the “Common Alphabet Committee,” which was established during the “Global Turkish Workshop on Alphabets,” held in Bursa in October 2024, marking the Day of the Language. The council recognizes that building a common linguistic unity can strengthen its pivotal role globally and regionally, as well as ease partnership programs among member countries.
Condemnation of Israeli Practices in Gaza:
The “Bishkek Declaration” confirmed a joint agreement to act to halt Israeli genocidal practices in the Gaza Strip and adopt a strategy supporting the establishment of a Palestinian state. The summit condemned the random targeting of Palestinian civilians and stressed the need for an urgent and permanent ceasefire in accordance with international law, including relevant UN Security Council resolutions, alongside a call for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon. In parallel, the Kyrgyz summit expressed deep concern over deliberate Israeli attacks against UN peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon. The summit called for prioritizing the establishment of security in the Middle East as a key focus for the council, considering that the ongoing regional instability impacts national security in Central Asia.
Turkey’s Emphasis on Fighting Terrorism:
Erdoğan emphasized that cooperation between Ankara and Bishkek in combating terrorist organizations, particularly the Gülen movement (or Hizmet), will continue uninterrupted (following the death of the movement’s inspiration, the Turkish Islamic thinker Fethullah Gülen, in October 2024 in Pennsylvania, USA). Bishkek had responded to requests from Ankara to close Gülen-affiliated educational institutions and arrest some of their teachers. Following Gülen’s death, Erdoğan pledged to continue pursuing the movement, which he uses as a “phantom enemy” to rally citizens and boost his popularity. Ankara also calls on regional countries to classify the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) as a terrorist organization, but it has not done so yet.
Diverse Implications
The results and meetings of the Kyrgyz summit for the Turkic Council revealed several significant implications, the most prominent of which are:
Enhancing the Council’s Presence in Its Regional Belt: The presence of participating state leaders, along with the Prime Minister of Hungary and the President of Northern Cyprus, adds a new dimension to the council’s regional role, especially as member countries are keen to strengthen their geopolitical influence in Central Asia in anticipation of potential developments following the election of the Republican candidate Donald Trump to the White House, amidst Russia and China’s efforts to extend their influence in the region at the expense of Turkey’s role.
Strengthening Interrelationships Among Turkic States: The “Bishkek Declaration” from the 11th Kyrgyz summit sought to enhance the role of the Turkic Council and develop its economic presence to become the leading platform in Central Asia, primarily through strengthening relationships among member states. This can be seen in the cooperation memorandums signed on the sidelines of the summit between the member states. For instance, Turkey and Kyrgyzstan signed 19 agreements in fields such as security, defense, trade, energy, and migration.
Neutralizing Competitive Pressures in Central Asia: The adoption of the “Bishkek Declaration” includes new steps related to establishing a civil protection mechanism, supporting a network of Red Crescent societies among member states, and enhancing common political understandings, which can be interpreted as efforts to counter competitive pressures facing the organization in Central Asia, particularly from Moscow and Beijing, which are indirectly attempting to curb the activities of the Turkic Council in the region, as this contradicts their interests and influence, especially regarding Russia’s view of Central Asia as its backyard.
Member States’ Consensus on Supporting Regional Crisis Resolutions: The focus of the “Bishkek Declaration” on the developments in Gaza and Lebanon can be seen as a direct response to the Israeli practices in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria, considering them as Muslim nations, some of which are allies or maintain strategic ties with the member states. In this context, the Kyrgyz summit’s call for ceasing the war in the Middle East and supporting efforts to establish a Palestinian state can be understood.
Additionally, President Erdoğan declared during his address at the Kyrgyz summit Turkey’s rejection of the “brutality and massacres occurring in the Gaza Strip,” adding, “We believe the Turkic world must take a firm stance against these actions.” The positions of the Turkic Council concerning developments in the Middle East suggest the potential for increased opposition to Israel, given the religious and trade ties linking it to Muslim countries in the region.
Relying on Hungary’s Role in the Council: President “Japarov” emphasized the necessity of communication and coordination between the Turkic Council and the European Union at all levels to achieve fruitful cooperation and support partnership relations within the EU and other international organizations. He confirmed that Hungary has become a bridge for enhancing political dialogue between Turkic and European states. At the conclusion of the summit, Japarov awarded Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán the “highest honor of the Turkic world,” recognizing his significant contributions to developing relations between member states and observers in the Turkic Council and raising the organization’s stature on the international stage. Orbán praised Kyrgyzstan’s efforts to enhance global security through its initiatives to combat terrorism and its peace-supporting stance, revealing the establishment of a Hungarian-Kyrgyz investment fund to finance the construction of a hydroelectric power station and agricultural initiatives. He also announced the granting of 200 scholarships to Kyrgyz students and expressed his intention to double that number, as member states rely on Hungary to bridge the gap between them and EU member states.
Calling for Regional Integration of the Taliban Government: Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called for providing assistance to the current Afghan government and integrating it into regional economic operations. This call aims to bolster the Taliban government, which has been in power since August 2021, asserting control over various terrorist and armed groups in the country to prevent their spillover into neighboring states, including Central Asian countries. The spread of security chaos in Afghanistan could negatively impact its neighbors, prompting the organization to potentially integrate Afghanistan as an observer in its institutions in the future, especially as contacts continue between its government and the Taliban.
Escalation of Russian-Turkish Competition in the Region: Following the conclusion of the Turkish summit, Central Asian states participated in the 12th meeting of the National Security Councils of Independent States in Moscow, chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin, involving 12 countries from the former Soviet Republics. Putin called for amending their strategic charters and employing their capabilities to address internal and external threats, confirming the rising competition between Russian and Turkish influence in the region, especially considering that both are the two dominant powers economically, culturally, and politically in the area. The competition is expected to intensify in the coming phase amidst a decline in American interest in the region and Trump’s desire to conclude the Ukrainian war, which would be seen as a victory for Russia, granting it further influence in the area.
Continued Efforts to Develop Regional Transport Corridors: Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the necessity of leveraging the potential of the Middle Corridor, which holds strategic importance for the further economic development of the Turkic world. He called for an agreement to ensure sustainable development for transporting goods along this route and for the development of human capital, as landlocked Central Asian states are working on establishing regional transport corridors to connect their abundant oil and gas products with European countries. Turkey positions itself as a mediator in establishing these corridors, with the Middle Corridor being a key route connecting European markets with Asia through Central Asian countries, the Caspian Sea, and the Caucasus. This route aims to increase the volume of goods traded by 40% by 2030, reaching 11 million tons upon its completion.
Ongoing Challenges
In conclusion, it can be said that the Turkic Council has succeeded in developing cooperation among its members over the past decade and a half. This is evident in its support for political coordination, expanding economic collaboration, attracting new members, and enhancing its presence in Central Asia. However, there remain challenges, including countering Russian and Chinese moves, alongside the repercussions of declining economic indicators in the past five years on Turkey’s activities and engagements with the council.
