The splendor of the Turkic region from the Adriatic to the Great Wall of China

Everybody knows that a sentence starting with the statement, “spanning the Adriatic and the Great Wall of China,” seeks to point out and emphasize bewildering geographical vastness. Similar statements generally show this region’s value in proportion to its vastness. However, it is also known that rather than producing value in the last two centuries, in particular, this region has become a field of dominance for imperialists. Though, the geographical reality is often disregarded in the likely answers to why the Turkic and Islamic worlds lost or regressed. However, the current age has shown that this reality should not be underestimated. While being around an Atlantic-based world alone was reason to become weak, turning into the expansion field of imperial powers caused much greater chaos. This caused the region to shrink simultaneously from the west, south, and north. Our region had no choice but to struggle against the adverse effects of being a center of attraction to the extent of its mesmerizing vastness for powerful states. The resulting picture was gloomy enough to accept the “Eastern Question,” the “Big Game,” and the judgment that “the sun rises from the east.” 

Life is changing. Countries like Russia are struggling today with problems we have had to deal with for a couple of centuries. We can see that the periods the region spanning the Adriatic and the Great Wall of China created problems for us have become history. The states that were hesitant for the three-decade period after the collapse of the Soviets starting to display an active approach particularly post-July 15, 2016, is extremely important. Türkiye’s support to Azerbaijan in Karabakh War II changed our perception of the region. It is safe to say that Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and especially Azerbaijan are undergoing today an effective transformation process along with Türkiye. 

A speech by Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, which was published in an Azerbaijan newspaper, shows the greatness of the changes we are experiencing. Mr. Aliyev states in this speech the significance of building the Turkic world’s union over strong foundations, and that Turkic states are joining powers. He specifically underlines that the Organization of Turkish States should not be seen as a name change only. 

The same is true for Uzbekistan as well. The new intelligentsia in the Soviet era, who were doomed to be forgotten, were remembered as exemplary personalities during Uzbekistan’s independence anniversary celebrations. Uzbekistan will be followed by the other republics – they too were hesitant for a long period, or forgot their power. Uzbek intelligentsia and politicians have the capacity to guide the region with their Turkic and Muslim identities. 

Up until the last five-ten years, it would have been difficult to believe our relations with Turkic countries would reach the current state. It is quite important that our relations have reached these heights, and both the awakening and the desire to unite will increasingly continue. These are completely natural desires and sentiments. They are not the result of an artificial plan. Surely the impact of Türkiye’s role in the Second Karabakh War is great in reaching this point. Being strong makes it possible to overcome many challenges. 

The influence area of the Organization of Turkic States corresponds to a bewildering vastness as well. It is further known that Afghanistan and Pakistan are seeking to gather strength from the changes taking place in our region. However, we can better see the significance of the Organization of Turkic States’ influence area when we associate it with the Ukraine war. Russia’s vast land and sources are dazzling in terms of Western countries. The U.S. and the U.K. did everything in their power for this war to break out and continue. They thought Russia was in a weak position, hence they wanted to trigger a second collapse process. The pressure placed on Russia directly concerns our region. Russia not considering the Organization of Turkic States as a threat in terms of its own presence shows the extent conditions have changed. This thus allows Turkic countries room to maneuver. 

It has been two years since Karabakh War II. Zangezur Corridor will have critical value as it will ensure the Turkic region’s integrity. Türkiye and Azerbaijan are making great efforts to open this corridor. Azerbaijan is making all preparations in accordance with the picture that will form once this corridor is open. 

The completion of the Zangezur Corridor will change the equilibrium again. That is when the answers to questions such as why the Turkic and Islamic world regressed, and why it lost, will change as well. As a matter of fact, we will feel the need to ask new questions.