Erdogan Calls for Enhanced Turkic Role in Regional Security

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for the Turkic world to play a more substantial role in regional security and stability, addressing leaders at the 12th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Gabala, Azerbaijan. He emphasized the bloc's potential to contribute significantly to resolving regional challenges.

President Erdogan criticized the international order, noting that "the UN Security Council remains indifferent to many issues that wound the conscience of humanity." He identified the need for a more robust regional framework, pointing to recent developments in Syria as a reason for cautious optimism and calling for deeper engagement between Turkic states and the Syrian government.

On the South Caucasus, Erdogan affirmed that Türkiye and other OTS members are active supporters of peace and stability efforts, not merely observers. He also condemned recent Israeli attacks, stating they demonstrate that "the greatest threat to our region’s stability comes from the current leadership of this country," framing Israel's actions as a primary source of regional instability.

Highlighting cultural cooperation, President Erdogan announced that Türkiye is taking a leading role in promoting a common alphabet initiative. He revealed that "Türkiye is taking the first step, publishing a work on Chinghiz Aitmatov and the Oghuznameh in the common alphabet," signaling a concrete move toward strengthening cultural bonds across the Turkic world.