Fidan to attend Organization of Turkic States meeting in Kazakhstan

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will attend the Organization of Turkic States Council of Foreign Ministers meeting on Friday in Turkistan, Kazakhstan, accompanying President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the informal summit. Diplomatic sources in Ankara confirmed the attendance on Thursday, noting that the gathering marks the third such meeting of foreign ministers within the past three months.

The meeting follows similar gatherings hosted by Türkiye in Istanbul on March 7 and on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on April 18 — both convened under the framework adopted at the OTS Summit in Gabala, Azerbaijan, last October. The initiative to increase the frequency of foreign ministerial consultations was spearheaded by Ankara during the October 7 summit, reflecting a push to deepen institutional coordination among Turkic states.

Regional security and institutional reforms on agenda

Fidan will address the regional implications of the ongoing conflict in Iran, emphasizing that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz affects global energy security and underscores the importance of alternative connectivity routes for the Turkic world, according to Turkish diplomatic sources. He will likely stress the need to avoid using the strait for geopolitical leverage while calling for continued support of diplomatic initiatives alongside Pakistan and other regional partners to secure a lasting resolution. The minister is also anticipated to reaffirm Ankara's commitment to ensuring uninterrupted humanitarian aid flows to Gaza and coordinating with the international community on reconstruction efforts in the besieged territory, sources said. Participants are also set to sign a decision on strengthening the institutional and digital capacity of the OTS Secretariat, marking a step toward operational modernization.

TRNC representation and bilateral talks

Fidan will underline the importance of collective Turkic support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Turkish Cypriots to obtain their deserved positions within the international community, echoing Erdogan's earlier appeals on the matter, sources noted. The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan are scheduled to attend alongside the OTS secretary-general, creating a platform for comprehensive political dialogue.

On the margins of the formal sessions, Fidan is expected to hold bilateral consultations with his counterparts to advance cooperation in trade, energy security, cultural exchange, and digital transformation. The gathering serves as the latest reflection of what OTS members describe as a “Family Council” approach to multilateral engagement in Central Asia.