The orientalist named the key vectors of Ankara's foreign policy

Guzaerov: the Turkic vector of foreign policy is becoming key for Turkey

Thu, 06/18/2026 - 03:10

Photo: Global Look Press/Belkin Alexey

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The Turkic vector of foreign policy is becoming one of the key ones for Turkey. Since the transformation of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Ankara has been striving to promote its initiatives at both the multilateral and bilateral levels, Razil Guzaerov, a junior employee of the Department of the Middle and Post-Soviet East of the INION RAS, said in an interview with Izvestia. Turkey has the strongest positions in the social and humanitarian sphere.

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"The network of schools and universities, academic connections, attracting students from the region, and actively promoting their own narratives determine Turkish influence in Central Asia," the expert explained.

In the economic field, Ankara, according to him, seeks to invest in targeted initiatives that cannot be compared in volume and intensity with other regional actors. Due to the long-term economic crisis, Turkey has no opportunities to expand this area of activity, and certain aspects of economic cooperation raise questions within the framework of the OTG.

The analyst suggested that cooperation in the field of security will become an important area for increasing Turkey's influence in the region. The Turkish leadership emphasizes that cooperation in this area can become the basis for strengthening relations between the Turkic states.

"Central Asian countries are already exploiting some types of Turkish weapons. Ankara pays special attention to the development of the military-industrial complex and the promotion of its products on the world market. The volume of Turkish military exports in 2025 has already reached $10 billion. In this regard, this area of activity will also be included in the agenda of relations with the Central Asian states," Guzaerov summed up.