Türkiye and the Organization of Turkic States: Regionalism, Identity, and Strategic Alignment in Eurasia

This paper examines Türkiye’s engagement with the Organization of Turkic States (OTC) as a key vector of its broader geopolitical and geoeconomic strategy in Eurasia. Rooted in shared linguistic, cultural and historical ties, the OTS has evolved from a consultative forum into an institutionalized framework for political, economic and security cooperation among Turkic countries. Türkiye has played a leading role in shaping this evolution. The paper argues that Türkiye’s activism within the OTS reflects its strategy of leveraging cultural proximity to expand influence, strengthen regional leadership and achieve strategic autonomy in an increasingly multipolar international order. Situated within the literature on regionalism, the study conceptualizes the OTS as both a product and an instrument of identity-based regionalism. It demonstrates how the organization contributes to constructing a sense of “Turkic actorness” and fostering region-building in Eurasia. However, it also identifies significant challenges that constrain its institutional consolidation and deepening cooperation. Internal divergences among member states, concerns over sovereignty, and differing priorities continue to limit deeper integration, while external factors, including the competing influence of Russia, China, the European Union, and the United States, as well as the existence of overlapping Eurasian frameworks, curb the organization’s geopolitical maneuverability. Ultimately, the paper concludes that the OTS embodies both the opportunities and constraints of regionalism in a contested geopolitical space. For Türkiye, it represents a strategic platform to translate cultural affinity into political and economic alignment, yet Ankara faces structural limits inherent in a region marked by diverse loyalties and great-power competition.

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