The geopolitical significance of cooperation between Uzbekistan and turkey within the framework of the organization of Turkic states

Аннотация

This paper explores the evolving geopolitical dynamics between Uzbekistan and Turkey within the CITATION framework of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). It Rayhona Kadirova. (2025). The geopolitical significance of cooperation analyzes how bilateral cooperation contributes to between Uzbekistan and turkey within the framework of the organization of Turkic states. The American Journal of Political Science Law and regional stability, economic connectivity, and a Criminology, 7(8), 17–22. rebalancing of influence in Central Asia. The study https://doi.org/10.37547/tajpslc/Volume07Issue08-02 employs qualitative analysis based on policy documents, official statements, and geopolitical COPYRIGHT assessments. Findings suggest that enhanced © 2025 Original content from this work may be used under the terms Uzbekistan–Turkey relations reinforce Turkic solidarity, of the creative commons attributes 4.0 License. offer alternatives to dominant regional powers, and promote a multipolar order in Eurasia. This partnership plays a strategic role in shaping the future trajectory of the OTS as a meaningful regional bloc. Keywords: Uzbekistan, Turkey, Organization of Turkic States, geopolitics, Central Asia, regional cooperation, Eurasia. Introduction: In recent years, the cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkey has gained increasing geopolitical relevance, particularly under the umbrella of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). As global power dynamics continue to shift, regional alliances are becoming more critical in determining the future of geopolitical and economic influence. The OTS, initially established as the Turkic Council in 2009 and rebranded in 2021, was founded to promote unity among Turkic- speaking countries through a shared historical, linguistic, and cultural identity. However, it has gradually evolved into a platform that facilitates not only cultural ties but also significant political, economic, and strategic collaboration. Uzbekistan’s active engagement with the OTS since 2019, after years of cautious multilateralism, represents a turning point in The American Journal of Political Science Law and Criminology 17 https://www.theamericanjournals.com/index.php/tajpslc The American Journal of Political Science Law and Criminology Central Asia’s integration into broader Turkic geopolitical nature of the topic and the complexity of cooperation frameworks. This shift reflects President regional dynamics, a qualitative approach is most Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s reform-oriented and outward- appropriate for gaining in-depth insights into policy looking foreign policy, aimed at diversifying directions, strategic motivations, and the broader partnerships and asserting Uzbekistan’s regional implications of bilateral and multilateral interactions. leadership. On the other hand, Turkey, under President The research relies primarily on secondary sources Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has pursued a proactive foreign gathered through a combination of document analysis policy strategy that emphasizes greater influence in and discourse analysis techniques. Key sources of data the Turkic world as part of its broader Eurasian vision. include: Turkey's involvement in Central Asia, historically 1. Official government statements and policy rooted in linguistic and ethnic commonalities, now papers issued by the foreign ministries and presidential includes significant geopolitical and economic offices of Turkey and Uzbekistan, which provide insights interests, such as energy transit, trade expansion, and into national priorities, foreign policy objectives, and security cooperation. The OTS currently consists of official interpretations of the OTS framework. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and 2. Reports and publications from international Uzbekistan as full members, with Hungary, think tanks, such as the Carnegie Endowment for Turkmenistan, and Northern Cyprus holding observer International Peace, the Center for Strategic and status. Its overarching goal is to deepen integration International Studies (CSIS), and the Foundation for among member states and project soft power through Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), which cultural diplomacy, educational exchanges, and unified offer expert evaluations of regional geopolitics, policy initiatives. Yet, in practice, the organization economic connectivity, and security cooperation. increasingly serves as a geopolitical platform for member countries to coordinate on strategic matters 3. Academic literature, including peer-reviewed such as regional security, infrastructure development, journal articles, conference proceedings, and scholarly and connectivity projects. The evolving bilateral books, focused on Central Asian politics, regionalism, partnership between Uzbekistan and Turkey is central and Turkic identity-based cooperation. to this transformation. It has extended well beyond 4. Statements and declarations from OTS summits cultural and linguistic diplomacy t