“Organization of Turkic States should include Russia, China, and Iran”

“Over the past 20 years, Türkiye has adeptly balanced the interests of the West and various Eurasian power centers. However, with growing international tensions, Türkiye will inevitably have to make a strategic choice. The West has repeatedly shown an unwillingness to consider Türkiye’s interests as an independent state in major strategic areas. In Syria, the U.S. and several European countries openly support separatists in the country’s northeast. Regarding Middle East, U.S. unequivocally sides with Israel. Cyprus issue remains unresolved within the context of the EU integration, with the West taking an anti-Turkish stance. To date, neither Russia nor China is assured of the OTS’s friendly stance. There are concerns that Türkiye, as a military-political ally of U.S., might facilitate U.S. influence in the OTS countries, potentially transforming the OTS from a cultural-economic entity into a military-political organization. This apprehension is heightened by numerous Turkish and Turkic world experts advocating for such a transformation. However, this issue could be mitigated if the OTS takes steps to address the concerns of Russia, Iran, and China regarding the growing integration of Turkic states. Involving the leadership of these states in the OTS’s activities would be a significant step. In the near future, will Türkiye become a sovereign center of power or a tool of Western policy in Eurasia? The future of the OTS and its relations with other Eurasian integration projects depend on this decision.”