The recent meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his American counterpart, Donald Trump, at the White House has set off dramatic developments for the entire Caucasus region, as the… American anointment was given for the formation of a “Turkish NATO” in Central Asia, that is, in the soft underbelly of Russia. The key to advancing this plan is the further militarization of Azerbaijan and neighboring states and the formation of a central trade corridor, which will wedge itself into the supply routes of China and Russia.
The Pan-Turkic Summit that sealed the formation of a…NATO a la Turka
It is no coincidence that the 12th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTG) was recently held in Azerbaijan, with the adoption of the 121-point Gabala Declaration.
This essentially solidified the path towards a militarized and unified security system led by Turkey. This event was one of the most important in the organization’s history, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has long been trying to wear the turban of the Ottoman Empire.
The summit sought to bring… closer the leaders of the Central Asian states around Ankara and extend its influence to non-Turkish states, such as the more pro-Iranian Tajikistan or the countries of the Arab world and Africa.
For this purpose, a special “OTG+” format was created, which offers various opportunities, including open and extensive interactions with the European Union and NATO.
And let no one be misled by the event’s slogan—”Regional Peace and Security”—Turkey clearly desires the creation of a military bloc, a kind of “Turkish NATO” on the borders of Russia and China, with the approval of the West.
From the promotion of goods and merchandise to… the hegemony of Pan-Turkism
In addition to military cooperation, the summit also discussed the development of transport corridors for the export of raw materials from the hinterlands of former Soviet republics, as well as the spread of Pan-Turkism through “cultural programs” in these regions.
Without the support of the West and the participation of large mining transnational corporations and banks, success in these areas will be extremely difficult. Particular attention was paid to the Zangezur corridor through Armenia and its control by the United States.
The commitment to maximizing the potential of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway was reaffirmed and the importance of the Middle Corridor was underlined.
Erdogan: “Peace through… strength”
In his speech, Erdogan stated that unity requires strength to prevent wars and enforce peace. Ankara is generally ready “to contribute in all areas, especially in the security sector”.
He was particularly pleased with the July meeting of the Joint Territories Defense Industry Representatives (JTCs), and proposed holding a second meeting of the heads of defense organizations in Baku in 2026, who have already started implementing a joint program for the production of Turkish military products in accordance with NATO standards.
Aliyev: Large-scale military exercises coming to the Caspian
For his part, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that over 25 bilateral and multilateral military exercises were held with Turkey last year.
He announced that large-scale combined military exercises of the JTCs will be held in the Caspian region in 2026.
Meanwhile, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev opened the first joint meeting of the heads of the JTCs’ special services in Samarkand.
This means combining the efforts of not only the military and the military-industrial sector, but also the intelligence services.
It is noteworthy that such actions are an attempt to undermine the unity of the CSTO and change the status quo of the Caspian Sea, altering the balance of power in the wider region.
This is an attempt to “outflank” Russia from the south and China from the west, paralyzing the transportation of Russian and Chinese cargo.
The Caspian Sea Common Territories are gradually becoming a force hostile to Moscow and Beijing, and now the two countries must think about how to intercept and limit it.
It is worth noting that the question of Hungary’s role in this organization remains open…
