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Leaders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) signed the Ankara Declaration at the close of the 13th Summit of the Council of Heads of State, held at the Beştepe Exhibition Hall under the theme "Turkish Century: Unity in Language, Ideas and Works".

The declaration confirms a shared will to turn growing solidarity across the Turkic world into lasting strategic cooperation, and to strengthen the OTS as an increasingly effective platform contributing to regional and international peace, stability and prosperity.

People-to-people ties, language and institutions

The declaration stressed support for women's empowerment, strengthening the family institution, promoting traditional family and cultural values among younger generations and the role of older generations in passing on cultural heritage. It encouraged cooperation on family and population policies and talks on a voluntary High Council of Honour made up of spouses of the heads of state and representatives chosen by OTS leaders. A launch meeting hosted by Emine Erdoğan, spouse of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, during the Ankara summit was welcomed, with further meetings to be held on the margins of future OTS summits.

Diaspora ministers and agency heads were urged to step up coordination under the Common Strategy for Turkish-Speaking Diasporas, annual joint action plans and the 2040 Vision. The launch of OTS Diaspora Joint Scholarship Programmes within the Türkiye Scholarships scheme and the results of the 9th OTS Education Ministers Meeting held on 8 June in Turkestan were welcomed. Consultations on treating footballers who are citizens of member states as non-foreign players and on staging a "Turkish Cup" among national teams were also welcomed, with further effort encouraged to turn these ideas into practice.

The declaration appreciated TURKSOY's declaration of 2026 as a "Year of Commemoration of Ziya Gökalp", praised Turkey's work to protect the Bilge Tonyukuk Inscription, welcomed archaeological excavations across the Turkic world, and noted Andijan's designation as the 2026 Turkic World Culture Capital. Efforts by the Turkic Academy to promote a common Turkic alphabet, adopt proposed guidelines for its use and publish literary and scientific works written in it were praised. The declaration also recognised the Union of Turkic Chambers of Commerce and Industry as an important mechanism bringing together national chambers, welcomed growing interest from third countries and international organisations in institutional cooperation with the OTS, and called on member states to accelerate joint efforts to gain observer status for the OTS at the UN General Assembly and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Support was voiced for strengthening the Secretariat's capacity, and success was wished to the next Secretary General Mirvahid Azimov. The declaration said the 14th OTS summit is to be held in 2027 in Uzbekistan.

Key takeaways

• The Ankara Declaration was signed after the 13th Summit of the OTS Council of Heads of State in Ankara, themed "Turkish Century: Unity in Language, Ideas and Works".
• It calls for completing the OTS 2027-2031 Strategy and welcomes progress on a treaty of strategic partnership, eternal friendship and brotherhood among Turkic states.
• It backs a negotiated settlement in Cyprus based on existing realities, full implementation of UN resolution 2803 (2025) on Gaza, and a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
• It encourages transport and energy projects including the Middle Corridor and the Zangezur Corridor, and says the 14th summit is to be held in 2027 in Uzbekistan.