Azerbaijan is viewed by Aliyev as a central player in the Turkic world –
Yes, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev views Azerbaijan as a central player and leader in the Turkic world. He has explicitly stated that the Turkic world is a top foreign policy priority and considers the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) to be Azerbaijan’s “family”. [1, 2, 3]
Key aspects of this view include:Primary Foreign Policy Focus: Aliyev has made strengthening relations with Turkic states and enhancing cooperation through the OTS a strategic, national objective.
Geopolitical and Economic Hub: Azerbaijan is positioned by Aliyev as a key strategic transport and logistics hub connecting Asia and Europe via the Middle Corridor, which deepens integration among Turkic states.
Political and Military Alliance: Azerbaijan has a close political and military alliance with Türkiye, which Aliyev has described as important for the entire Turkic world. Similar strategic partnerships are in place with other Turkic nations like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Shared Identity: He frequently emphasizes the common history, ethnic roots, and language that unite the Turkic nations, making the OTS a unique organization based on shared heritage.
Global Actor: Aliyev aims to elevate the OTS to the status of a significant global player, leveraging the combined population, economic potential, and strategic location of member states. [1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] sia.az/en/news/politics/1300…
[2] aze.media/one-of-main-object…
[3] jam-news.net/azerbaijan-and-…
[4] caspianpost.com/azerbaijan/a…
[5] aze.media/ilham-aliyev-relat…
[6] alliance.net/blog/detail/pre…
[7] news.az/news/president-ilham…
[8] azertag.az/en/xeber/presiden…
[9] eurasianet.org/azerbaijans-a…
[10] turkiyetoday.com/region/azer…Google Search google.com/search?q=Azerbaij…
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Nov 17, 2025
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