The Turkic agenda and the Turkic illusions of Ilham Aliyev – The “Turkic agenda” of Ilham Aliyev, particularly the idea of a unified Turkic bloc and the Zangezur Corridor, is a central theme in his foreign policy, which he promotes as a means of strengthening regional security, economic cooperation, and cultural unity. “Turkic illusions,” according to critics, may refer to the potential for these ambitions to overlook regional realities, such as lingering ethnic tensions and competing geopolitical interests, which could undermine his vision for a peaceful and prosperous “Turkic world”. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] The Turkic agenda Economic integration: Aliyev views the Organization of Turkic States (

The Turkic agenda and the Turkic illusions of Ilham Aliyev –
The “Turkic agenda” of Ilham Aliyev, particularly the idea of a unified Turkic bloc and the Zangezur Corridor, is a central theme in his foreign policy, which he promotes as a means of strengthening regional security, economic cooperation, and cultural unity. “Turkic illusions,” according to critics, may refer to the potential for these ambitions to overlook regional realities, such as lingering ethnic tensions and competing geopolitical interests, which could undermine his vision for a peaceful and prosperous “Turkic world”. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
The Turkic agenda

Economic integration: Aliyev views the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) as a tool for economic development, particularly through the expansion of transport corridors like the Zangezur Corridor, which he sees as a vital link between the Middle Corridor and the North-South route.
Geopolitical influence: Azerbaijan actively promotes the OTS as a significant geopolitical center and a bloc that is “no threat to anyone” but poses a “rising center of influence,” potentially challenging existing regional power balances.
Security and military cooperation: Aliyev emphasizes the importance of a unified military and security approach among Turkic states, proposing joint military exercises to enhance their collective defense capabilities.
Cultural and historical unity: Aliyev frequently invokes shared Turkic heritage, history, and culture to foster solidarity among Turkic peoples, framing the OTS as a “family” of nations. [1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]

“Turkic illusions”

Rhetoric versus reality: Critics argue that Aliyev’s rhetoric about peace and a unified Turkic world can be at odds with his government’s actions and state-level hate rhetoric.
Regional stability: The pursuit of the “Turkic agenda” could be perceived as undermining regional stability by creating new tensions or consolidating Azerbaijan’s influence in a way that could be seen as a threat by others.
Unrealistic expectations: The emphasis on “Turkic unity” may be seen as an overreach, ignoring the complex national interests of other countries and potentially creating a false sense of unity that doesn’t reflect the reality of geopolitical competition. [2, 4]

Conclusion
While Aliyev’s “Turkic agenda” presents a vision of a unified and prosperous Turkic world, the “Turkic illusions” refer to potential challenges or contradictions that could undermine this vision. These may include the tension between his peaceful rhetoric and hardline actions, the overestimation of a unified “Turkic” identity, and the potential for the “Turkic bloc” to be perceived as a threat by other regional actors. [2, 4, 8]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1]  trtworld.com/article/0d5ea57…
[2]  evnreport.com/opinion/beyond…
[3]  caspianpost.com/azerbaijan/p…
[4]  carnegieendowment.org/resear…
[5]  aze.media/one-of-main-object…
[6]  eurasianet.org/azerbaijans-a…
[7]  x.com/presidentaz/status/197…
[8]  turkiyetoday.com/region/azer…
[9]  dailysabah.com/politics/dipl…
[10]  caliber.az/en/post/turkic-un…
[11]  caspiannews.com/news-detail/…

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— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Nov 17, 2025