Energy and transport corridors as foundation of security for countries of Organization of Turkic States

In our time, the issue of security has a broader meaning than the presence of an army or armed guards. Today, the issue of security also encompasses energy and transport security, without which the world simply cannot develop. And in shaping a new architecture of economic security, dictated by today’s geopolitical trends, the countries of the Organization of Turkic States play a special role.  

Within the framework of its chairmanship in the Organization of Turkic States, Azerbaijan is making every effort to further strengthen unity and solidarity among our countries, to realize the broad potential of our cooperation, and to contribute to the sustainable development, peace, and security of our region as a whole. The declaration adopted last year at the Gabala summit is an important roadmap that covers close cooperation and integration among member countries in the political, economic, energy, humanitarian, military, and security spheres. “Within the framework of our chairmanship, we are making efforts to develop the Middle Corridor, which is an important transport and logistics project connecting Europe with Asia and contributing to the well?being of the Turkic states, including the Zangezur Corridor and other transport links,” says a statement by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev addressed to the participants of the Fifth Meeting of Secretaries of the Security Councils of the OTS member states.

In the modern world, energy and transport have ceased to be purely economic categories. They increasingly determine the stability of states and their ability to maintain their own security by establishing strong foreign economic ties and ensuring access to international markets.

Interaction within the framework of the OTS has also gone beyond mere ethno?cultural and humanitarian interaction. Since the structure evolved from a Council into an Organization (and a transformation into a Union is not ruled out in the future), its geopolitical function, which extends far beyond the Turkic space, has been steadily growing. Those projects and discussions that in the past were viewed by external actors as intra?regional are now of the utmost importance in terms of the survival of continental logistics and the energy well?being of our countries’ partners and friends..

The integration of Turkic states is crucial for stabilizing Eurasia. This is regional security, which is ensured by jointly combating common threats. This is energy security. Many Turkic countries are major producers of oil and gas. Cooperation in this area will make it possible to diversify energy supplies and reduce the risks of energy crises. This also concerns transport security. Connectivity, supported by the necessary infrastructure, is one of the pillars of economic stability.

"Our countries have abundant natural resources, and this is also a major advantage. And these natural resources serve to strengthen our states, improve the well?being of our peoples, and also play an important role for the entire world." “Moreover, given the current situation along the perimeter of our borders, issues related to energy security are becoming particularly important,” President Ilham Aliyev said as he welcomed the participants of the meeting.

Yes, today it is absolutely impossible to talk about comprehensive security without taking into account two factors — energy security and transport connectivity. The presence of resources in itself is not a sufficient advantage if there are no reliable routes for their delivery. And transport infrastructure acquires strategic value when it allows states to enter new markets and diversify their foreign economic ties.

Without excessive exaggeration, we can say that Azerbaijan has all these advantages and has already shared them with its partners in the OTS. Our country occupies a special place in this space due to its geography and the presence of key elements of logistics and energy infrastructure. At one time, thanks to the foresight of the Azerbaijani leader, projects were implemented that have proven indispensable today for both the West and the East. Within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States, Azerbaijan’s opportunities have opened up access to Europe for the fraternal countries of Central Asia at a time when traditional routes have come into question. The Central Asian region is very rich in energy and other resources, but until now it has not had a reliable and independent route for connecting with Turkey and Europe. Azerbaijan, which has a well-developed port, railway, and pipeline infrastructure, has provided its OTS partners with such opportunities.

All of this is particularly noticeable against the backdrop of the formation of new trade routes between Asia and Europe. The reconfiguration of global supply chains is increasing the demand for alternative routes capable of ensuring the stable transit of goods, raw materials, and energy. Under such conditions, routes passing through the territory of the countries of the Turkic belt are acquiring significant economic and strategic importance.

This is important not only for maintaining continental logistics but also for the interests of the Turkic countries themselves. When the world order is changing, the importance of their own transport routes, energy independence, and mutual support increases. Transport and energy cooperation is gradually becoming one of the key elements of the practical activities of the OTS. Cultural and historical proximity creates the foundation for interaction, but it is the transport and energy infrastructure that makes it possible to turn this proximity into sustainable economic ties.

The economic agenda within the OTS is expanding. Azerbaijan, with its modern logistics infrastructure and advantageous geographical location, is becoming a key link in the Middle Corridor and a reliable transit partner for connecting the Organization’s Central Asian partners with Europe. The energy component of the transit is also growing. Over the past couple of years, Kazakhstan has shown great interest in pumping its oil to Europe via Azerbaijani pipelines. By 2027, it is planned to increase the transit capacity of Kazakh oil via the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline to 7 million tons per year, from the current 1.5 million tons.

It so happens that the OTS countries are rich in energy resources, while European markets are interested in diversifying sources and supply routes. In this system, Azerbaijan already acts not only as a producer and exporter of energy resources but also as a transit hub. The country’s territory hosts the most important energy pipelines linking the Caspian region with international markets. Overall, the entire infrastructure — transport, pipeline, and energy — both already existing in the OTS countries and under construction, constitutes a unified system of regional connectivity. This system has already proven its viability and continues to be improved in the context of the approaching global logistics and energy crisis.

Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan are currently jointly implementing the Trans?Caspian Energy Corridor project, which will run along the bottom of the Caspian Sea and will make it possible to turn the Turkic belt into a strategic energy corridor through which green energy will flow to European consumers.

Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan are implementing a project for an underwater fiber?optic cable. The Digital Silk Road will connect Aktau with Sumgait, and Turkmenbashi with Siyazan. The main line will make it possible to transmit internet traffic from European internet centers through Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan, and then to Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.

In the era of digitalization, special attention is also being paid to joint projects in the field of cybersecurity and information exchange. The concept of a “unified Turkic digital space” may become one of the most ambitious initiatives of the coming decade.

All of this constitutes the elements of the concept of “safety.”