Summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Samarkand: Development Prospects and Challenges

On November 11, 2022, Samarkand hosted the first summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), which had previously operated in the format of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (CCTS). Against the background of turbulence in world politics, the inauguration of the OTS was an ambitious event, especially in the approach of the main player: Turkey. However, the different priorities expressed by the summit participants and some discrepancies between expectations and reality emphasized that for the OTS to succeed, the participating countries would have to develop much more mutual understanding, mutual respect, and effective dialogue than they have developed at this stage.