OMM Redaksiyası
Member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) are considering the creation of a new law enforcement body, "TURKPOL", as part of efforts to expand security cooperation.
The issue was discussed at a meeting of the interior ministers of OTS member states in Astana. Türkiye's Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi said the planned Crime Prevention Council could eventually be transformed into "TURKPOL", modeled on the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, "Europol", and "Aseanapol".
Türkiye proposed establishing the council. The first technical discussions on its founding document were held in July. According to Çiftçi, the document is expected to be signed at the next meeting once negotiations are completed.
Before the Astana meeting, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also called for closer cooperation among law enforcement agencies. He described the global situation as “unstable and unpredictable.”
What is the OTS?
The Organization of Turkic States was established in 2009 by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Türkiye under the name Turkic Council. Uzbekistan joined the organization in 2019, and the body adopted its current name in 2021.
Hungary, Turkmenistan and Cyprus have observer status in the organization. Although the OTS initially focused on historical, linguistic and cultural ties, security, regional connectivity and technology now occupy an increasingly prominent place in discussions among its leaders.
At an informal OTS summit held in Turkistan, Kazakhstan, on May 15, 2026, participants expressed different views on the organization’s future role. President Ilham Aliyev said the Turkic world should become “one of the influential geopolitical centers” of the 21st century.
Tokayev, meanwhile, said the OTS was neither a “geopolitical project” nor a military organization. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for stronger coordination on regional conflicts and expanded cooperation in the defense industry.
Other security initiatives
"TURKPOL" is not the only security initiative under discussion. Kazakhstan has proposed establishing an OTS Cybersecurity Council to enable national institutions to exchange information on cyberthreats and coordinate measures against risks that could affect critical infrastructure.
The organization is also considering new forms of cooperation with countries beyond its current membership. At the May summit, Kazakhstan supported Türkiye’s proposal for a “OTS Plus” format aimed at developing ties with countries outside the group.
Joint technology and infrastructure projects are also being implemented. Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan are working on a CubeSat satellite scheduled for launch in 2027. Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are developing a fiber-optic cable project across the Caspian Sea. Azerbaijani officials say the project will improve digital connectivity in the Caspian region.
Next steps
Secretaries of the OTS Security Councils are scheduled to meet in Baku from September 16 to 18, while representatives of defense industry institutions are expected to meet in Astana from September 30 to October 2.
The organization’s next summit will be held in Türkiye on October 30, 2026. A meeting of foreign ministers will take place in Ankara one day earlier. The next meeting of the OTS interior ministers will be held in Türkiye in 2027, when the parties aim to sign an agreement on establishing the Crime Prevention Council.
