POLITICAL COOPERATION DYNAMICS IN THE ORGANIZATION OF TURKIC STATES

This study aims to examine the political cooperation dynamics within the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) through the lens of institutional structures, strategic documents, and regional interactions. The research analyzes the historical background of the Organization, its political mechanisms, and particularly its long-term vision documents such as the Turkic World Vision 2040 and the 2022–2026 Strategic Document, in order to assess the potential for political integration among the member states. A SWOT analysis is conducted to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to political cooperation dynamics within the OTS framework. The findings indicate that the Organization has made significant progress in institutionalizing political dialogue through mechanisms such as the Council of Heads of State and the Council of Foreign Ministers. The Turkic World Vision 2040, adopted in 2021, along with the 2022–2026 Strategic Document developed in line with this vision, concretize the OTS’s political integration goals and demonstrate a shared commitment to enhancing diplomatic coordination among member states. However, structural shortcomings such as non-binding recommendations, delays in implementation, political divergences among member states, and limited integration with observer members persist. On the other hand, shifting regional power balances, the outreach to Europe, and youth diplomacy initiatives present important opportunities. External pressures, internal political instabilities, and institutional overlaps in authority constitute key threats. Overall, the study reveals that the Organization of Turkic States possesses significant potential to deepen political cooperation; yet sustainable progress depends on enhancing institutional efficiency, strengthening strategic alignment among members, and developing resilience against geopolitical risks.