Elvira Kadyrova, Ankara
Strengthening economic ties, energy cooperation, developing transport connectivity, and preserving cultural and historical heritage should become key directions for the development of the Turkic world through 2040. This was the main message delivered by Ibrahim Kalın, head of Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT), during his speech at the session titled “The Turkic World and a Vision for the Future from a Civilizational Perspective” at the Turkic World Dialogue Forum in Ankara.
The session was moderated by Professor Kılıç Buğra Kanat, Presidential Security and Foreign Policy Council Member.
Speaking on the implementation prospects of the “Turkic World Vision 2040,” Kalın noted that the Turkic world—including member states and observers—covers an area of approximately 4.8 million square kilometers with a population of nearly 200 million people. Its combined economic output stands at roughly $2.1 trillion in GDP and has the potential to at least double in the future. To achieve this goal, he stated, states must significantly strengthen cooperation in energy, rare minerals, food security, transport connectivity, and logistics.
He emphasized that Central Asia holds a special place in this process due to its natural resources, minerals, young population, and strategic geographic location.
Central Asia in a Changing Global Economy
Reflecting on the development of the Turkic nations since gaining independence in 1991, Kalın pointed out substantial shifts in their political and economic status. In particular, he highlighted the economic milestones achieved by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, along with their growing role in ensuring energy security.
According to his assessment, the past three decades have not been lost for the region: these nations managed to deliver significant development outcomes while simultaneously maintaining security, peace, and stability.
Kalın also noted the complementary nature of the economies of Central Asian Turkic countries, which opens up additional opportunities for deeper cooperation. Energy, he stated, remains the region’s most critical economic asset; however, transforming these natural resources into strategic value requires an adequate approach to their processing and usage.
He linked Central Asia’s rising prominence to shifts in global supply chains. Current geological and geopolitical developments have introduced major risks to international energy supplies, with the situation around the Strait of Hormuz acting as another source of uncertainty. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the paramount importance of food security, encompassing production, transportation, and delivery to international markets.
Under these circumstances, Central Asia’s geographic position assumes heightened significance for both energy and food security. Kalın believes these shared interests serve as a driving force bringing the Turkic states even closer together.
Turkmen Gas and Caspian Energy Routes
Special attention in the speech was devoted to energy cooperation. Kalın emphasized that energy and food constitute the most vital economic assets of the Turkic world. Today, rare earth elements and other critical minerals must also be added to this list.
As an example of successful regional cooperation, Kalın cited the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan oil pipeline, which Türkiye and Azerbaijan jointly implemented around 15–16 years ago. In his words, this project demonstrated the possibilities of cooperation in constructing infrastructure that guarantees energy resources access to international markets.
Kalın further highlighted the prospects of energy cooperation with Turkmenistan. According to him, connecting Turkmen gas across the Caspian Sea and its subsequent delivery to global markets ranks among the most important energy projects of the modern era.
He framed this topic within the broader context of the need to strengthen energy ties among the Turkic states and expand their capacity in international markets.
Transport Connectivity
Kalın also drew attention to the significance of the Middle Corridor, noting that the territory of the Turkic world—positioned along the historical Silk Road—serves today as a key link between East and West, facilitating the flow of trade, knowledge, and cultural exchanges.
Developing transport and logistics infrastructure is thus one of the primary avenues capable of strengthening economic interdependence among the region’s nations.
Additionally, Kalın pointed to the necessity of integrating technological infrastructure and utilizing it more efficiently. Cooperation among Turkic states in artificial intelligence and digital transformation is gradually expanding, he stated.
He identified demographic structure as another key advantage for the region. Central Asia’s population is young and dynamic—a factor gaining strategic importance against the backdrop of an aging population in several other regions worldwide. In the coming years, Kalın believes, the demographic factor will become a crucial strategic issue for nations and continents alike.
From Political Agreements to Practical Results
Speaking on the further development of the Organization of Turkic States, Kalın emphasized that achieving the goals of the “Turkic World Vision 2040” requires detailing the targeted objectives and systematically translating them into concrete projects.
He noted that significant results have already been achieved in economic integration, though much work remains ahead. Energy, food security, critical minerals, and infrastructural connectivity hold particular importance in this regard.
Kalın also drew attention to the need to strengthen inter-agency ties across all levels. Positive relations between heads of state must be translated more effectively into operational collaboration among government bodies, ministries, and institutions. To this end, mutual visits, meetings, joint initiatives, and partnership projects should be stepped up.
Regarding regional security, he highlighted ongoing cooperation among Turkic nations in countering terrorism, radicalization, smuggling, human trafficking, and organized crime. Kalın described this collaboration as part of a shared approach to security grounded in mutual trust and a clear recognition of the region’s interconnected interests.
Concluding the session, the head of Türkiye’s intelligence agency stressed that strong interstate ties do not emerge on their own, but demand continuous effort and hands-on work.
In his view, the realization of the “Turkic World Vision 2040” will hinge on the capacity of member states to build upon achieved milestones and transform shared objectives into sustainable, long-term cooperation across economy, energy, technology, and other strategically vital domains. ///nCa, 30 October 2026