THE MAIN DIRECTIONS OF TURKEY'S COOPERATION WITH THE CENTRAL ASIAN STATES

Abstract

The scientific article explores the main directions of Turkey's cooperation with the Central Asian states. The authors consider the dynamics and nature of cooperation in various fields, including politics, economics, culture and education. The article analyzes the historical and cultural ties between Turkey and the countries of Central Asia, as well as assesses the influence of geopolitical factors on the development and deepening of relations. Special attention is paid to cooperation in the fields of energy, transport and trade, as well as issues of security and stability in the region. The article also examines the challenges and prospects for further development of cooperation between Turkey and the Central Asian states in the context of a changing geopolitical situation and economic conditions.

Recently, the attention of the international community has been focused on Central Asia. This state of affairs is explained by the events that took place, directly or indirectly related to the region  -  the rise to power of the Taliban, events in Kazakhstan, the activation of the CSTO, etc. Against this background, Turkey began to show special activity, positioning itself as the leader of the "Turkic world" and trying to get involved in what is happening along with the main non-regional actors, such as like Russia and China. In this context, the Turkish development model was considered as the main tool, combining a secular democratic political system, respect for Islamic values, socially oriented public policy and a market economy. The factor of ethnic and confessional proximity of the countries was also important, which was used as an argument in favor of Turkey's formation of the status of a representative of the Turkic republics in the international arena.

The authors use analytical methods and data from official sources, as well as the results of interviews with experts and representatives of government agencies to develop their conclusions and recommendations for further cooperation. This article is of interest to researchers, international relations specialists and political scientists, as well as to practitioners involved in the development of foreign economic relations.