Erdoğan visits Astana as Turkey and Central Asia deepen ties amid shifting regional order

By Botagoz Marabayeva Published on 14/05/2026 - 22:21 GMT+2•Updated 22:23 Share Comments Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Copied

Turkey and Kazakhstan signed a friendship and strategic partnership declaration in Astana, targeting €13 billion in trade.

Kazakhstan and Turkey signed a Declaration on Eternal Friendship and Expanded Strategic Partnership during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's state visit to Astana on Thursday, as the two countries set a bilateral trade target of €13 billion and deepened cooperation across the defence, energy, transport and digital sectors.

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Kazakhstan has pursued what it describes as a multi-vector foreign policy, balancing relations with Russia, China, the West and Turkey simultaneously.

Tokayev set the tone of the talks, describing Turkey as a "golden bridge" connecting Europe and Asia.

"Thanks to your balanced and far-sighted policy, Ankara's influence on the global stage continues to grow steadily," he said.

Turkey, with its strong economy and respected diplomacy, is recognised as a 'golden bridge' connecting Europe and Asia, as well as the entire Turkic world," Tokayev added.

Erdoğan was also awarded the newly established Order of Qoja Ahmet Yasawi — named after a 12th-century Turkic Sufi mystic and poet — becoming its first recipient.

Tokayev described the honour as carrying "deep symbolic significance". Erdoğan accepted it as a gesture of respect toward the Turkish people and a symbol of brotherhood between the two nations.

The two presidents co-chaired the 6th meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council alongside a bilateral business forum. Erdoğan stressed the importance of reaching the €13 billion trade target — nearly three times current bilateral trade levels.

"To achieve this target, we consider it important to ensure the implementation of the 67-point Action Plan adopted during the 14th session of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation in Astana on 15 April," he said.

Bilateral trade rose nearly 9% to more than €4.5 billion. There are around 4,000 Turkish companies operating in Kazakhstan, with Ankara among the country's top five trading partners.

Ankara's investment in Kazakhstan stands at over €5 billion, while Kazakh investment in Turkey exceeds €2 billion.

Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin said 100 investment projects worth nearly €3.5 billion had been completed, with another 50 worth a similar sum under way. Kazakhstan aims to increase its exports to Turkey to nearly €573 million.

Tokayev expressed confidence in further growth. "The partnership between the financial centres and digital trading platforms of both countries will promote deeper trade and economic relations," he said.

Agricultural trade grew 25% last year to almost €327 million, with Turkish companies investing in wheat processing and greenhouse complexes. Kazakhstan has proposed a 2026–2028 roadmap for agricultural cooperation.

On transport, Tokayev reaffirmed plans to expand the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, which connects China to Europe via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.

Rail cargo between the two countries rose 35% this year, and road transport by 5%, according to Tokayev.

"We agreed to enhance the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route through the implementation of a number of projects," he said, calling on Turkish investors to increase participation via Aktau and Kuryk ports.

Kazakhstan also expressed support for TAV Airports Holding to build an international airport in Almaty, while Erdoğan welcomed the proposal.

In the energy sector, Kazakhstan welcomed plans by Turkey Petrolleri Anonim Ortaklığı to enter the Kazakh market. Tokayev invited Turkish companies to participate in mining projects, citing their expertise in metals, processing and lithium production.

The declaration was accompanied by a series of bilateral agreements covering legal assistance, cultural centres, investment protection, oil and gas cooperation, UAV production, education, broadcasting and financial centre collaboration.

On the digital side, Kaspi.kz is expected to support Turkish e-commerce platform Hepsiburada, while Freedom Holding Corp is expanding digital and brokerage services in Turkey.

The visit comes ahead of an informal summit of leaders of the Organisation of Turkic States on 15 May in Turkistan, under the theme "Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development."

The OTS, founded in 2009, groups Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan, with Hungary and Turkmenistan as observers.

Turkey informally leads the organisation, while Kazakhstan provides the largest economy after Turkey. Russia and China are not members.

The visit comes as Russia's war in Ukraine has disrupted traditional overland trade routes between Europe and Asia, accelerating Central Asian states' efforts to diversify partnerships and reduce economic dependence on Moscow.

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