The Armenian Factor in the context of the Organization of Turkic States: Central Asian positions and Regional Integration

Abstract

This study examines the Armenian factor within the system of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) by analyzing its impact on the foreign policy positions of Central Asian countries and on the broader dynamics of regional integration. The article focuses on Azerbaijan's role in political, economic and transport-communication connectivity between the South Caucasus and Central Asia, while also taking into account the cautious diplomatic approaches of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. The study argues that the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and the post-conflict regional environment should not be interpreted only as a bilateral security issue, but also as a factor that reveals the degree of political solidarity, institutional coordination and strategic maturity within the OTS. Special attention is given to the influence of external actors, the internal ethno-demographic context of Central Asian states, the comparative experience of other protracted conflicts, and the economic role of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the development of Turkic integration. In this context, the OTS is understood not as a confrontational bloc directed against Armenia, but as a platform for political dialogue, transport connectivity, economic cooperation and sustainable regional security (Organization of Turkic States, 2021; Yaldız, 2023).