BAKU/ISTANBUL

Interior ministers from the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) gathered on Friday in Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, for their second official meeting, pledging stronger cooperation on regional security and counterterrorism.

Hosted by Azerbaijani Interior Minister Vilayat Eyvazov, the summit included ministers from Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Hungary, and OTS Secretary General Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya emphasized common security concerns.

"We are closely monitoring with concern the Russia-Ukraine war, Israel’s oppression in Palestine, global energy and food crises, the Pakistan-India conflict, and the trajectory of a trade war threatening global stability," Yerlikaya said.

He also called for deeper unity within the OTS, saying: "Regardless of member or observer status, we must further strengthen our security cooperation, especially as the world order continues to drift toward chaos."

Reaffirming a joint commitment to fight terrorism, he said: "We confirmed our common will to fight against terrorist organizations such as FETO and ISIS (Daesh). We are moving confidently toward our goal of a terror-free Türkiye."

Yerlikaya warned of FETO and ISIS threats, urging vigilance and proposing a new "Crime-Fighting Council" open to all OTS members and observers.

"This council must be accessible to the interior ministries and law enforcement agencies of all our brother countries," he added.

A draft of the proposal will be shared soon, he said, as OTS countries work to institutionalize security cooperation throughout the Turkic world.