The Strategic Dimension of the Visit of Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye Cevdet Yılmaz to Kazakhstan: Energy Security and the Middle Corridor

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye, Cevdet Yılmaz, paid a working visit to Kazakhstan on April 14–15, 2026, in order to attend the 14th Term Intergovernmental Meeting of the Kazakhstan–Türkiye Joint Economic Commission (JEC) and to hold various contacts. The said visit can be considered an important diplomatic engagement in terms of deepening the economic and strategic cooperation between Türkiye and Kazakhstan.

Within the scope of the visit, Yılmaz attended the “Turkish Business World Meeting” organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey and the World Turkish Business Council in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. In his speech there, he emphasized that Kazakhstan holds a central position not only in Central Asia but also in the reshaping economic architecture of Eurasia. Drawing attention to Kazakhstan’s natural resources, dynamic population, reform-oriented economic approach, and its increasing attractiveness to global investors through its outward-oriented trade policies, Yılmaz stated that they expect to reach the bilateral trade volume target of 15 billion dollars between Kazakhstan and Türkiye in a short time.

Within the framework of the working visit, Yılmaz, together with the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Olzhas Bektenov, attended the Kazakhstan–Türkiye Round Table Meeting held in Astana and the 14th Term Intergovernmental Meeting of the JEC, and held various meetings in this context. At the said meeting, the parties signed the JEC Protocol and the 67-article Action Plan.

The emphasis on energy cooperation during the meeting is particularly noteworthy. Yılmaz’s definition of the energy cooperation between Türkiye and Kazakhstan as a basis that will contribute to regional stability, security of supply, and the strategic future of Eurasia reveals the strategic dimension of the talks. In this context, it is observed that the emphasis on the “Middle Corridor” came to the forefront during the visit. As a matter of fact, the disruptions that occurred in the Strait of Hormuz during the war process between Iran and the USA/Israel caused fluctuations in the energy supply of many countries, especially in Europe; this situation has increased the importance of the Middle Corridor.

Similarly, the Russia–Ukraine War in the northern line and the insufficiency of the southern corridor in meeting the increasing energy demand have led to the prominence of the Middle Corridor as an alternative route. In this framework, Türkiye’s function as a secure land and maritime bridge between East and West strengthens its position as a strategic logistics hub that delivers the energy and natural resources of the Turkic world, especially Kazakhstan, to Europe. Therefore, the Middle Corridor is evaluated as a strategic move that increases the international trade potential of the Turkic world.

Another important dimension of the visit is Yılmaz’s meeting with the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. During the said meeting, existing projects and new cooperation opportunities were discussed across a wide range of areas, from trade to energy, from defense industry to education, and from transportation to cultural cooperation. The parties once again strongly underlined their determination in cooperation aimed at increasing the bilateral trade volume, strengthening mutual investments, and contributing to regional stability and prosperity.
 

Ahmet Sağlam

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of UzDaily.