At the 12th summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Gabala, Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev called for joint military exercises in 2026, framing the bloc as a rising geopolitical force linking Central Asia and Europe, Azerbaijan State News Agency reported on Oct. 7. The leaders of the Organization of Turkic States' member states discussed greater coordination on defense, transport, energy and digital development, but did not sign any new agreements.