The official visit of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Turkey on July 29, 2025, carries a multidimensional and strategic significance that extends far beyond the boundaries of diplomatic protocol. This engagement stands out as part of an ongoing multidimensional process of transformation marked by deepening regional alliances in the fields of science, energy, and logistics. Invited by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Tokayev co-chaired the fifth meeting of the Turkey-Kazakhstan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. As a result of this summit, 20 bilateral agreements were signed, encompassing new frameworks of regional integration, especially in the fields of mining, energy, transportation, and higher education.
Energy Diplomacy and Resource Geopolitics
One of the most striking dimensions of the visit was the negotiation of new cooperation mechanisms aimed at transporting Kazakh oil to global markets via Turkey. According to President Tokayev, currently 1.4 million tons of Kazakh oil are transported annually through the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline. Under the newly signed memoranda of understanding, the parties aim to increase this volume. This development not only strengthens Turkey’s ambition to become a regional energy hub but also holds critical importance for Kazakhstan’s strategy to diversify export routes and secure access to safe ports. Furthermore, the expressed intent of Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) to operate in Kazakhstan signals that the collaboration may extend beyond transport into production processes as well.
Kazakhstan’s reserves of rare earth elements and strategic minerals are of considerable value to both European and Asian economies prioritizing green energy transitions. In this context, the agreements signed in the mining sector may herald a new phase — one that mandates not only commercial but also technological and scientific R&D collaborations.
Strategic Dimensions of the Middle Corridor
Another key agenda item during the visit was the development and activation of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, commonly referred to as the ‘Middle Corridor.’ According to data shared by Tokayev, approximately 85% of road freight transported between China and Europe passes through Kazakhstan. This positions Kazakhstan as the backbone of the region’s logistics infrastructure. Turkey’s central role in the Middle Corridor makes it a decisive actor in the route’s integration with Europe. In this regard, Kazakhstan’s efforts to modernize its rail and road infrastructure, alongside its revival of maritime transport on the Caspian Sea, when combined with Turkey’s port capacity and transportation infrastructure, offer significant synergistic potential. These developments also underscore the strategic importance of the Zangezur Corridor and reinforce the value of uninterrupted transportation from China to Europe via Turkey, bypassing the Iranian route.
Education and Academic Diplomacy
The visit also drew attention for its scientific and cultural dimensions, in addition to its economic focus. Joint initiatives such as Gazi University’s planned establishment of a branch within the South Kazakhstan Pedagogical University can contribute to aligning the Turkish higher education model with Kazakhstan’s ongoing education reforms.
Moreover, the Turkish Maarif Foundation’s new school initiatives in Kazakhstan signify a broadening and institutionalization of bilateral cooperation in education. These efforts may extend beyond student exchange programs to encompass joint research projects, health technologies, distance education systems, and academic mobility, laying the groundwork for a multifaceted partnership.
Rising Investment Intensity
Bilateral economic relations have gained significant momentum – the trade volume between the two countries has reached $5 billion. Kazakh investments in Turkey amount to approximately $1.5 billion, while Turkish investments in Kazakhstan are nearing $5 billion. According to President Tokayev, around 4,000 Turkish companies are currently operating in Kazakhstan, having undertaken projects worth a total of $6 billion. The involvement of these companies in sectors such as energy, construction, agriculture, industry, infrastructure, and healthcare illustrates Turkey’s capacity to transfer its development experience to the region.
A Multi-Layered Partnership Model
The comprehensive cooperation platform established along the axes of energy, transportation, education, and science during the Tokayev-Erdoğan summit could, if institutionalized within a strategic framework, significantly contribute to realizing the two countries’ shared goal of reaching a bilateral trade volume of $15 billion.
As part of the visit, President Erdoğan awarded President Tokayev the State Order of the Republic of Turkey — an act that symbolizes the deepening of bilateral relations not merely on the basis of strategic interests but also through a shared sense of fraternal affinity, thereby adding a distinct and positive momentum to the partnership.