Erdogan Attends SCO Summit: Turkey Strengthens Ties with the East Without Turning Away from the West

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, held on 1 September 2026 in Bishkek. The Turkish leader’s visit became a notable event not only because of his speech at the expanded session, but also thanks to a series of bilateral meetings, including talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Erdogan used the SCO platform to emphasise Ankara’s desire to expand cooperation with the organisation’s member states. According to the Turkish president, the SCO, which brings together countries with a population of around 3.5 billion people and a combined economy of approximately $35 trillion, is one of the important elements of the emerging multipolar world. Erdogan called the organisation a «rising star» and said that Turkey intended to strengthen cooperation with it in all areas.

What Erdogan spoke about

In his speech, the Turkish president addressed several global problems at once. These included climate change, illegal migration, terrorism, cross-border crime and food security. Erdogan stressed that such challenges could no longer be effectively addressed by individual states and that international cooperation was becoming increasingly important.

Erdogan also specifically recalled that Turkey would host a climate summit in Antalya in November 2026, inviting the leaders of partner countries to take part. Thus, the speech in Bishkek was not only a political statement for Ankara, but also an opportunity to present Turkey as one of the international platforms for discussing global problems.

The meeting with Putin became one of the main events of the visit

On the sidelines of the summit, Erdogan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The issues discussed reportedly included bilateral relations, the situation in the Black Sea region and other international matters. Following the meeting, particular attention was paid to the further development of economic and energy cooperation between Turkey and Russia.

Following the talks, statements were also made about the prospects for further cooperation in nuclear energy. Erdogan said that after the Akkuyu nuclear power plant project was implemented, Turkey and Russia were considering new joint projects in this area.

Why Turkey’s participation in the SCO is attracting particular interest

Turkey occupies an unusual position in international politics. The country remains a member of NATO while maintaining active relations with Russia, China, the Central Asian states and other countries of the East. Within the SCO, Turkey participates as a dialogue partner.

After returning from Bishkek, Erdogan specifically stressed that a possible deepening of relations with the SCO did not mean that Turkey was abandoning cooperation with the West. According to him, Ankara views various international formats not as mutually exclusive blocs, but as opportunities to expand its own political and economic ties.

This approach can be considered the main political signal of Erdogan’s participation in the summit: Turkey seeks to preserve its freedom of diplomatic manoeuvre while developing relations with both Western allies and the largest centres of power in Eurasia.

Why the SCO summit matters

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was created as a platform for cooperation among the states of Eurasia on security issues and the fight against common threats. Over time, however, its agenda has expanded significantly. Today, the SCO discusses the economy, trade, transport corridors, energy, food security, climate, the fight against terrorism and international security.

For Turkey, participation in such events is particularly important given its geographical position. Ankara lies at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia and seeks to use this position to develop trade, energy routes and political influence.

The Bishkek summit showed that Turkey continues to work actively in several international directions at once. For Ankara, Erdogan’s participation in the SCO is not so much a choice between East and West as an attempt to establish the country’s role as an independent regional centre capable of maintaining dialogue with the world’s largest players simultaneously. For the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the strengthening of Turkey’s international standing and diplomatic activity is of particular importance, as Ankara’s foreign-policy capabilities directly affect its position and role in the Eastern Mediterranean.