TSO leaders meet in Budapest for informal summit

The informal summit of the heads of state of the Turkic States Organization (TSO) is taking place today, May 21, in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. The event was announced by the TSO Secretariat.

Hosted by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the summit is being attended by the presidents of the TSO member states – Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. In addition, representatives of the observer states and the Secretary General of the organization are also participating.

This marks the first time in TSO history that an observer state – Hungary – is hosting a summit. The event underscores Hungary’s ongoing commitment to strengthening broad cooperation with the Turkic world.

Held under the motto “Meeting Place of East and West,” the summit provides an important platform for leaders to expand collaboration in key areas and address pressing regional and global issues.

At the conclusion of the summit, participants are expected to adopt the "Budapest Declaration", affirming the shared vision and strategic direction of the TSO. Several key initiatives and decisions are also anticipated.

Ahead of the summit, the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Turkic States convened in Budapest to finalize the summit agenda and approve the documents to be submitted to the heads of state.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan is currently in Budapest at the invitation of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. On May 20, the two leaders held bilateral talks at the Carmelita Palace in both narrow and extended formats, resulting in the signing of a joint declaration “On the Establishment of an Enhanced Strategic Partnership.”