Evaluating the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Dr. Güler Kalay, Deputy Director of Üsküdar University Political Psychology Center, stated that the summit opened a window of opportunity for Turkey, offering significant economic and strategic gains without creating a perception of 'axis shift.'
Dr. Kalay stated that the most important message of the summit was connecting rhetoric to concrete tools, adding, "Turkey's intense interaction with the SCO transforms into a complementary platform that maximizes economic-logistical benefits, rather than clashing with NATO/EU."
Dr. Güler Kalay, Deputy Director of Üsküdar University Political Psychology Center, evaluated the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit recently held by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Turkey can create opportunities without creating a perception of 'axis shift'
Noting that the summit held in Tianjin (August 31 – September 1, 2025) conveyed the message that global governance is at a crossroads by highlighting the vision of 'a new security and economic order prioritizing the Global South,' Dr. Güler Kalay said, "Turkey's high-level participation will increase its capacity to set agendas at Asia-centric tables without conflicting with its own alliance obligations, thanks to the flexibility provided by its 'dialogue partner' status. This framework is consistent with Ankara's long-standing strategic diversification approach. It can create an opportunity for a measured approach that aims to multiply Asia-focused trade-logistics and supply chain gains without triggering the perception of 'axis shift' in relations with the West."
The most important message of the summit is connecting rhetoric to concrete tools
Stating that the most important message of the summit was connecting rhetoric to concrete tools, Dr. Güler Kalay said, "Planned SCO development financing, energy cooperation, and satellite-digital infrastructure topics show that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Middle Corridor can meet at the point of complementarity. On this basis, Turkey can gain weight at the negotiation table with concrete files such as Middle Corridor 2.0 (BTK capacity, single-window customs, block train schedule) and joint production in selected sectors (battery, solar/grid equipment). Thus, Turkey's intense interaction with the SCO transforms into a complementary platform that maximizes economic-logistical benefits, rather than clashing with NATO/EU."
Attention to 3 delicate balances
Expressing her opinion that three delicate balances will come to the forefront, Dr. Güler Kalay continued:
“Firstly, not to feed the perception of 'bloc formation/axis' in Western capitals; secondly, to manage the chronic trade deficit with China not merely through market access, but through localization and mutual standard/quota facilitations; and finally, to convert expectations into target-oriented projects, knowing that the 'dialogue partner' status does not bring binding decision-making authority. Thus, the SCO's 25th Summit's call for a new order focused on the Global South can be transformed into a strategic opportunity for Turkey, extending from rhetoric to action, compatible with the West, and measurable with concrete gains.”
Turkey’s visibility in the Middle Corridor is increasing
Noting that Chinese President Xi Jinping's statement, "We must continue to take a clear stand against hegemonism and power politics and practice true multilateralism," points to a multipolar international system, Dr. Kalay said, "In this context, it brings important opportunities for Turkey such as access to financing and technology tools, creation of alternative channels for infrastructure and logistics digitalization, and leverage in connectivity. As a leverage power in connectivity, while Turkey's visibility in the Middle Corridor increases, it is foreseeable that it will create a chance to reinforce its claim to be a connectivity hub in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects."
Turkey, as a 'Dialogue Partner,' will be at the table in the reshaping of the organization
Dr. Güler Kalay stated that the emphasis on "global governance" highlighted at the summit also indicates that all countries within the SCO, regardless of their position, will have equal authority, and continued:
“In this context, while it means that Turkey, as a 'Dialogue Partner,' will be at the table in the reshaping of the organization, it will also keep multiple diplomatic channels active through bilateral meetings. Through this multidimensional diplomacy, leader-level contact is important for ensuring the import/export balance between China and Turkey. According to data, while our imports from China in 2024 are approximately 45 billion dollars, our exports to China are in the range of 3-4 billion dollars. This distant imbalance can be resolved with increased joint production and market access. Prioritizing the support of concrete collaborations in the energy, transportation, and digital infrastructure sectors through diplomacy will accelerate sectoral growth.”
Turkey's central leverage role in the Middle Corridor
Dr. Güler Kalay, Deputy Director of the Political Psychology Center, recalled that the integration of the BRI and the Middle Corridor (BTK + Marmaray) ceased to be symbolic and became a physical reality with the passage of the first China-Europe block train through Marmaray in 2019, stating, "While geopolitical shifts after 2022 increased interest in the Trans-Caspian (Middle Corridor) route, the OECD acknowledges the corridor's potential but points to ongoing bottlenecks in transit points and customs-digitalization areas. Turkey can strengthen its claim of being 'a complementary corridor, not an alternative to BRI' by increasing capacity, implementing single-window customs, and widely adopting pre-declaration practices. The activation of these practices on the China–Central Asia–Turkey line will significantly reduce slowing problems caused by planning, permits, and customs waiting times in train/road flows; this will increase Turkey's central leverage role in the Middle Corridor.”
On the other hand, Dr. Kalay also stated that Turkey's representation at the SCO 25th Summit expanded its multidimensional diplomacy capacity by providing opportunities for simultaneous and bilateral contacts with multiple critical actors under the same roof, concluding her words by saying, "This platform, while fostering regional mediation and connectivity capabilities, has concretized Ankara's ability to set agendas on Asia-centric platforms without conflicting with its alliance obligations."