Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan used his appearance at the Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Azerbaijan to send a clear message to Athens, Nicosia, and Brussels over Cyprus, reaffirming Ankara’s support for a two-state solution on the divided island.

Erdogan appeared alongside Ersin Tatar, the leader of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus — recognized only by Turkey — signaling continued efforts by Ankara to elevate the status of the occupied north in international forums.

While the summit in Gabala largely focused on developments in the Caucasus and deeper regional cooperation, the participation of Tatar and Erdogan’s statements made the Cyprus issue a focal point. Erdogan praised the inclusion of Hungary as an observer state and highlighted the unity of what he described as the “Turkic world.”

The Turkish president also called on member states to boost economic and energy cooperation through the Caspian Corridor, launch joint technological initiatives, and proposed December 15 as the “World Day of the Turkic Language Family.”

A day earlier, Tatar met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, a move that sparked criticism in Cyprus amid concerns that Ankara and Baku are working to further legitimize the northern administration.

Erdogan also touched on broader regional issues, including the situation in Gaza and Syria, lashing out at Israel, which he described as “the greatest threat in the region.”

The appearance underscored Ankara’s strategy of using regional alliances to apply pressure on Greece, Cyprus, and the European Union, while promoting its diplomatic vision of a divided Cyprus as a permanent solution rather than a temporary impasse.