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Turkey

July 26, 2024

Ankara 5:24 pm

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Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed (L), the wife of Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid, comforts a Kurdish woman during a ceremony marking the Anfal mass killings, after corpses were transferred from Baghdad to the Kurdish town of Chamchamal for burial, on February 21, 2024.

Ankara brushes off Iraqi first lady’s accusations labeling Turkey as 'invader'

In an unusual effrontery, the first lady accused Turkey of displacing hundreds and destroying large swaths of agricultural areas.

A stray dog sits in front of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Aug. 23, 2022.

Analysis

Turkey’s opposition fears political motives behind stray dog bill

As Turkey inches closer to passing a bill that could lead to the mass culling of stray dogs, some critics argue that it will provide a mechanism for the government to turn up the heat in opposition-held municipalities.

Ezgi Akin

By Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

This picture taken on October 29, 2023, in Istanbul shows Turkish naval forces warship Frigates TCG F 497, Goksu sails during a military naval parade on Bosphorus to mark 100th anniversary celebrations of Turkish republic.

Somaliland warns against Turkey's naval deployment off Somalia's coast

The Turkish parliament will soon vote on a two-year mandate allowing the Turkish army to dispatch troops to Somali waters.

Turkey's Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek speaks during a breakout session on Creating Competitive Economies at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on May 15, 2024. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP) (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Regional View

Turkey returns $5B deposit to Saudi Arabia amid economic recovery

The Saudi Fund for Development decided to hold the funds in the Turkish Central Bank in March 2023 after ministerial meetings the previous year — the deposit helped Turkey firm up its weakened currency, the lira.

Latest News

Quick Take

Turkey’s Central Bank keeps interest rates at 50% as inflation cools

Foreign exchange rates are displayed against the Turkish lira on Istiklal Avenue, Istanbul, Turkey, March 21, 2024.

Quick Take

Turkey walks back controversial stray dogs bill amid fears of mass cullings

Animal right activists attend a protest against the ruling party AKP's bill aimed at removing stray dogs from the streets, on June 2, 2024, in Istanbul.

Turkey’s natural gas hub: the end of a dream?

Media film and photograph the Abdulhamid Han drill ship, the fourth built by Turkey, in Mersin on August 9, 2022 before it leaves for gas exploration to an undisputed area in the Mediterranean Sea, in south of the city of Gazipasa. - Turkey on August 9, 2022 sent its newest drill ship on the first eastern Mediterranean energy exploration mission in nearly two years. The search for natural gas in energy-rich waters around the divided island of Cyprus has turned into an irritant in Turkey's ties with the Euro

Analysis

How Turkey-US ties could shift if Trump wins in November

US President Donald Trump and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) take part in a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on November 13, 2019.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

Will Turkey’s inroads in Sahel spark cooperation with US in Africa?

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan meets with Bakary Yaou Sangaré, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Nigeriens Abroad of Niger in Niamey, July 17, 2024.

Ezgi Akin

By Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Ezgi Akin

Associate Editor (Turkey)

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Nazlan Ertan

In Izmir, reporting on culture

Melda Dogan

In Istanbul, reporting on culture

Rahim Rahimov

In Baku, reporting on Middle East-Caucasus ties

Empty baggage trucks are seen by a Turkish airlines Boeing 777, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Jan. 11, 2023.

Quick Take

Turkish Airlines cancels 84 flights amid global IT outage

The Turkish transportation minister said the government expects the disruption to end “within hours.”

Iraq's new first lady and Iraqi-Kurdish politician and writer Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed receives a bouquet of flowers during her husband's inauguration and handover ceremony as the new Iraqi president at al-Salam Palace in the capital Baghdad on Oct. 17, 2022.

Regional View

Iraq’s first lady blasts Turkey’s assault against PKK in Kurdistan Region

The first lady's own family history and the upcoming parliamentary elections are likely behind her decision to speak up now.

US President Donald Trump (L) and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R).

Quick Take

Turkey’s Erdogan praises Trump’s 'bravery' in call with former president

The Turkish president became one of the few world leaders to speak with the former US leader following the assassination attempt.

Stray dogs lie on the grass in front of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul on August 23, 2022.

Quick Take

Turkey’s animal rights advocates fear mass culling as lawmakers debate stray dog bill

Animal rights activists claim that the bill could lead to mass culling of the country’s some four million stray dogs.

The protest movement leader Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan participates during the rally demanding the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's resignation over land transfer to neighboring Azerbaijan, outside the government building in central Yerevan on May 30, 2024.

Interview

Archbishop seeking Armenian PM’s ouster over concessions to Turkey, Azerbaijan down but not out

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Bagrat Galstanyan blasted Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for capitulating to Azerbaijan and claims the premier was lying to the Armenian people as to his true plans.

Bagrat Galstanyan

With Bagrat Galstanyan

Armenian Archbishop

Euro 2024

Quick Take

Turkey's Erdogan joins fans in panning EURO 2024 referee

The Turkish president’s remarks criticizing the referee of the Euro 24 quarterfinal between Turkey and the Netherlands came amid lingering anger at UEFA.

President Joe Biden and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg greet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on stage before a group photo during the 2024 NATO summit on July 10, 2024, in Washington, DC.

Regional View

Turkey committed to NATO but skeptical of alliance's future under incoming chief

Turkey used the recent NATO summit in Washington to reiterate its role as a committed member of the alliance but also underlined its expectations of the upcoming NATO chief.

Syrians attend the burial of a man killed during clashes with Turkish troops, in Afrin in northern Syria on July 2, 2024.

Regional View

Syrians in Turkey change attire, avoid cars after mob attacks

Mob attacks on Syrians in Turkey are forcing Syrians to make themselves invisible.

A composite image of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erodgan (L) and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Quick Take

Iraq aims to host first meeting between Turkey's Erdogan, Syria's Assad

Baghdad is throwing its hat into the ring in hopes of brokering a historic restoration of ties between Turkey and the Bashar al-Assad regime in Damascus, as Syria's neighbors hope to return refugees back to the war-wracked country.

YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images

Quick Take

Turkey has lost export competitiveness, won't meet annual goal: Official

Turkish Exporters Assembly Chairman Mustafa Gultepe said that Turkish exports would likely be between $264-267 billion for 2024.

This combination of file photographs created on July 7, 2024, shows Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) in Ankara on May 29, 2023, and Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on July 16, 2023.

Analysis

As Erdogan woos Assad, is Turkey-Syria reconciliation rhetoric or reality?

While the Turkish president has signaled he’s open to mending fences with his Syrian counterpart, the path to reconciliation is full of pitfalls.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Joe Biden take part in a working session on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Energy, Africa-Mediterranean at the Borgo Egnazia resort during the G7 Summit in Savelletri near Bari, Italy, on June 14, 2024.

Quick Take

Turkey’s Erdogan arrives in US for NATO summit: Defense sales, PKK ties in focus

The Turkish president said cooperation against terrorism and removing defense sale obstacles against his country will top his agenda during his trip.