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Turkey

November 4, 2024

Ankara 8:46 pm

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Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan (R) and the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Devlet Bahceli, talk on stage during a rally before local elections in Ankara, March 23, 2019.

Turkey ousts 3 Kurdish mayors amid renewed efforts to forge deal with PKK

The dismissals come as Ankara has renewed talks with the Kurdistan Workers' Party and as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan eyes a third term.

Visitors look at the Bayraktar Kizilelma UCAV during the opening day of SAHA EXPO 2024, an international defense and aerospace exhibition, Istanbul, Oct. 22, 2024.

Analysis

Turkey slated to boost defense exports after major arms fair sees $6.2B in contracts

While the additional foreign revenue is good news for Ankara, experts warn that success in the defense industry sector comes with potential risks.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey to ditch Siemens for China contractor to build nuclear plant

Turkey’s first nuclear power plant has faced delays due to Siemens’ lateness in delivering of key parts.

CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey announces initial payment for $23B F-16 jets deal

The first batch of payments has been made in Turkey’s nearly five-year effort to purchase new F-16 fighter jets from the United States, the Turkish Defense Ministry said.

Latest News

Why Turkey's Erdogan is mulling release of PKK leader from prison

FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey’s Erdogan signals deadly attack won’t derail opening to Kurdish dialogue

Members of the police carry the coffins of victims of the attack that occurred on Oct. 23, 2024, at the Turkish Aviation Company facility, during a funeral ceremony on Oct. 24, 2024, in Ankara, Turkey.

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Interview

Syrian Kurdish commander: Turkey-PKK talks doomed if aimed at collapsing Kurds' self rule in Syria

Syrian Democratic Forces commander-in-chief Mazloum Abdi speaks during an interview with AFP in Syria's northeastern city of Hasakeh on Oct. 26, 2024.

Mazlum Kobane

Mazlum Kobane

SDF commander in chief

Analysis

With Gulen dead, Turkey sees chance to weaken group, improve US ties

The casket of Turkish Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen arrives for a prayer service at Skylands Stadium in Augusta, New Jersey, on Oct. 24, 2024.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

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

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Ezgi Akin

Associate Editor (Turkey)

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

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Mustafa Sonmez

In Istanbul, reporting on economics

ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey to play 'important role' in sukuk market despite paused UAE deal

Turkey has been looking to shore up financing to help it rebuild its economy after devastating twin earthquakes in 2023 killed more than 53,000 people and cost the country north of $50 billion.

An ambulance leaves from Santa Maria Church as anti-riot police officers block the street after an attack in Istanbul, Turkey, Jan. 28, 2024.

How and why ISIS-K has resurged in Turkey

The latest attack on an Istanbul church signals the militant group’s resurgence in Turkey.

China Railway Express Chang'an freight train arrives at the Ankara train station, Turkey, on November 6, 2019. The first freight train, "Trans-Caspian China Railway Express", departing from China and going to Europe by using Marmaray, was sent off at Ankara Station.

Can Turkey, Iraq pull off 'Dry Canal' project?

While experts believe the ‘Dry Canal’ project involving road and rail networks faces an uphill battle, the initiative seems to stand a better chance than its alternatives.

Participants wave flags during a demonstration organized by The Kurdish Democratic Society Center against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Sweden's NATO bid at Norra Bantorget square in Stockholm on January 21, 2023.

Sweden's Kurds pay price of NATO deal with Turkey

It's increasingly clear that Sweden's sizable Kurdish population was the loser in the wrangling between Ankara and Stockholm over the latter's bid to join the NATO alliance.

Norway's Minister of Defense Bjorn Arild Gram sits in the back of an F-16 aircraft at Bodo airport, Norway, on Jan. 3, 2024.

Turkey says talks with US on local production of new F-16 ongoing

Mutual quest for the swift delivery of the new F-16s increases the prospects of the Turkish co-production offer, an analyst believes.

Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels Feb. 15, 2024.

Turkey, Greece formally join German-led defense shield project

Turkey reportedly sought to join the initiative, announced by Berlin in 2022, earlier but didn’t receive an invitation.

Erdogan is met by Sisi in Cairo

Turkey’s Erdogan receives red-carpet reception in Egypt, calls Sisi 'brother'

Libya, the Gaza war and bilateral ties are set to top Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's meeting during the first such visit since 2012.

People take part in a protest against the arrest of nine journalists working for Kurdish media outlets including Mezopotamya news agency in Istanbul, on Oct. 31, 2022.

Kurdish journalists harassed, detained ahead of key municipal race in Turkey

The detentions come amid ongoing demonstrations across the majority-Kurdish southeast region in the run-up to the 25th anniversary of the arrest of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party leader Abdullah Ocalan.

YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey landslide leaves nine gold mine workers trapped

As rescuers work to reach several people who have been trapped in the gold mine for more than six hours, observers are ringing alarm bells over the risk of contaminated soil entering the nearby Euphrates River.

UAE's President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meet in Dubai on Feb. 13, 2024.

Turkey’s Erdogan in UAE, meets MBZ ahead of landmark Egypt visit

Erdogan’s UAE and historic Egypt trips come as Ankara seeks to strengthen its ties with regional countries amid ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

A file photo taken in November 2001 shows a US Air Force F-16 warplane ready to land at Incirlik Air Base, southern Turkey.

Turkey’s Erdogan welcomes ‘conclusion’ of F-16 sale from US

Experts said the clearing of the sale is a "breakthrough" for US-Turkey relations but warned of delivery bumps that could rise in the next phase.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, shakes hands with his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, as they are welcomed by Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during the opening ceremony of the World Cup in Doha, Qatar on November 20, 2022 [Handout/Press Office of the Presidency of Turkey

From East Med to Ethiopia, can Turkey's Erdogan, Egypt's Sisi form regional axis?

Following a thaw in relations and a drone sales package, Turkish-Egyptian defense cooperation and the Turkish president's upcoming visit to Egypt could generate new momentum in the region.