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Turkey

November 5, 2024

Ankara 3:16 am

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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

Turkish Central Bank Governor Hafize Gaye Erkan attends the Planning and Budget Commission of the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara on Oct. 03, 2023.

Turkey's first female central bank chief faces potential axe amid nepotism claims

The question concerning Hafize Gaye Erkan's dismissal is increasingly not "if" but "when," observers say.

ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images

Breaking | Last Updated: January 24, 2024, 6:22 am

Turkey’s parliament ratifies Sweden’s NATO membership

Following Turkey’s ratification, Hungary remains to be sole holdout standing before Sweden’s accession to the transatlantic alliance.

Pakistan activists protest in Lahore on Jan. 19, 2024, after Iran launched an airstrike in Pakistan's southwest Baluchistan province.

What's behind Turkey's muted response to Iran-Pakistan escalation?

Two considerations stand out in Turkey’s muted response to recent Iranian strikes in Iraq and Pakistan.

Second Israeli soccer player in Turkey dropped over Gaza hostages post

Karzev’s departure comes amid rising Turkish-Israeli tensions against the backdrop of the war in Gaza.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) welcomes Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif as they pose upon his arrival during an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on June 1, 2022. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey treads cautious line amid Iran-Pakistan flareup

Turkey’s highly cautious tone over attacks by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps on Iraq and Pakistan reflects Ankara’s approach of not wanting to involve outside players in its disagreements with Tehran.

In this photograph taken on August 25, 2023, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Chair, WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference and Minister of State for Foreign Trade of United Arab Emirates, addresses the gathering on the first day of the three-day B20 Summit in New Delhi.

Davos 2024: Gold, precious minerals to drive UAE-Turkey trade in 2024, says minister

Since 2021, diplomatic ties between the two countries have greatly improved after years of antagonism over differing attitudes toward the Muslim Brotherhood and governance in Egypt.

United Arab Emirates

Turkey-backed Syrian fighter sits at a position on the outskirts of the town of Marea.

Turkey's operation in Syria could happen in 'upcoming months': Erdogan

The Turkish president’s comments come after the top Turkish diplomat leveled rare public criticism at Russia.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed

No jail time for Somali president’s son over deadly crash in Turkey

The Somali president's son was not present at the trial, which Turkey's main opposition slammed as a "sham."

soccer fans

Turkey deports Israeli soccer player as another faces investigation

Tensions between Turkey and Israel is spreading to Turkish soccer fields as Israeli players commemorate the 100th day in captivity of the hostages still held in the Gaza Strip.

Sagiv Yekhezkel displays a message in support of Hamas-held hostages during a match in Turkey.

Breaking | Last Updated: January 15, 2024, 3:29 am

Turkey detains Israeli soccer player over Gaza war message during match

The player wrote a message referencing the "100 days" that Israel captives have been held by Hamas since their Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel.

A man fishes as Hong-Kong-flagged container ship "Joseph Schulte" transits Bosphorus in Istanbul, on August 18, 2023. The Hong Kong-flagged Joseph Schulte left the port of Odesa on August 17 -- the first vessel to directly challenge Russia's new bid to seal Ukraine's access to the Black Sea. Marine traffic sites showed it approaching its final destination in Istanbul after moving along a western route that avoided international waters in favour of those controlled by NATO members Romania and Bulgaria. (Phot

New Black Sea mission could score Turkey points with NATO

Two different interpretations of the joint Black Sea mine mission appear to have emerged among Turkey and its other NATO allies, Romania and Bulgaria, but the allies might find a middle ground.

A group of singers perform Somali nationalistic songs during a demonstration in support of Somalia's government following the port deal signed between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland at Eng Yariisow Stadium in Mogadishu on January 3, 2024. Somalia vowed to defend its territory after a controversial Red Sea access deal between Ethiopia and the breakaway state of Somaliland that it branded as "aggression". (Photo by ABDISHUKRI HAYBE / AFP) (Photo by ABDISHUKRI HAYBE/AFP via Getty Images)

In fallout of Somaliland-Ethiopia deal, Turkey backs Somalia amid rivalries

Turkey's harsh reaction to the deal between Somaliland and Ethiopia reflects its close ties with Somalia, where it has a military base and commercial interests.