Analysis Turkey rebuffs air-defense criticism after drone shot down near Ankara The incident near the capital has sparked debate over response and raised questions over Turkey’s defense capabilities. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Five ways Turkey could get back into US F-35 fighter jet program As the US ambassador to Turkey emphasizes strict compliance with American law, Ankara faces a narrow set of options to regain access to the F-35 program. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Turkey deepens Europe defense ties with UK aircraft deal, German security talks Turkey-European defense cooperation is deepening as Ankara finalizes a military transport deal with the UK and prepares for high-level defense talks with Germany. Turkey
Analysis Israel adapts, Turkey rises, Iran ruined: How 2 years of Gaza war reshaped Middle East Turkey’s involvement worries Israel in Syria but also raises hopes for pressuring Hamas to agree to President Donald Trump's ceasefire proposal. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis As US steps back from Europe, Turkey eyes bigger role in NATO defense industry By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Intel: Pentagon worried Turkey ‘spinning out’ of NATO orbit Defense Secretary Mark Esper told an audience at a New York think tank he was worried that Turkey is “spinning out” of the NATO orbit. Turkey
London summit exposes Turkey’s isolation, lack of clout in NATO Seasoned diplomats say despite Ankara’s tarnished image in the alliance, Turkey has confirmed its Western orientation. Syria
Erdogan in NATO: Russia’s ‘Trojan horse’? President Recep Tayyip Erdogan returned from London to Ankara as a “loser” who failed to achieve anything at the NATO summit. Turkey
Why is delivery of S-400 missiles to Turkey delayed? The testing of the battle management and multimode engagement for the Russian-built S-400 air defense missile system in Ankara was both a technical necessity as well as an expression of diplomatic determination for full activation of the S-400s. Turkey
Turkey seeks to refresh NATO ties to balance Russia Turkey seems to have failed to get all it wanted from the NATO summit in London, but even an incomplete outcome meets its purpose of balancing ties with Russia by refreshing ties with NATO. Syria
Turkey flirts with buying even more Russian missile systems Turkey seems to be offering a compromise to the United States to avoid sanctions for Ankara's purchase of Russian S-400 fighter jets — even as Turkey is in talks to buy more. Turkey
Turkey bets on NATO as escape route in S-400 crisis In a move to buy time, Erdogan is taking the S-400 crisis to NATO grounds, as Ankara’s testing of the Russian-made system the week before a NATO summit shows Ankara still has maneuvering room. Syria
Acrimony erupts ahead of NATO summit as Turkey stalls defense plans Turkey is impeding a military plan to defend Poland and the Baltics to force the alliance to support its military operation in Syria. The spat underscores political divisions that are shaking NATO ahead of its anniversary summit this week. Turkey
How 2016 coup attempt led Turkey to buy Russian air defenses Turkey’s purchase of Russian air defense systems comes as part of Ankara’s efforts to obtain security and reassurance from Russia against the United States, which, it believes, was behind the 2016 coup attempt. Turkey
Intel: US boots Turkey from F-35 program after Russian arms deal The Donald Trump administration said today it would formally kick Turkey out of the F-35 program after Ankara took delivery of a Russian air defense system that could threaten the American fighter’s stealth capabilities. Turkey
Trump’s defense pick calls for US-led pact to deter Iran Army Secretary Mark Esper, auditioning for the Pentagon’s top job Tuesday, called on allies to join the United States in fighting Iranian malfeasance in the Gulf. Saudi Arabia
How will S-400 affair affect Turkish-NATO ties? Calls for Turkey to be expelled from NATO or for Turkey to leave NATO are not realistic, say experts. Turkey
