NATO

OVEMBER 13: U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands during a press conference in the East Room of the White House on November 13, 2019 in Washington, DC. During their meeting, Trump and Erdogan were scheduled to discuss Turkey's purchase of a Russian air defense system as well as the Turkish offensive against the Kurds in Syria. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Analysis

Turkey sees opportunity with Trump to weaken Kurdish bloc, acquire F-35

During recent high-level talks held in Washington, both sides signaled their willingness to address some long-running issues — yet failed to address some of the biggest sticking points in US-Turkey relations.

Ezgi Akin

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

Haifa port

Turkey blocks Israel from NATO crisis response drill amid Gaza row: What to know

The diplomatic conflict between Turkey and Israel over the Gaza war has spilled over into NATO.

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud meets with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in AlUla, Saudi Arabia January 26, 2025. Saudi Press Agency

Analysis

Italy revamps ties with Saudi Arabia, eyeing investments and defense trade

On her first visit to Saudi Arabia, Meloni is seeking to rebrand Italy's political engagement in the Middle East and bring about a new era for Italian industry in the region.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

US President Joe Biden (R) holds a bilateral meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, Oct. 30, 2024.

Turkey deems 'unacceptable' any Greek Cyprus NATO membership attempt

The Turkish statement came as the president of Cyprus suggested that his country could eventually become a NATO member.

Latest News

Turkey scales back $23 billion F-16 deal with US

OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images

NATO chief in Turkey as Russia-Ukraine war escalates

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte speaks at the press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (not seen) at the Chancellery, Berlin, Germany, Nov. 4, 2024.

Analysis

Will Turkey host Hamas leaders after consequential Qatar departure?

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) poses beside Khalid Mashaal (C), the Hamas chief in exile, and Gaza's prime minister Ismail Haniyeh prior to their meeting in Ankara on June 18, 2013. Senior leaders of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas met today in Ankara with Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan to discuss Erdogan's planned visit to the Gaza Strip as well as the situation in Syria, the source said on condition of anonymity. AFP PHOTO/ PRIME MINISTER PRESS OFFICE/ YASIN BULBUL == RESTRICTED T

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

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

CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU/AFP via Getty Images

A view of the sign that reads "Caution: mines" on the beach on April 25, 2022, in Odesa, Ukraine.

Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria announce mechanism to clear mines in Black Sea

The joint mechanism between Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania comes after the British government said Russia might use sea mines to deter Kyiv from exporting its grain.

A man walks close to a fire raging at the Zarba oil facility in al-Qahtaniyah in northeastern Syria close to the Turkish border on October 5, 2023. Turkish strikes on October 5 on the Kurdish-controlled region of Hasakeh in northeastern Syria hit a car, killing two people, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, after Ankara had threatened raids in retaliation for a bomb attack. In another strike, "Turkish drones targeted a factory north of Hasakeh, injuring three workers", said Farhad Shami, the spok

US fails to deter Turkey's bombardment of Syria's Kurdish enclave

Turkey continued to bomb infrastructure in Syria’s Kurdish-controlled region after a US F-16 shot down a drone that encroached within half a kilometer of a US base.

A security forces member looks on during the burial of one of three Kurdish counterterrorism officers killed the previous day in a strike by a drone that had reportedly originated in Turkey, in the city of Sulaimaniyah in the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq on September 19, 2023. A senior military official in Baghdad said on September 19 that three members of the counterterrorism forces of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region were killed and three wounded in the strike on Arbat airfield, southeast of

Turkey expands crackdown, airstrikes against PKK as Erdogan lashes out at West

The Turkish Defense Ministry said 16 new targets, including caves, bunkers and warehouses in the northern Iraqi regions of Metina, Hakurk, Gara, Qandil and Assos, were destroyed in the strikes.

Police presence after the attack in Ankara, Turkey.

PKK claims bomb attack in Turkey’s capital that injured 2 police officers

The attack happened just as the parliament returned from recess and was expected to take on Sweden’s NATO bid.

.S. Sen. Robert Menendez spoke during the rally to commemorate the 1915 Turkish massacre of Armenians in Times Square April 26, 2015 in New York City. The rally marks 100 years since the Ottoman government began its systematic extermination of Armenian peoples from their homeland in what is present-day Turkey. (Photo by Kevin Hagen/Getty Images)

Turkey gloats at Menendez indictment but will it get F-16 jets?

Sen. Bob Menendez, a strong critic of Turkey who heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been charged for allegedly receiving bribes via a scheme involving Egypt.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan returns to Turkey after securing thaw with Israel on US trip

Erdogan met with Netanyahu for the first time in New York, and is readying to visit Jerusalem as soon as next month.

SPENCER PLATT/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Erdogan's UNGA visit strained by Sweden's NATO delay, Turkey’s F-16s sale

President Erdogan’s visit to the United States is unlikely to overcome the current deadlock in the bilateral Turkey-US ties, but the Turkish leader is set to meet his Israeli and Greek counterparts in New York.

Ezgi Akin

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

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attends a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart following their talks in Moscow on August 31, 2023. (Photo by MAXIM SHEMETOV / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MAXIM SHEMETOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Fidan: Turkey committed to 'understandings' on Sweden’s NATO bid

Fidan’s remarks came a few days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised question marks over his country’s pending ratification of the Sweden’s accession to NATO.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a news conference after attending the G20 summit, in New Delhi on Sept. 10, 2023.

Turkey 'seriously upset' over Washington linking F-16 sales to Sweden’s NATO membership

Turkey's President Erdogan says approval of Sweden’s application was up to the Turkish parliament, not for him to decide individually.

NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană meets Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog, Jerusalem, September 7, 2023.

NATO deputy visits Israel, emphasizes shared threats from Iran, Russia

NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana told Al-Monitor that he is optimistic the alliance will soon conclude a new four-year partnership framework with Israel.

EU Council President Charles Michel (R) arrives with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the EU headquarters in Brussels on March 9, 2020. (Photo by JOHN THYS / AFP) (Photo by JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images)

EU Commissioner: Turkey must take on democratic reforms to revive EU bid

A senior EU official has said that revival of Turkey’s stalled membership negotiations with the EU can only be discussed once Ankara takes on democratic reforms.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart in Tehran on September 3, 2023. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey’s Fidan, NATO chief discuss Sweden’s bid, Ukraine grain deal

The phone call comes a day after the meeting in Sochi between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.