Russian influence

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attends the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, on May 22, 2026.

Turkey’s Fidan heads to Moscow as S-400 sanctions issue returns to fore

The visit comes weeks before Turkey hosts NATO leaders, on the sidelines of which Ankara hopes to reach a deal with Washington over CAATSA sanctions over its purchase of Russian S-400s.

AAREF WATAD/AFP via Getty Images

Russia in talks on 'reformatting' its military sites in Syria: What to know

Moscow signals it wants to maintain its presence in Syria, where President Ahmed al-Sharaa recently said that Russian bases will be converted into training centers.

Tatoyan

Interview

Armenia candidate Tatoyan eyes Pashinyan's pro-West mantle in sea of Russia-backed rivals

In an interview from Yerevan, Armenian opposition candidate Arman Tatoyan denies pro-Russian ties and says he would deepen cooperation with the European Union and the United States while pursuing a gradual approach to relations with Moscow.

Arman Tatoyan

Arman Tatoyan

Founder, Wings of Unity Party

US President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC, on Aug. 8, 2025.

Feature

Backed by Trump and Turkey, Armenia's Pashinyan eyes third term in pivotal poll

As Russia and the West vie for influence, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan appears on track to secure a new mandate for his peace agenda with Azerbaijan and rapprochement with Turkey.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Latest News

US extends Russian oil sanctions waiver as Iran war squeezes supply

A tugboat guides the Russian oil tanker Anatoly Kolodkin as it arrives at the oil terminal in the port of Matanzas, northwestern Cuba, on March 31, 2026.

Trump speaks with Netanyahu, Putin as Iran pressure campaign escalates

President Donald Trump gives a speech during the State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn on April 28, 2026, in Washington.

Iran FM meets Putin, Russia’s military intel chief as talks stall: What to know

Iran FM meets Putin and Russia’s military intel chief as talks stall: What to know

China, Russia veto scaled-back Hormuz resolution at UN Security Council

The Foreign Minister chaired the Security Council session on cooperation between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the United Nations.

In this handout provided by NASA, a Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft is launched bound for the International Space Station.

Russia-Mideast space cooperation still waiting for lift off

Moscow has actively resorted to a policy of diplomatic "spamming" — rubber-stamping protocol agreements to imitate the development of cooperation in the field of space.

This picture taken on May 2, 2021, shows a view of the Amur-class Russian navy repair ship PM-138 docked at the port of the Sudanese city of Port Sudan.

Sudan coup could offer boon for Moscow

Sudan's military coup could hurry along the process of Russia's deeper military involvement in the country.

A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter takes off during an air show at the Teknofest festival at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul on September 17, 2019.

Intel: Turkey’s Erdogan wants to talk F-35 dispute with Biden in Rome

After boasting about future defense ties with Russia, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he's hopeful the United States will sell Turkey more F-16s.

An Azerbaijani national flag flies next to the medieval Khudaferin bridge in Jebrayil district at the country's border with Iran, on Dec. 9, 2020.

Iran tests drones amid simmering tensions with Azerbaijan

The exercise was held at a time of intensifying hostile rhetoric between Tehran and Baku, as Russia continues its cautious position in between.

ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images

Erdogan says US, not Turkey, proposed F-16 sale

Turkey's president said the plan to sell dozens of F-16s to Ankara was Washington’s idea.

Russian attack helicopters launch rockets during military exercises at the Kapustin Yar range in Astrakhan region, Southern Russia on Sept. 25, 2020 during the "Caucasus-2020" military drills gathering China, Iran, Pakistan and Myanmar troops, along with ex-Soviet Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus.

Russian-Iranian competition heats up in South Caucasus

For Moscow, contradictions with Tehran may turn out to be much more sensitive than disputes with Ankara.

Kleine-Brogel

Turkey requests to buy 40 US F-16 fighter planes

Just last week Erdogan boasted about potential new defense deals with Russia, including aircraft purchases.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Russian FM, Blinken discuss reviving Iran deal

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed prospects for resuming talks over the landmark nuclear deal, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

Erdogan Putin

Intel: Turkey talks expanding defense ties with Russia, snubbing NATO

Erdogan's boasting about future defense projects with Moscow comes after he failed to get a meeting with President Joe Biden in New York.

Russia / Mideast

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi on Sept. 29, 2021.

Putin, Erdogan hold closed-door summit in Sochi

Few details were released about the substance of the relatively brief meeting, but progress on Syria will be difficult to achieve.

Mourners gather by the grave of one of fighters from the pro-Turkish "Hamza Division" Syrian rebel group killed in Russian air raids, at the Muhamadiya camp near Jindayris in the countryside of Aleppo in the Afrin region of northwestern Syria, on Sept. 26, 2021.

Russia bombs Turkey's allies in Syria ahead of Putin-Erdogan summit

Russian jets shelled a camp for the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army in Afrin, north of Aleppo, and intensified its airstrikes against the areas controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Idlib ahead of the meeting between the Turkish and Russian presidents on Sept. 29.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrive to hold a joint press statement following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 5, 2020.

Syria to be key topic in Erdogan-Putin summit

The Turkish and Russian presidents are expected to discuss Syria in Sochi, as well as Ukraine, anti-missile batteries and natural gas.