Analysis As Trump admin drops Halkbank case, S-400 last big hurdle in US-Turkey ties The move eases a key source of friction with Turkey ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Turkey's border reopening unlocks new sphere of influence in Syria Turkey reopened the Akcakale-Tell Abyad crossing on Monday, ending an 11-year closure along the Syria border. Turkey
Analysis Iraq’s Zaidi offers economic promise for Turkey but unknowns loom Iraq’s prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, is expected to sustain growing economic and strategic ties with Turkey thanks to his business-oriented approach, though uncertainty over his political stance could test cooperation on sensitive issues. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
How Syria's border opening with Iraq redefines Turkey-Kurd balance After years of closure, the reopening of al-Yaaroubiya crossing is redrawing Kurdish economic leverage and reinforcing Turkey’s regional strategy. Syria
Analysis Is Syria’s Sharaa poised to outdo Turkey in formalizing gains for Kurds? By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Analysis Inside Turkey’s role in the US-Iran ceasefire By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis How the Iran war is giving Turkey's Erdogan a big boost By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Analysis How Azerbaijan benefits — and risks losing — from Iran war By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Turkish election board disqualifies pro-Kurdish mayors in southeast While Turkey awaits an official decision in the Istanbul mayor's race, electoral authorities void HDP victories in Diyarbakir and elsewhere in the southeast. Turkey
US to ask Syrian Kurds to let Turkish forces through the door The United States is requesting numerous concessions from its Kurdish allies in Syria, but the Kurds are pushing back. Syria
Turkey in for 'hard time' following Erdogan election losses Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is likely to find it more difficult to govern effectively after having lost Turkey's major cities in local elections. Turkey
Local election defeat bodes more foreign woes for Erdogan The irreparable setback Turkey’s president suffered in the March 31 municipal polls, coupled with the country’s economic crisis, leaves him in a weaker position vis-a-vis Washington, Moscow and the European Union. Syria
Syria's Kurds increasingly isolated as Arab tribes cut deals with regime As Damascus recovers more territory, Arab tribes throughout Syria are increasingly open to working with Damascus to restore security. Syria
Did Trump’s decision on Golan undercut Putin mediation on Syria? Russian President Vladimir Putin thought he had a deal in Helsinki; Turkey rethinks Syria ties over Kurds. Israel
Turkey relying on events to turn tide against Kurdish YPG A Turkish military operation in northern Syria does not appear to be in the cards, but Ankara is determined to use the threat of one to curb Kurdish aspirations. Iraq
Kurds in Afrin celebrate Nowruz despite ban Kurds in Syria’s northern city of Afrin, joined by internally displaced people, celebrated Nowruz despite a ban imposed by armed opposition factions. Syria
Turkish intervention could trigger Syria's 'second great war' Mazlum Kobane, the commander in chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, talks to Al-Monitor in an exclusive interview about how the Kurds in northeastern Syria have maintained a complicated network of alliances and why the prospect of Turkish intervention in the region could trigger another war. Syria
Tal Afar wary and wedged between Iran, Turkey and PKK The Turkmen-majority city of Tal Afar remains sparsely populated and wary of outsiders a year and a half after being taken from the Islamic State. Geopolitical considerations and the nearby presence of the PKK, the Syrian border, the desert and mountains mean that operations continue in the area despite apparent calm. Iraq
