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. Turkey
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran says US strikes render April ceasefire ‘meaningless’ Fresh US strikes and Iranian retaliation deepen regional tensions, while Washington tightens sanctions, France pushes for a larger role in Lebanon, and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
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. Syria
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 Founder, Wings of Unity Party
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Oil eases as Trump pauses Iran strikes By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Russia leaves little room for Turkey in Azeri-Armenian truce The terms of the Russian-sponsored deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia speak of Moscow’s reluctance to let Turkey increase its influence in the region. Turkey
Russia, Iraq face OPEC+ cuts, look to new deals While Iraq's dependence on imported Iranian electricity continues to worry Washington, the key to breaking this energy dependence lies in the development of its own gas fields. Iraq
Intel: Departure of foreign forces from Libya in question ahead of political talks in Tunis An agreement between rival Libyan military representatives this week made no mention of the UN-backed cease-fire's demand that foreign mercenaries leave by January Turkey
Are Turkey, Azerbaijan ready to talk peace with Armenia? Although TRT momentarily reported that Azerbaijan had claimed it had emerged victorious in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, there seems to be a lot to still sort out before there can be a lasting cease-fire. Turkey
Are attacks on Syrian opposition signal from Moscow to Ankara? As Turkey conducts simultaneous campaigns in different theaters — including assistance to Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict — Moscow must be tempted to exploit the turbulence to extract concessions from Ankara. Syria
How does Erdogan get away with it all? The United States and European Union’s inertia may allow Turkey to threaten de-escalation efforts in Libya and South Caucasus. Turkey
Can Russia return to Iranian arms market following end of weapons embargo? With the end of the UN arms embargo, Iran could be looking to purchase new additions to its defense system — could Russia become a main supplier again? Saudi Arabia
Cracks in Turkish-Russian ties begin to show Mistrust instead of the spirit of mutually beneficial political cooperation is guiding current relations between Ankara and Moscow. Turkey
Can Russia benefit from Turkey-Greece spat? In light of the conflict in the eastern Mediterranean between Turkey and Greece, Russia may be looking to strengthen its ties with Greece in order to further its interests in the region. Russia
Intel: Missile launched on Turkey's Black Sea coast after notice of S-400 test Turkey's Defense Ministry has not publicly confirmed if the missile was part of planned tests of the Russian-built air defense system. Turkey
Are Egypt-Russia naval drills in Black Sea message to Ankara? For the first time, the Egyptian navy holds joint exercises in the Black Sea with Russia, at a time of escalating tensions with Turkey. Egypt
Intel: EU sanctions suspected head of Russia’s Wagner paramilitary group Kremlin insider Yevgeny Prigozhin is suspected of involvement in Wagner's paramilitary activities in Libya Libya
