Turkey - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Turkey

Turkey

November 8, 2026

Ankara 2:14 am

1°C

Costa Rica's Grynspan extends lead in UNSG poll as Nusseibeh places fourth

The Costa Rican candidate received 12 encourage votes in Thursday's UN Security Council straw poll.

United Arab Emirates

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses Turkish members of parliament during the opening of the parliamentary session at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ankara, on Oct. 1, 2026.

Turkey’s parliament ratifies Mecca pact in boost to Saudi Arabia

Turkey will now decide the scope of military support for Saudi Arabia amid ongoing Iran-backed Houthi attacks on the kingdom.

TOFIK BABAYEV/AFP via Getty Images

Can Erdogan’s Baku visit fix Turkey-Azerbaijan rift?

A dispute over religious dress in schools has exposed deeper tensions between the two allies, with energy, arms sales, Israel and financial interests adding to the strain.

Latest News

Turkey says soldier killed by gunfire from Iran at border: What to know

A sign marking the border of Turkey in Van, Turkey, on March 14, 2026.

Turkey probes Google’s AI search tools, orders protections for news websites

Turkey moves PKK leader Ocalan to prison villa as peace process faces new test

A protestor holds a flag bearing a portrait of jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Abdullah Ocalan during a demonstration of Kurdish people from all around Europe to mark the 27th anniversary of his arrest and to demand his liberation, in Strasbourg, Eastern France, on Feb. 14, 2026.

Explainer

Who is Feridun Sinirlioglu, Turkey’s candidate for UN chief?

OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioglu is pictured during a joint press conference with the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Switzerland's Foreign Minister at Vienna International Airport on Feb. 6, 2026 in Schwechat, Lower Austria.

Samuel Wendel

Senior Analyst, Middle East Business & Tech

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Ezgi Akin

Associate Editor (Turkey)

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

Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

A medical staff member in protective gear checks the temperature of a master's degree student amid concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19), following the suspension of study for only undergraduate students at Cairo University, to prevent it spreading, in Cairo, Egypt March 15, 2020. REUTERS/Shokry Hussien - RC2GKF96LEH2

Egypt’s censors shift into high gear over coronavirus coverage

Press censorship in Egypt has most recently hit The Guardian and The New York Times following what it claims are "false rumors" of the coronavirus crisis in the country.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a press conference held after the coordination meeting to fight against the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, at the Cankaya Palace in Ankara on March 18, 2020. - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on March 18, 2020, a $15 billion package to help the Turkish economy cope with the crisis over the new coronavirus, and urged Turks to leave their homes as little as possible. Turkey has so far recorded one death and 98 cases. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Phot

Erdogan focuses on Turkish economy in first major coronavirus speech

Responding to the growing number of domestic coronavirus cases, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan unveiled measures to safeguard the nation’s economy while advising citizens to practice social distancing.

Turkey’s geostrategic orientation at crossroads amid Idlib tangle

Confusion prevails in Ankara on how to resolve the entangled Idlib crisis and the choices it will ultimately make could bear on its geostrategic orientations in the coming years.

Members of popular Turkish folk collective approach death on hunger strike

Turkey's iconic Grup Yorum has not been able to perform since 2016 and a number of its members have been jailed on dubious terror charges.

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - OCTOBER 21: President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during TRT World Forum 2019, held under main theme of "Globalization in Retreat: Risks and Opportunities" in Istanbul, Turkey on October 21, 2019. (Photo by Murat Kula/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Turkey’s public broadcaster registers as foreign agent

TRT's registration comes as the Donald Trump administration has been pressing state broadcasters to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

United Arab Emirates

People hold Syrian opposition flags during a protest against an agreement on joint Russian and Turkish patrols, at M4 highway in Idlib province, Syria, March 15, 2020. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi - RC2EKF9A7CNX

Russia, Turkey conduct first joint patrol in Idlib

The first joint Russian-Turkish patrol along Syria's M4 highway didn’t go perfectly smoothly, but bigger challenges are already looming on the horizon.

A passenger wears a protective face mask in light of the coronavirus, upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, Turkey, March 13, 2020. REUTERS/Florion Goga - RC28JF95WH9J

Turkey bringing home citizens stranded in Europe amid coronavirus lockdowns

Turkey will quarantine its citizens who return home after travel abroad.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan reacts ahead of a meeting with EU Council President Charles Michel pose in Brussels, Belgium March 9, 2020. REUTERS/Yves Herman - RC2HGF9LYPKR

Erdogan meets virtually with EU leaders under coronavirus cloud

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a mini Syria summit with France, the United Kingdom and Germany's leaders today.

Municipality workers in protective suits disinfect entrance of Taksim metro station in central Istanbul, Turkey, March 17, 2020. REUTERS/Kemal Aslan - RC2ULF95LNH1

From cannabis to cologne, Turks flaunt their ‘cures’ to coronavirus

As the number of coronavirus cases quadruples in Turkey, columnists and health gurus return to tradition: soup and cologne.

Mission impossible 2.0: Idlib plan stumbles at outset

The latest Russian-Turkish deal in Syria’s rebel bastion of Idlib is off to a shaky start amid threats by armed groups to respond violently to attempts to open the critical M4 highway.

Syrian opposition split over Russia-Turkey patrols in Idlib

The joint military patrols mandated by the Russia-Turkey cease-fire are in effect, sparking protests and dividing the Syrian opposition.

A worker in a protective suit disinfects the Fatih Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey March 14, 2020. REUTERS/Umit Bektas TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC2UJF9MI9KO

Government scrambles to contain coronavirus as Turkish cases triple

The Turkish authorities introduced sweeping measures to ensure social distancing in Turkey as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases, while still comparatively low, rose sharply overnight to 18.