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Turkey

Turkey

April 3, 2025

Ankara 5:25 am

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People with placards during a demonstration in support of Ekrem Imamoglu and political prisoners in Turkey and in solidarity with the resistance to the Erdogan regime in Paris France March 29, 2025. (Photo by Bastien Ohier / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP) (Photo by BASTIEN OHIER/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey fines Meta for refusing to restrict Facebook, Instagram over Imamoglu protests

Unlike X, which has suspended social media accounts at the request of the Turkish government, Meta says it has faced heavy fines in Turkey for refusing to do so.

A column of Russian missile S-400 Triumf systems drives on Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow, on May 9, 2024.

Top US senator: No F-35 jets for Turkey until Russia's S-400 missiles 'gone'

Republican Sen. Jim Risch made the statement during the nomination hearing for Tom Barrack to be the next US ambassador to Turkey. Barrack emphasized Ankara's strategic role in countering Iran in the region and promoting stability in Syria.

A picture taken on Oct. 17, 2017, shows excess flammable gasses burning from gas flares at the Havana oil field, west of the multiethnic northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk.

Exclusive

Iraq seeks more compensation from Turkey, 'blocks' reopening of Kurds' oil pipeline

Disputes over oil revenues and arbitration claims have kept the Kurdish pipeline closed.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

In Paris, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

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

Latest News

In photos: Muslims celebrate Eid el-Fitr across the Middle East

Muslims perform the morning prayer around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca, early on March 30, 2025.

Analysis

Turkey turmoil tests Gulf investors as crackdown fuels market unease

A protestor waves a Turkish flag in front of riot police during a rally in support of Istanbul's arrested mayor in Istanbul, March 24, 2025.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

Drones and diplomacy: Can Turkey help Somalia fight Al-Shabab?

Somali security forces personnel and police secure the area at the scene of a car bomb explosion in Mogadishu, Somalia on May 9, 2016. Islamic jihadists killed three police officers in a bomb and gun attack on a police station in the Somali capital, city authorities said. / AFP / MOHAMED ABDIWAHAB (Photo credit should read MOHAMED ABDIWAHAB/AFP via Getty Images)

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Turkey deports BBC reporter as detentions near 1,880 amid protest crackdown

Ballot papers are counted after members of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipal Council cast their votes to elect an interim deputy mayor.

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Francesco Schiavi

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

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

In Paris, 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

Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Newly elected interim mayor of Istanbul, Nuri Aslan of CHP, waits to speak to the media on March 26, 2025, in Istanbul, Turkey.

Turkey's opposition elects acting mayor as Imamoglu remains detained, protests persist

The Turkish president accuses opposition of sabotaging the economy amid ongoing detentions against protestors over the arrest of the Istanbul mayor.

Fidan and Rubio

US, Turkey to begin technical talks on CAATSA sanctions, F-35 acquisition

The Turkish and US sides aim to initiate interagency talks on sanctions removal as soon as possible, a Turkish official told Al-Monitor.

Demonstrators wave flags as they face-off with police during protests in front of Istanbul's famous Aquaduct on on March 24, 2025 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Analysis

Turkey’s main opposition CHP seeks to sustain protests over Imamoglu’s arrest

The party faces mounting pressure as nationwide protests continue, with authorities cracking down on supporters and arresting key figures, including several CHP mayors.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

In Paris, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Escorted by riot police, students burn flares as they walk from the Besiktas district of Istanbul to Sarachane District and the Metropolitan Municipality City Hall building during a demonstration to support the city mayor, Turkey's President's main rival, four days after his arrest and detention as a result of a graft and terror probe, on March 24, 2025.

Analysis

As protests over Imamoglu arrest rock Turkey, what's next for Erdogan?

Protests continue in Turkey after the arrest of the opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, challenging President Erdogan's authority and exposing potential cracks in his 22-year rule.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

In Paris, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Protesters clash with Turkish riot police using tear gas and water cannon during a demonstration following the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul in Ankara, on March 22, 2025.

Imamoglu's arrest triggers emergency market measures as Turkey stocks plunge

The Turkish lira and equities have fallen sharply since the arrest last week of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu — a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — on corruption charges, which he denies.

flag

Turkey detains over 1,000 including journalists as Imamoglu protests grow

Turkey has cracked down on protests over the arrest of Istanbul's mayor and more than 1,000 demonstrators have been detained.

Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan addresses the audience during a press briefing to review the past year and to share insights regarding regional and global developments, Istanbul, Greece, Jan. 10, 2025.

Turkey’s Fidan heads to Washington with F-35, Syria high on agenda

Turkey's foreign minister will push for F-35 deal and strengthened counterterrorism cooperation with the United States, according to a Turkish diplomatic source.

Turkey

Turkey suspends Imamoglu’s mayoral duties, keeps him under arrest as more protests expected

The Istanbul mayor was temporarily suspended from his duties after his formal arrest by an Istanbul court on Sunday.

US military aircraft as seen at US Military Camp Lemonnier on Jan. 21, 2024, in Djibouti.

Analysis

Trump tries hard power in Horn of Africa as Turkey, UAE expand influence

The Trump administration is intensifying military operations and cutting aid in the Horn of Africa, while Turkey and the UAE expand their influence, creating both cooperation and competition with US objectives in the region.

Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

By Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

In London, reporting on North Africa and Gulf politics

U.S. 5th FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (Sept. 27, 2018) U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Rey White, an aviation boatswains mate handler with the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), launches an F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), from the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), before the F-35B's first combat strike, Sept. 27, 2018. The Essex is the flagship for the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 13th MEU, is deploye

Analysis

F-35s back on table? Erdogan courts Trump to revive US-Turkey defense ties

Experts are optimistic that three major areas can see improvement in Ankara-Washington ties after a phone call between the US and Turkish presidents.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - MARCH 21: Protesters chant slogans during a protest march in support of arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 21, 2025 in Istanbul, Turkey. On Wednesday, the Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu, who was due to be selected as a presidential candidate for the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), was among 100 people arrested on an array of charges, from corruption to terrorism. Critics called the arrests politically motivated. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)

Turkey: Protests spread, defy ban for day 3 over Imamoglu's arrest

Protests across Turkey over the detention of Istanbul's mayor have swelled into the thousands for a third consecutive day, despite restrictions and bans on public demonstrations by some local authorities.

Pedestrians walk in front of the Istanbul Municipality headquarters in Istanbul on March 19, 2025. The mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, the main opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was arrested on March 19, 2024 in the morning along with dozens of his aides, elected representatives and members of his party, accused of 'corruption', according to the city's public prosecutor. (Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP) (Photo by YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey bans protests in Ankara, Izmir as crowds grow over Imamoglu's arrest

As protests widen in Turkey over the Istanbul mayor’s detention, authorities issue fresh bans and take legal action against protesters.