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

Turkey

Turkey

February 24, 2025

Ankara 6:00 am

-9°C

erdogan somalia

Analysis

Turkey’s space ambitions soar with Somalia site but limitations continue

Building the space base is a good development, but to reach its goals, Turkey needs to allocate more financial and human resources to realize a full-fledged space program.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

AFP via Getty Images

One Turkish soldier, 17 PKK militants killed in northern Iraq clashes

The killing of the Turkish soldier comes ahead of militant leader Abdullah Ocalan’s expected call to disarm the Kurdistan Workers Party.

The bronze head of Septimius Severus at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek.

AL-Monitor Istanbul: Bronze head of Roman emperor returns to Antalya Museum

The sculpture has made it home from Denmark and will soon take its place in the treasure-packed Antalya Museum.

Ocalan

Iraqi Kurds lend hand as PKK leader negotiates plan for peace with Turkey

Abdullah Ocalan is expected to urge his men to lay down their arms and end a more than 40-year insurgency against the Turkish state, capping talks launched in April last year between the rebel leader, PKK commanders and the Turkish government.

Latest News

Turkey slaps travel ban on 2 businessmen for criticizing dissident crackdown

TUSAID chair

Mass arrests in Turkey as Erdogan courts Kurds, seeks to eliminate rivals

Kurds hold the edges of large banners depicting Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan during a demonstration of several thousand people from all around Europe to mark the 26th anniversary of the arrest of PKK founder and to demand his liberation in Strasbourg, Eastern France, on Feb. 15, 2025.

Ukraine's Zelenskyy postpones visit to Saudi Arabia in apparent snub to US

Zelenskyy Erdogan

Zelenskyy heads to Turkey to meet with Erdogan amid US-Russia talks

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L)

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

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Mustafa Sonmez

In Istanbul, reporting on economics

Turkish Air Force fighter jets perform a military parade over the Bosphorus on Oct. 29, 2023.

Analysis

Turkey-Saudi defense ties see momentum with potential $6B deal: What to know

The Turkish-Saudi defense collaboration faces challenges despite promising advancements.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (R) walk after a welcome ceremony in Putrajaya on February 11, 2025. (Photo by FAZRY ISMAIL / POOL / AFP) (Photo by FAZRY ISMAIL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Erdogan's Asia tour seen as boost for Turkey’s drone industry, trade

The Turkish president’s visit to Malaysia, Indonesia and Pakistan focused on bolstering trade ties as Turkey looks to expand its presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Ezgi Akin

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

John Frederick Lewis, “The Kebap Shop,” currently on display at Mesher

AL-Monitor Istanbul: Mesher Gallery's love letter to the city

This week, we have a bit of everything — high culture, low expectations for romance, and plenty in between.

Sharaa Kobane

Analysis

Squeezed between Turkey and Sharaa, Syria's Kurds face stark choices

Syria’s Kurds risk losing autonomy amid Turkish opposition and uncertain US backing.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

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

Meteor missiles

Turkey optimistic on procurement of Eurofighter jets and Meteor missiles

A senior Turkish official has confirmed Turkey’s bid to procure Meteor missiles.

A fighter of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) aims a machine gun while lying prone during a joint military exercise with forces of the US-led "Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve" coalition against the Islamic State (IS) group in the countryside of the town of al-Malikiya (Derik in Kurdish) in Syria's northeastern Hasakah province on Sept. 7, 2022.

Turkey escalates push to replace Kurds as top anti-ISIS force in Syria

Turkey is attempting to form a new coalition to combat ISIS remnants and replace the Pentagon-backed Kurdish forces in Syria.

Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov takes part in the opening ceremony of the East-West pipeline.

In first, Turkmenistan to supply Turkey directly with gas: What to know

BOTAS, Turkey’s state-owned pipeline operator, and Turkmenistan’s Turkmengaz will begin the gas flow from Turkmenistan to Turkey on March 1.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (L) speaks during a joint press conference with Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (R), Baghdad, Iraq, Aug. 22, 2023.

Turkey, Jordan, Iraq to hold first anti-ISIS summit this month: Turkish official

Top diplomats as well as Turkish, Jordanian, Syrian and Iraqi defense and intelligence chiefs aim to hold a first security summit this month as part of efforts to set up a regional anti-ISIS coalition, Al-Monitor has learned.

People look advanced jet trainer light attack aircraft "Hurjet" during the opening day of the International Defence and Aerospace exhibition in Istanbul on Oct. 22, 2024.

Analysis

As Trump rattles Europe, can Turkey and EU jumpstart defense ties?

Turkey and the EU face tough choices and opportunities to cooperate in the field of defense and security during President Donald Trump’s second term.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Ahmet Gunestekin in front of the installation "Lost Alphabet,” also the name of the exhibition in which it appears. (IBB Press)

AL-Monitor Istanbul: An ambitious art expo

As Valentine’s Day nears, love is in the air — and on the airwaves.

ZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey, Syria draft road map to strengthen Syrian military: What we know

Ankara and Damascus are working on a plan for defense cooperation, according to a Turkish official, who added that Turkey's priority in Syria is the armed groups it deems a national security threat.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa shake hands during a joint press conference following their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, on February 4, 2025.

Pomp over substance marks Sharaa's first trip to Turkey as Syria's president

While the Turkish president lauded the visit as "historic," little of substance was announced and neither leader made any mention of an alleged defense pact reported Tuesday by Reuters.