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

Turkey

Turkey

July 30, 2026

Ankara 3:10 am

15°C

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greets Iraq Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi upon his arrival in Ankara, July 28, 2026.

Explainer

Erdogan hosts Zaidi, touts ‘historic step’ in Turkey-Iraq energy ties

The Turkish president outlined Ankara’s priorities with the new Iraqi government during the Iraqi leader’s first visit to Turkey: security, energy cooperation and the Development Road.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi speaks during a meeting with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (not pictured) at the Pentagon on July 14, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia.

Zaidi to meet Erdogan as Turkey-Iraq ties take off, Kurds feel sidelined

The Iraqi prime minister's visits to Ankara and Riyadh underscore Baghdad's push to deepen regional ties as Turkey seeks closer cooperation on energy and security.

Latest News

Analysis

Iran war puts Turkey’s inflation fight, lira under fresh pressure

Vendors sell dry food as people shop by a banner reading " No to Inflation" near the New Mosque area in Istanbul's Eminonu district on Nov. 6, 2018.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

What challenges await Erdogan’s new rival and Turkey’s new opposition party?

Ozgur Ozel

Halil Karaveli

By Halil Karaveli

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

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

Supporters wave flags and chant slogans while waiting for the arrival of CHP Party presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu during a campaign rally on April 30, 2023 in Izmir, Turkey. CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu is holding campaign rallies across Turkey ahead of the countries May 14, 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections. The Kilicdaroglu-led Nation Alliance is representing six opposition parties in next month's election against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's 20-year rule. (Photo by Burak Kara/

Turkey Elections: Latest polls put Erdogan challenger on verge of first-round win

Polls place Kemal Kilicdaroglu on the verge of getting a majority in the first round, a chance further boosted after Muharrem Ince bowed out of the presidential race.

Leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

Turkey Elections: Kilicdaroglu outreach to US, NATO hindered by Russia ties

Even if victory for the opposition reinvigorates Turkey’s relations with NATO, analysts say there’s no chance Ankara will break off ties with Russia.

Muharrem Ince

Turkey elections: Presidential candidate Ince withdraws from race

Muharrem Ince's withdrawal could boost main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu's chances against incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey election

Turkey Elections: A Kilicdaroglu win could reset strained US relations

The man hoping to unseat President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised to restore US-Turkey relations that soured over a host of issues, including Ankara's rights record.

Turkey election

Turkey Elections: Campaign approaches climax with gunshots, fears of  fraud

Turkey’s electoral watchdog rejected the Interior Ministry’s request for electoral information, as the opposition accused the ministry of trying to create a “parallel electoral center.”

People walk past a poster showing the portrait of Kemal Kilicdaroglu, presidential candidate of the main opposition alliance, and the words translating to "Promise to You," Istanbul, Turkey, May 05, 2023.

Analysis

Turkey Elections: Gulf investments likely to be challenged if Erdogan loses

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the Republican People’s Party and presidential competitor, said he will reevaluate Gulf country purchases in Turkey if he wins in the May 14 elections.

By Salim A. Essaid

Foreign Ministers’ quadripartite meeting.

First Turkey-Syria FM meeting in Russia agrees to work on refugees, terrorism

Ankara, for its part, stressed the need for cooperation on the return of Syrian refugees, the top Turkish diplomat said ahead of Turkey's crucial elections.

Burak Kara/Getty Images

Analysis

Turkey Elections: Israel never saw Erdogan as an ally, unsure about Kilicdaroglu

Turkey’s opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu had made several anti-Israel statements in the past, but might adopt a more pragmatic attitude toward Israel if he wins the election.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian shake hands during a joint news conference as part of their meeting in Moscow, on Aug. 31, 2022.

Iran FM in Russia to talk Syria-Turkey reconciliation while vowing to boost Assad's military

Prior to the Moscow meeting, Tehran pledged readiness to equip Syria with the latest Iran-made weaponry, the shipment of which has been eased by the 2020 expiry of a UN arms embargo on the Islamic Republic.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to supporters at a rally while campaigning for the presidential election on May 07, 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey. On May 14th, Turkey’s President Erdogan will face his biggest electoral test as voters head to the polls in the country’s general election. Erdogan has been in power for more than two decades, first as prime minister and then as president, but his popularity has taken a hit recently due to Turkey’s ongoing economic crisis and his government’s handling o

Turkey Elections: Absentee voting ends with record 51% turnout in 73 countries

Absentee voting, which ended on Tuesday for nearly 3.5 million Turkish citizens registered abroad, saw record participation.

Ceylan Akca and Amberin Zaman

LISTEN: Turkey's efforts to terrorize Kurdish voters will fail, says Green Left Party candidate

Ceylan Akca, a candidate for the pro-Kurdish Green Left Party, speaks to Amberin Zaman about expectations for this Sunday's presidential and parliamentary vote.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu delivers a speech for his supporters during a protest in front of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

Turkey Elections: Violence, detentions mark last stretch to unseat Erdogan

Turkish President Erdogan accused the opposition of provocation after an attack on a prominent opposition figure.