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

Turkey

Turkey

March 26, 2026

Ankara 1:15 pm

8°C

Two Typhoon Eurofighter jets of the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) of the German air force (Luftwaffe) take off for training during a media day at the military Laage Air Base, northeastern Germany, on March 11, 2026.

Turkey, UK advance $11B Eurofighter jet deal with training agreement

Britain and Turkey signed a training and support agreement marking “the next phase” of Ankara’s entry into the Eurofighter program, building on a £8 billion jet deal signed last year.

Journalists gather outside the Ankara courthouse on March 10, 2020 behind a banner reading in Turkish "journalism is not crime," to protest over jailing of journalists, sparked by the recent arrest of OdaTV's news director and a journalist's report on the funeral of a Turkish intelligence officer apparently killed in Libya.

Journalist who investigated Erdogan’s son jailed on 'disinformation' charges in Turkey

Human rights organizations warn Ari’s detention signals a broader campaign against journalists probing government corruption and elite networks.

Ghalibaf Fidan

US proposes Vance-Ghalibaf talks with Turkey as one intermediary: Source

Iran has yet to respond to the proposal, the source said, as the US announced it was pausing strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure for five days.

United Arab Emirates army helicopters fly from the Burj al Arab hotel (R) toward Burj Khalifa, Dubai, Jan. 16, 2026.

Analysis

Iran war drives Turkey-Gulf defense alignment, but not alliance

Despite accelerated cooperation as a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran, structural and political constraints would make a formal military alliance unlikely.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Latest News

Turkey, Qatar pledge to deepen defense ties, blame Israel for Iran war

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (R) and Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani (2L) arrive to address a joint press conference in Doha on March 19, 2026. (Photo by Karim JAAFAR / AFP via Getty Images)

Exclusive

Iraqi oil flows to Turkey after US pledges role in Baghdad-Kurds customs dispute

A view of the oil refinery on March 17, 2026 in Erbil, Iraq.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

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

Pro-Kurdish lawmaker Leyla Zana is embraced by lawmaker Aysel Tugluk (R) as she arrives at the parliament in Ankara on Oct. 1, 2011.

Kurdish politician's plight highlights Turkey's indifference to critically ill inmates

Aysel Tugluk, who defended PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan in his trial decades ago, is now suffering from advanced dementia behind bars, despite widespread calls for her release.

Yedigoller National Park

Car ownership drifts beyond reach of millions of Turks

Turkey’s currency crisis coupled with exorbitant taxes levied on cars has dealt an enormous blow to the domestic automotive market.

Burak Kara/Getty Images

Global crime index paints gloomy portrait of Turkey

A recent report by Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime indicates that organized crime may not always have a confrontational relationship with the state, and Turkey is a case in point.

A woman holds a flag of jailed Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan as she stands opposite Turkish riot police in Diyarbakir on Aug. 1, 2015.

Ankara keeps jailed Kurdish leader from seeing lawyers, family

Jailed Kurdistan Workers Party leader Abdullah Ocalan was banned from all outside contact reportedly for “chatting with his fellow inmates.”

Turkish writer Hatice Cengiz (R), fiancee of Saudi journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi, poses next to a portrait of Khashoggi.

In apparent mix-up, France releases man suspected of Khashoggi murder links

A Saudi national held over suspected ties to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was released Wednesday after Paris officials determined the arrest was a case of mistaken identity.

Turkey drilling

Turkey's good relations with Qatar may not be enough for Erdogan

Erdogan’s Qatar visit failed to produce agreements that could help the ailing Turkish economy, but he wants to maintain Turkey’s partnership with Qatar, including military ties, while making efforts to reconcile with Gulf rivals.

Circassian

German video reignites Turkish Circassian controversy

Turkey’s Circassian groups have found themselves in the crosshairs of nationalist parties after complaining of assimilation.

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Turkey’s health care workers go on strike

Left out of a bill that gave doctors a raise, Turkey’s nurses and other health care workers are going on strike as Turkey reports 20,000 daily cases of COVID-19.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan pose on Nov. 21, 2021, at the Presidential Complex in Ankara.

Erdogan says Turkey seeks to clear up 'misunderstandings' with Gulf states

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the remarks ahead of a two-day visit to Qatar.

Senior lawyers protesting against a draft bill governing the organization of bar associations sit on the ground during a rally in front of Turkish riot policemen, in Ankara on June 22, 2020.

Government critic elected to lead Union of Turkish Bar Associations

Defeating a pro-government incumbent, Ankara Bar Association Chair Erinc Sagkan was elected head of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations on Sunday, pledging to strengthen the rule of law and independence in Turkey’s legal profession.

Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu arrives to hold a news conference in Ankara, Turkey on June 26, 2018.

Turkish opposition leader barred from data center as mistrust in data grows

Turkey’s official inflation figures have fueled tensions between the government and the opposition amid growing doubts over the credibility of the data.

AMIR MAKAR/AFP via Getty Images

Erdogan vows response to Cyprus mosque arson attempt

The Turkish president said an attempt to burn down the mosque on the disputed island “will not go unanswered,” while the Cypriot press said the incident was not related to religious or ethnic strife.