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

Turkey

Turkey

March 28, 2026

Ankara 8:00 am

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A handing over of command ceremony at Union III Camp in the Green Zone of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on May 22, 2025.

Turkey confirms Iraq troop withdrawal as NATO pulls back due to Iran war

The confirmation of the withdrawal came as part of NATO’s decision to withdraw its forces in its Iraq mission amid Iran war.

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.

Latest News

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

Ghalibaf Fidan

Analysis

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

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

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

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

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) welcomes Poland's President Andrzej Duda (R) ahead of their meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, on May 24, 2021.

With ties with West strained, Turkey gets lifeline from Poland

Drawing on his rapport with the Polish president and a landmark drone deal with Warsaw, Erdogan seems to be aiming at two goals — strengthening his hand in NATO and having a close ally within the European Union.

A photograph taken on May 26, 2021 in Istanbul shows on a mobile phone Sedat Peker speaking on his youtube channel.

Arrest warrant issued for exiled mobster who promises to 'ruin' Turkish officials

Turkish prosecutors issued an arrest warrant Thursday for exiled mobster Sedat Peker, whose video exposes have implicated high-level officials and left ruling party insiders struggling to respond.

Derya Yanik

Why women are calling for Turkey's only female cabinet member to resign

The Turkish minister of family and social affairs' description of a domestic violence uptick as “tolerable” is seen as emblematic of government efforts to underestimate gender-based violence and femicides in the country.

Erdogan speaks at parliament

Erdogan swats aside mobster, stands behind interior minister

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan backs his interior minister, who has been facing allegations made by a Turkish mobster living abroad, and says he will not call early elections.

Leader of Turkey's Iyi (Good) Party and presidential candidate Meral Aksener arrives at Bayrampasa to address supporters during a rally on June 21, 2018, in Istanbul, Turkey.

Turkey's opposition faces upsurge of physical attacks as Erdogan gloats

Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s open endorsement of a mob attack on a prominent opposition leader indicates the extent of immunity for assaults on opposition in Turkey.

Members of the Panamanian National Aeronaval Service of Panama (SENAN) organize packages of seized drugs in Panama City on May 18, 2109. The SENAN seized 1.5 tons of cocaine inside a container that had Turkey as its final destination at the Cristobal container port in Colon.

Mobster’s claims turn spotlight to new cocaine route via Turkey

A spree of rattling allegations by a Turkish mobster has brought into focus the increase in cocaine trafficking in Turkey and its domestic and international ramifications.

Turkey's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu speech during a meeting to discuss cooperation on migration management in Ankara, Turkey, October 3, 2019.

Top Turkish minister fights corruption allegations from exiled mafia boss

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said he would not resign and defended his record against allegations by an exiled mafia boss whose wide-spanning YouTube confessions have gripped Turkish politics.

Senior US State Department official Joey Hood delivers a statement in Tripoli during a visit to Libya, in a show of support for the country's transitional government, May 18, 2021.

Turkey touts assassination of top PKK militant as retribution to US

The Turkish media has trumpeted the killing of a high-ranking PKK militant by Turkish security forces in northern Iraq as a reprisal of the US support of the Syrian Kurdish groups, while Turkey seems to be a major blockade before Syrian Kurds’ desire for political recognition.

The Saudi Arabia's consulate is cordoned off by Turkish police in Istanbul on Oct. 15, 2018.

Turkish police detain top Islamic State leader in Istanbul

A senior Islamic State operative has been arrested in Istanbul following a tip from US intelligence services.

WhatsApp denies privacy update will not apply in Turkey

There were reports in Turkish media that Facebook-owned messaging service's controversial privacy update, following a backlash, would not come to Turkey.

Soylu and Erdogan

Erdogan in hot spot as Turks question 'mafiazation' of politics

Erdogan risks a major political setback unless he manages to contain an unprecedented scandal sparked by a mobster claiming close links with government figures.

OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images

Turkish court begins retrial of philanthropist Osman Kavala

Businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala, who has remained in prison without a conviction since 2017, was denied release on Friday.