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Turkey

Turkey

April 7, 2026

Ankara 11:55 am

15°C

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan walks alongside his Syrian counterpart, Asaad Shibani, as he arrives in Damascus, April 5, 2026.

Analysis

How the Iran war can help Syria manage Turkey and its regional rivals

Rising regional tensions and disrupted oil flows are giving Damascus leverage to balance Ankara and other neighbors while exploring alternative energy corridors.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

A bulk carrier sits anchored at Sultan Qaboos Port on March 23, 2026 in Muscat, Oman.

Third Turkish ship clears Hormuz as Ankara presses Tehran on safe passage

Eight vessels are still waiting as Ankara negotiates with Tehran, which is allowing limited crossings.

Turkey's Camp TURKSOM, a Turkish military base south of Mogadishu, is seen from the window of an aircraft, on April 26, 2025, in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Analysis

Turkey’s expanding military role in Somalia draws scrutiny amid federal rift

Turkey’s expanding military footprint in Somalia is drawing criticism amid deepening federal-regional tensions, with Ankara denying it is taking sides.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Latest News

Turkey in talks with Iran to clear 11 ships stuck in Hormuz: What to know

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Analysis

How the Iran war is giving Turkey's Erdogan a big boost

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to MPs at his party's group meeting in the Turkish parliament on Jan. 21, 2026 in Ankara, Turkey.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Turkey says NATO defenses intercepted fourth missile from Iran

German soldiers stand to attention in front of a German Patriot missile launcher at the Gazi barracks in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey on March 25, 2014.

Analysis

Energy storage keeps Turkey stable, but long war risks fragile economy

Sedat Suna/Getty Images

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 soldiers ride on a military vehicle in the center of Afrin, Syria March 24, 2018. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi - RC1B6933DB00

Can Syrian Kurds’ offer unlock door to compromise with Turkey?

The Syrian Kurds have offered Turkey a 5-kilometer-deep buffer zone that would see the pullout of Kurdish forces and heavy weaponry, without seeking the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Afrin, but only that of aligned militia.

Turkish soldiers stand next to a tank near the Turkish-Syrian border in Kilis province, Turkey January 31, 2018. REUTERS/Osman Orsal - RC15B613B1F0

Turkey threatens Syria invasion as US sanctions loom

A breakthrough in the diplomatic dispute sparked by Turkey’s purchase of an advanced Russian missile system and Washington’s support for Syrian Kurdish militia continues to elude the NATO allies.

Demonstrators hold placards in support of Syrian refugees during a protest against Turkish government's recent refugee policies in Istanbul, Turkey, July 27, 2019. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RC199EECAD00

Are Syrians in Turkey no longer Erdogan’s 'brothers'?

Desperate to maintain its support base, the Turkish government limits Syrians access to basic services and initiates mass deportations.

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands during a bilateral meeting with Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan during the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RC1A03B4EBE0

Turkey finesses Trump for continued support against sanctions

Turkey's government is preparing to offer new incentives to the US administration to secure its lasting support against economic sanctions.

ANTALYA, TURKEY - JULY 26 : Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan (2nd R) and Minister of Energy of Russia, Alexander Novak (2nd L) sign a protocol at the end of the 16th Term meeting of Turkey-Russia Inter-governmental Joint Economic Commission in Antalya, Turkey on July 26, 2019. (Photo by Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Russia, Turkey seek to seize 'cooperation momentum'

Following Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 anti-air missile system, Moscow and Ankara are looking to expand the bilateral cooperation in trade and military fields.

Elizabeth Spehar, U.N. Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNFICYP Mission poses with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci in the buffer zone of Nicosia airport, Cyprus February 26, 2019. Iakovos Hatzistavrou/Pool via REUTERS - RC1B589A8390

Turkish muscle flexing in Mediterranean rekindles Cyprus peace efforts

Turkey's aggressive behavior in the Eastern Mediterranean over drilling for gas has focused the minds of Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders on getting back to the negotiating table.

Silivri Prison complex is pictured in Silivri near Istanbul, Turkey, June 24, 2019. REUTERS/Huseyin Aldemir - RC1D23495C00

Punishment for dissent begins with lengthy pretrial detention in Turkey

As the Turkish judiciary takes a summer recess, nearly 60,000 people remain behind bars as the trial process for political and terrorism-related charges drags on.

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands during a bilateral meeting with Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan during the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RC1DDD25D480

Republicans push tepid Trump to sanction Turkey

After huddling with President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, Republican senators tell Al-Monitor that the president isn’t keen on sanctioning Turkey.

Turkish journalist describes murky world of sheikhs, lies and video tape

A shocking tale of sexual abuse and exploitation has Turks reeling now that an investigative journalist has published new details about the cult of Ugur Korunmaz.

A discount sign is seen at a tourist shop at the historical Grand Bazaar, known as the Covered Bazaar, in Istanbul, Turkey, May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RC178DDDAD80

Turkey’s current account deficit shrinks, but budget gap widens

Turkey’s chronic current account deficit has fallen to a 16-year low, but this ostensible improvement is hardly the outcome or harbinger of sound economic headway.

ANKARA, TURKEY - JULY 14: A view of Murted Air Base as cargo aircraft carrying components of Russian S-400 Long Range Air and Missile Defense Systems lands in Ankara, Turkey on July 14, 2019. Delivery of S-400 Long Range Air and Missile Defense Systems is continuing as planned, and the seventh plane carrying S-400 parts landed at Murted Airbase outside Ankara.
(Photo by Gokhan Balci/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

What's at stake for Russia with S-400 deliveries to Turkey?

The decision to sell the missile system to Turkey is now seen as a win for Moscow, but this doesn't mean it came easy. And there are still potential downsides for Russia.

A motorbike burns after an airstrike in this screen grab taken from a social media video said to be taken in Idlib, Syria on July 16, 2019. Picture taken July 16, 2019. White Helmets/social media via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. - RC1FFC6630A0

As Idlib burns, Turkey focuses on another corner of Syria

Last year, Turkey helped stave off an attack on Syria’s last rebel stronghold of Idlib, but the truce may be crumbling as regime and Russian bombardments kill dozens.