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Turkey

Turkey

November 26, 2025

Ankara 6:06 am

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People take part in a demonstration to call for the liberation of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan outside the European Council in Strasbourg, eastern France, on Sept. 15, 2025.

Analysis

PKK leader Ocalan gains legitimacy in Turkey, bigger sway over Syria’s Kurds

The ongoing deadlock between Damascus and the SDF is seen as a major obstacle to progress in Turkey’s efforts to address its long-standing Kurdish issue.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

BASHAR TALEB/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey’s spy chief holds talks in Egypt over trapped Hamas militants

Turkey’s spy chief met with Qatari, Egyptian officials as the Gaza ceasefire process stalls over Hamas fighters trapped in tunnels.

cartoons

Culture

Turkey’s graphic-novel culture blossoms in face of censorship

A fragile but growing ecosystem of artists, editors and cross-border collaborations is reshaping Turkey’s graphic-novel landscape under tight political and economic constraints.

A villager stands at a high point to survey the damage to the hill sides by quarrying in Ikizdere in the Rize Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey on June 7, 2021. A government-friendly company plans to extract 20 million tons of stone from a quarry in the northeastern town of Ikizdere for one of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's latest development projects. The locals are rising up in protest, challenging the government and its priorities in a region dear to the domineering Turkish leader's heart. (Ph

Culture

Can AI save Turkey’s endangered Laz language?

With few young speakers and little official support, activists are turning to artificial intelligence to help preserve one of Turkey’s endangered languages: Laz.

Latest News

Turkey secures COP31 climate summit after compromise with Australia: What to know

Fidan's confidant Nuh Yilmaz appointed ambassador to Syria, first in 13 years: What to know

NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP via Getty Images

Erdogan’s top ally Bahceli slams foot-dragging on meeting with PKK leader

Burak Kara/Getty Images

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

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

Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Supporters of the pro-Kurdish Peoples DEM Party attend a rally for the Turkish Municipal elections to be held on March 31, in Esenyurt Square, in Istanbul on Feb. 25, 2024.

Exclusive

Turkey mulls peace talks with Kurds amid fears of Israeli strike on Iran

Three well-placed sources told Al-Monitor that exploratory talks for a possible resumption of negotiations between the Turkish government and imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan were already underway.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Protesters take part in a demonstration in support of We Will Stop Femicide outside the courthouse in Istanbul on Sept. 13, 2023.

Outrage sweeps Turkey over double femicide as Erdogan pledges stricter measures

Activists are highlighting the government's failure to enforce existing laws to protect women.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wears a scarf with both Turkish and Palestinian flags as he addresses a rally organized by the AKP party in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, in Istanbul on Oct. 28, 2023.

Analysis

Erdogan accuses Israel of wanting to wage war on Turkey despite robust trade ties

These claims, which analysts have deemed absurd, are mainly aimed at appeasing his Islamist base and distracting the broader public from their economic woes.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Smoke rises from buildings hit in an overnight Israeli airstrike that targeted the neighbourhood of Al-Jamous in Beirut's southern suburbs on October 3, 2024. Israel kept up its bombardment of Beirut after Iran launched its second, and largest, attack on Israel in months, which prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to warn Tehran would pay. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Live Updates

Israel defense chief postpones US visit as differences over Iran response grow

Israel's premier has reportedly barred the defense minister from traveling to the United States until he speaks with the US president and his security cabinet approves a response to an Iranian missile attack.

People pass by a cryptocurrency exchange branch near the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul on Oct. 20, 2021, a day after Bitcoin took another step closer to mainstream investing with the launch of a new security on Wall Street tied to futures of the cryptocurrency.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia power Mideast crypto adoption as growth cools in Iran, Egypt

Although one of the world's smaller crypto markets, the Middle East in 2024 has continued featuring strong grassroots uptake in key markets

Turkey's right-wing Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahceli greets the crowd during the party's 12th Ordinary Grand Congress in Ankara, on March 18, 2018.

Analysis

A surprise handshake in Turkey's parliament: Nationalist-Kurdish thaw or political maneuver?

The escalating conflict in the region — among other considerations — has prompted unexpected handshakes between two foes in Turkey: pro-Kurdish DEM Party lawmakers and Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahceli.

Ezgi Akin

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

A Romanian Navy helicopter is pictured on the "King Ferdinand" frigate during "Sea Shield 24" exercise April 16, 2024.

Turkey sits out NATO drill in Greece despite detente with Athens

The decision stemmed from historical territorial disputes between the two NATO allies.

A street vendor sells corn as he waits for customers in the Eminonu district of Istanbul, Turkey, Aug. 30, 2024.

Turkey's annual inflation falls lower than expected to 49.4%

Turkey's annual inflation slowed down in September, but lower-than-expected figures could delay central bank rate cuts, according to some analysts.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart, in Cairo on Aug. 5, 2024.

Analysis

Turkey's FM met with Nasrallah days after Oct. 7 — does that mean he's 'pro-Iran'?

The recent revelation by Hakan Fidan has refocused attention on the top Turkish diplomat's supposed fondness for Iran.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

The first delivered batch of F-35 fighter jets flies over the Skrydstrup Air Base, Denmark, Sep. 14, 2023.

Analysis

US revival of Turkey’s F-35 deal complicated by Russia, political climate

A potential F-35-for-S-400 deal doesn't seem feasible from a technical as well as political standpoint, Turkish experts believe.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Mayor Eric Adams arrives for a press conference at 1 Police Plaza on April 18, 2023, in New York City.

What we know about Turkey-related charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams

The indictment against Adams is largely based on his dealings with Turkish nationals and includes illegal travel benefits worth over $100,000.

Turkish-backed Syrian fighters from the Turkish-backed 1st Corps of the Samarkand Brigade take part in a military parade in the opposition-held Afrin region of northern Syria, on Nov. 23, 2022.

Interview

Syrian-Kurdish KNC leader decries abuse by Turkey-backed Sunni factions in Afrin

Kurdish National Council President Sleiman Oso told Al-Monitor that dialogue with his group's rivals, the PYD, is still possible.

Sleiman Oso

Sleiman Oso

Kurdish National Council President