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Turkey

Turkey

April 30, 2026

Ankara 7:28 am

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This aerial photograph shows Turkey's first floating natural gas production platform, "Osman Gazi," passing through the Bosphorus, in Istanbul, on May 29, 2025.

Turkey advances gas pipeline plan to northern Cyprus as East Med rivalry grows

The Turkish energy minister said the country's oil and natural gas pipeline operator, BOTAS, has started the engineering work for the pipeline.

Cadets of the Saiqa Force (Special Forces) of the self-styled Libyan National Army affiliated with eastern strongman Khalifa Hifter take part in a graduation ceremony in tribute to the force's late commander, Wanis Bukhamada, in the eastern city of Benghazi, on Jan. 20, 2022.

In first, Libya’s rival armies to join drill in Turkey: What to know

The move follows the first joint exercise inside Libya amid renewed international efforts to unify the country.

Turkey's submarines and fast-attack craft ships participate in the live-fire phase of the Blue Homeland-2026 (Mavi Vatan) tactical military exercises in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, in Antalya on April 9, 2026.

Turkey’s military spending jumps to $30B, leads Mideast growth in 2025

Newly released data shows Ankara’s military spending hit $30 billion, while Saudi Arabia remained the region’s top spender and Israel’s outlays declined in 2025.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hosted the third meeting of the foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on the margins of the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum, on April 17, 2026.

Analysis

Why Saudi Arabia, Egypt are wary of Turkey’s proposed 4-way defense pact with Pakistan

The proposed framework faces major hurdles and fault lines, ranging from NATO constraints to Israeli opposition and weak military integration.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Latest News

Turkey’s Baykar tests K2 swarm kamikaze drones for first time: What to know

CORLU, TURKEY- MARCH 2: A B model of Bayraktar AKINCI TİHA (Assault Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) in the sky on March 2, 2022 in Corlu, Turkey. (Photo by Baykar Press Office/dia images via Getty Images)

Trump envoy Barrack’s embrace of 'strong leaders' sparks fury in Turkey

US Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrack attends a meeting with President Donald Trump and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Oval Office at the White House on Sept. 25, 2025, in Washington, DC.

How Syria's border opening with Iraq redefines Turkey-Kurd balance

Members of Iraq's security forces stand guard on the the al-Rabia border crossing with Syria on April 20, 2026.

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

Democratic Society Party (DTP) leader Ahmet Turk, who was banned from politics for five years, attends a news conference in Ankara December 18, 2009. Deputies from Turkey's main pro-Kurdish party decided to stay in parliament despite a court decision to ban their movement, its banned leader said on Friday, removing a potential source of political instability. REUTERS/Stringer (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS) - RTXRZ8Y

The final nail in the coffin of peace process in Turkey

Following the detention of the mayor of Mardin, reviving the peace process between Kurdish militants and the Turkish government is no more than a pipe dream.

Protesters show their painted hands during a protest against a proposal, that would have allowed sentencing in cases of sexual abuse committed "without force, threat or trick" before Nov. 16, 2016 to be indefinitely postponed if the perpetrator marries the victim, in front of the Turkish Parlaiment in Ankara, Turkey, November 22, 2016. Banners read, "Keep your hands off from a child's body" (L) and "Don't protect the rapists (R)" REUTERS/Umit Bektas - RTSSRKA

Turkey backpedals on statutory rape proposal

Turkey is reconsidering — but not abandoning — a law that would treat perpetrators of statutory rape as "victims," which some fear could open the door to polygamy, honor killings and legalizing marriage at puberty.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a signing ceremony with Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk, Belarus, November 11, 2016. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko - RTX2T8MF

Is Erdogan giving up on EU aspirations?

A proposal to join the Russian- and Chinese-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization gets lukewarm reception, even among Turkish Islamists.

U.S. President Barack Obama talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Lima, Peru November 20, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RTSSHZ0

Russia adjusts Syria plan as Obama’s term nears end

Russia is trying to figure out all the Middle East scenarios that might affect it under a Donald Trump presidency.

State of emergency shuts down Turkey's NGOs

Since the failed July 15 coup attempt, some 1,500 nongovernmental organizations have been banned.

Demonstrators hold a banner reading ''Enough, we don't want child brides'' to protest against child marriage in front of the Family and Social Policies Ministry in Ankara, on February 10, 2014. According to the Turkish Ministry of Interior, in the last three years nearly 135,000 persons below 18 years of age were married in the country, with 20 times more girls than boys. Last year alone the number of under-16 girls whose families applied to the courts to marry them reached 20,000. AFP PHOTO/ADEM ALTAN

AKP bill to pardon child rapists who marry their victims

Turks are furious over a proposed law that would commute the sentences of men who have sex with minors if they end up marrying the girls, but Turkey’s ruling party has the simple majority it needs to push the law, which it claims is intended to address legal issues surrounding child marriage, through parliament.

Demonstrators hold signs in front of the High Education Board (YOK) during a protest against the suspension of academics from universities following a post-coup emergency decree, in Ankara, Turkey, September 22, 2016. The sign in the foreground reads "Let the emergency decrees go. We are remaining." REUTERS/Umit Bektas - RTSOY0Z

Turkey’s emergency rule fuels brain drain

Turkey is losing precious human capital, as many educated Turks are migrating to the West, scared off by ferocious crackdowns since the July coup attempt.

A police special forces member stands on top of a roof as part of security measures during a ceremony at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, marking the anniversary of his death, in Ankara, Turkey November 10, 2016. REUTERS/Umit Bektas - RTX2SYFC

Help wanted: Turkey advertises for special forces

Running short of personnel because of massive purges, Turkey's armed forces are trying to fill the void using civilians.

A Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighter looks through the scope of his weapon in Tal Samin village, north of Raqqa city, Syria November 19, 2016. REUTERS/Rodi Said - RTSSERJ

Who will take charge in Raqqa after it's freed from IS?

The Syrian Democratic Forces are making progress in northern Raqqa, cutting the supply lines of the Islamic State.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump (L) speaks along side retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Mike Flynn during a campaign town hall meeting in Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S., September 6, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar - RTX2OE6J

Would Trump back Turkish military escalation in Iraq, Syria?

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan weighs risks and benefits of military interventions as Donald Trump transition signals possible Turkish tilt; Will Iraq's Baathists return after liberation of Mosul?

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) talks during a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan following their meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, October 10, 2016. REUTERS/Osman Orsal - RTSRNKN

How Russia views Turkey’s role in Syria

To Russia, tumultuous Turkey is a work in progress on a journey of self-discovery.

Rebel fighters gather during their advance towards the Islamic State-held city of al-Bab, northern Syria October 26, 2016. Picture taken October 26, 2016. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi - RTX2TKNU

Ankara-PKK divisions could have major impact on Raqqa battle

As the operation to clear Raqqa from IS continues, tensions are rising in the al-Bab region to the north of Aleppo, where a clash between Free Syrian Army forces supported by Turkey and local fighters backed by the People's Protection Units is becoming more likely.