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Turkey

Turkey

April 30, 2026

Ankara 8:32 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

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan attends a Republic Day ceremony at Anitkabir, the mausoleum of modern Turkey's founder Ataturk, to mark the republic's anniversary in Ankara, Turkey, October 29, 2016. REUTERS/Umit Bektas - RTX2QXOE

How Erdogan can rule Turkey until 2029

A presidential system that could keep Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in power for 27 years will be a political experience that gives euphoria to its supporters and fear to its dissidents.

Members of the Shi'ite Badr Organisation fighters ride on military vehicles during a battle with Islamic State militants at the airport of Tal Afar west of Mosul, Iraq November 18, 2016. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani - RTX2UAJW

Iran, Turkey fight over Tal Afar

As the predominantly Shiite Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), with the support of Iran, expand their control over the recently liberated area of Tal Afar, which has a Turkmen majority, the tension between the PMU and Turkey has increased.

A picture of jailed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan is seen in a PKK mausoleum in Sinjar region, northern Iraq, May 1, 2016. They share little more than an enemy and struggle to communicate on the battlefield, but together two relatively obscure groups have opened up a new front against Islamic State militants in a remote corner of Iraq. The unlikely alliance between the Sinjar Resistance Units, an offshoot of a leftist Kurdish organisation, and Abdulkhaleq al-Jarba, a Arab tribal mili

Will Iraq's Sinjar become new base for PKK?

While the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and Kurdistan Democratic Party are competing over Sinjar, the Yazidis dismiss fears of the PKK making it a "second Qandil."

News of arrests of YPG-linked Czechs shocks Turkey

Turkish authorities arrested two Czechs who allegedly confessed to working with the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units.

People withdraw money from an ATM at the main shopping and pedestrian street of Istiklal in central Istanbul, Turkey January 30, 2016. Inflation has become Turkey's biggest economic challenge, hitting the pockets of ordinary people even as President Tayyip Erdogan and the ruling party have built their reputation largely on economic growth and stability. Picture taken January 30, 2016. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RTX25JC7

Will Turkey's negative growth rates lead to political crisis?

Early indicators show that Turkey's economy has begun to contract in the third quarter for the first time since 2009, raising the threat of political consequences for the AKP.

Why Turkey's Islamists are up in arms over bikini-clad sculpture

An Ottoman sultan's image, painted on a sculpture of a woman's belly, draws the scrutiny and ire of young Muslims.

Israel's new man in Ankara could be in for bumpy ride

The choice of prominent diplomat Eitan Naeh as Israel’s ambassador to Turkey is a clear sign of the importance his government places on fixing the relationship, but though he's being magnanimously received in Turkey, he'll have his hands full clearing the path to normalization.

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters gather in the town of Hisha after they took control of the area from Islamic State militants, in the northern Raqqa countryside, Syria November 14, 2016. REUTERS/Rodi Said - RTX2TNGI

Will Trump see eye to eye with Erdogan's plans in Iraq, Syria?

Ankara is hoping to find harmony with the incoming US administration on its fight against the Islamic State.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attend a joint news conference following their meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, October 10, 2016. Sputnik/Kremlin/Alexei Druzhinin via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. - RTSRO2X

Little has changed between Turkey, Russia despite reconciliation

Turkey’s economy has not seen the benefits from normalizing bilateral ties with Russia as Ankara tries to speed up the pace of economic fence mending.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (R) and his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier (L) give a press conference following their meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Ankara on November 15, 2016. / AFP / ADEM ALTAN (Photo credit should read ADEM ALTAN/AFP/Getty Images)

Does Turkey have upper hand in EU membership battle?

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s gamble with countries of the European Union may succeed if the Europeans blink first.

A chocolate seller waits for customers as he waits in his booth in Istanbul September 22, 2009. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl (TURKEY FOOD BUSINESS) - RTR285V8

Will Ankara feast on Turkey's largest food producer?

Rumors that Turkey's largest food producer could be targeted in the government's post coup-attempt crackdown are eroding investor confidence.

Smoke rises from an Islamic State vehicle near al-Shadadi town, Hasaka countryside Syria February 18, 2016. REUTERS/Rodi Said - RTX27LEW

What fate awaits Kurds fighting for the Islamic State?

The future seems desolate — and short — for Kurds who joined IS.