Turkey, Armenia agree to restore medieval bridge in normalization push Ankara is pursuing normalization with Armenia ahead of June parliamentary elections in a thaw also positioned to advance its broader Middle Corridor ambitions. Turkey
Turkey hosts Kuwaiti FM as UAE's OAPEC exit fuels Gulf rift Kuwait's top diplomat visited Turkey as the Gulf rift deepens following the UAE’s exit from OPEC and its affiliated alliances, forcing Ankara to balance ties between Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. Turkey
Analysis Iraq’s Zaidi offers economic promise for Turkey but unknowns loom Iraq’s prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, is expected to sustain growing economic and strategic ties with Turkey thanks to his business-oriented approach, though uncertainty over his political stance could test cooperation on sensitive issues. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Newsletter: City Pulse Istanbul “Form-Craft-Activism” spotlights the labor behind making Also this week: A century-old lokanta, cartoonists and labor cinema By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir and Istanbul, reporting on culture
Has Syria's Arab-Kurdish rivalry reached a breaking point? The establishment of a safe zone on the Turkish-Syrian border is likely to further deepen the divide between the Arabs and Kurds in the area. Syria
Will Erdogan’s big gamble pay off? Surveys suggest there is no certainty that early elections will produce the results Erdogan is banking on for his leadership ambitions. Turkey
Is Erdogan afraid of poking the IS bear? Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has done little to censor the latest Islamic State video criticizing his government; does this mean that the ruling AKP could stand to benefit from publicizing the threat posed by the group? Syria
Is Nusra cooperating with Syrian opposition to support establishing safe zone on Syria-Turkey border? While the establishment of a safe zone along the Syria-Turkey border promises better living conditions for Syrian refugees, the politics and security concerns involved portend thinning prospects. Syria
Orwell’s 1984 comes to life in Erdogan’s 2015 Turkey Turkey’s president has called on community leaders in villages and neighborhoods to report on “terrorists” in their communities. Turkey
Syria’s lords of war Car dealer and amateur astronomer Hatim Ali Staiti became a warlord and now commands a notorious militia known for fighting for the regime. Syria
Security Council: Syria 'largest humanitarian crisis in the world' UN, Russia and Iran coordinate new diplomatic effort on Syria; what did Zarif tell Nasrallah?; Egyptian government rejects mediation with Muslim Brotherhood; did US-trained force coordinate with Jabhat al-Nusra? Qatar
Will Jordan agree to set up a 'safe zone' on Syrian border? Jordan is considering the option of establishing a safe zone along its border with Syria, amid lack of US support for Turkey’s attempts to do the same on its southern border. Jordan
US plays politics with Patriot missile removal Patriot batteries deployed in Turkey against possible air and missile threats from Syria are being withdrawn in controversy. Syria
Violence in Turkey could push US to pick sides in Turkey, PKK battle The escalation of violence in Turkey is reaching such a magnitude that Turkey may not be an effective coalition partner against Washington’s priority, the Islamic State. Iraq
Aleppo's businessmen blame Turks for damaged factories, looted equipment While the large industrial complexes in northern Syria were once reminders of the strong economic ties between Ankara and Damascus, Aleppo's businessmen now hold Turkey responsible for the destruction and looting of their factories. Syria
Have sexism, attacking women become part of Turkish right's political strategy? Male chauvinism dominates mainstream media’s reactions to outspoken socialist female politicians and activists. Turkey