Turkey - AL-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Turkey

Turkey

November 27, 2025

Ankara 3:08 am

8°C

Andreas SOLARO / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Pope Leo heads to Turkey, navigating faith, politics and Orthodox tensions

The visit will bolster Turkey’s image on religious tolerance and shared positions with the Vatican while Ankara navigates sensitive issues surrounding the Halki Seminary and the Greek Patriarchate’s ecumenical status.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Prominent Turkish journalist Fatih Altayli is pictured in this undated image.

Turkey sentences journalist over 4 years in jail for threatening Erdogan

Prominent Turkish journalist Fatih Altayli was sentenced to over four years in prison in a trial government critics say aimed at silencing one of Turkey's most influential journalists and intended to intimidate journalists nationwide.

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.

Latest News

Culture

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

cartoons

Culture

Can AI save Turkey’s endangered Laz language?

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

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

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

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed

No jail time for Somali president’s son over deadly crash in Turkey

The Somali president's son was not present at the trial, which Turkey's main opposition slammed as a "sham."

soccer fans

Turkey deports Israeli soccer player as another faces investigation

Tensions between Turkey and Israel is spreading to Turkish soccer fields as Israeli players commemorate the 100th day in captivity of the hostages still held in the Gaza Strip.

Sagiv Yekhezkel displays a message in support of Hamas-held hostages during a match in Turkey.

Breaking | Last Updated: January 15, 2024, 3:29 am

Turkey detains Israeli soccer player over Gaza war message during match

The player wrote a message referencing the "100 days" that Israel captives have been held by Hamas since their Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel.

A man fishes as Hong-Kong-flagged container ship "Joseph Schulte" transits Bosphorus in Istanbul, on August 18, 2023. The Hong Kong-flagged Joseph Schulte left the port of Odesa on August 17 -- the first vessel to directly challenge Russia's new bid to seal Ukraine's access to the Black Sea. Marine traffic sites showed it approaching its final destination in Istanbul after moving along a western route that avoided international waters in favour of those controlled by NATO members Romania and Bulgaria. (Phot

New Black Sea mission could score Turkey points with NATO

Two different interpretations of the joint Black Sea mine mission appear to have emerged among Turkey and its other NATO allies, Romania and Bulgaria, but the allies might find a middle ground.

A group of singers perform Somali nationalistic songs during a demonstration in support of Somalia's government following the port deal signed between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland at Eng Yariisow Stadium in Mogadishu on January 3, 2024. Somalia vowed to defend its territory after a controversial Red Sea access deal between Ethiopia and the breakaway state of Somaliland that it branded as "aggression". (Photo by ABDISHUKRI HAYBE / AFP) (Photo by ABDISHUKRI HAYBE/AFP via Getty Images)

In fallout of Somaliland-Ethiopia deal, Turkey backs Somalia amid rivalries

Turkey's harsh reaction to the deal between Somaliland and Ethiopia reflects its close ties with Somalia, where it has a military base and commercial interests.

Smokes billows in Qamishli in northeastern Syria close to the Turkish border on Dec. 25, 2023, amid Turkish military strikes in the area.

Breaking | Last Updated: January 13, 2024, 2:36 pm

Turkey launches retaliatory strikes in Syria & Iraq, Erdogan convenes security meeting

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will hold an emergency national security meeting on Saturday.

Volunteers unload a truck as a convoy carrying humanitarian aid arrives in Syria after crossing the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey, on Sept. 19, 2023.

Syria extends humanitarian aid deliveries via Turkey to rebel-held zone

The crossing is the sole artery for UN supplies for the rebel-held northwest of the country.

ODESSA, UKRAINE - APRIL 25: A view of the sign which reads "Caution: mines" on the beach on April 25, 2022 in Odessa, Ukraine. Ukrainian forces, as well as civilian Odessans, remain on guard against a potential Russian advance on this historic port city, whose capture could help give Russia control of Ukraine's southern coast. But given Russia's setbacks in this two-month-long war, including the sinking of its Black Sea Fleet's flagship Moskva, analysts regard a full-scale attack on Odessa to be unlikely. (

Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania ink deal to remove floating mines from Black Sea

The mission will be solely open to Black Sea NATO countries, the Turkish Defense Ministry stressed following signing the ceremony.

This picture taken on Oct. 31, 2022 shows a view of an oil tanker, seized by Iranian naval forces at the Gulf port of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran.

Turkey says tanker seized by Iran carrying Turkish oil purchased from Iraq

The ship was seized by the Iranian navy off the coast of Oman.

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Culture

Fatal 'Brazilian butt lift' reveals ugly side of cosmetic tourism in Turkey

Turkey is a premier destination for cosmetic surgery thanks to low prices and attractive vacation packages, but not everyone is making it home in better shape.

01/01/2024, Istanbul, Turkey. People sits on the iron fences to watch and participate the solidarity march. Thousands gathered in Istanbul Galata Bridge in a demonstration expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. (Photo by Ilker Eray / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by ILKER ERAY/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

‘Only the first step’: Turkey's Erdogan flaunts anti-Mossad op as against Israel

The Turkish president also hinted that new counterespionage operations against Israeli spy networks could be underway.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomes Antony Blinken on Jan 6.Source: Turkish Presidency

What are the three files that Turkey pressed Blinken on during visit?

The Turkey leg of Blinken’s new regional tour landed him a meeting with Erdogan as Washington-Ankara ties see improvement.