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

Turkey

Turkey

July 28, 2026

Ankara 7:18 am

19°C

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi speaks during a meeting with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (not pictured) at the Pentagon on July 14, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia.

Zaidi to meet Erdogan as Turkey-Iraq ties take off, Kurds feel sidelined

The Iraqi prime minister's visits to Ankara and Riyadh underscore Baghdad's push to deepen regional ties as Turkey seeks closer cooperation on energy and security.

Vendors sell dry food as people shop by a banner reading " No to Inflation" near the New Mosque area in Istanbul's Eminonu district on Nov. 6, 2018.

Analysis

Iran war puts Turkey’s inflation fight, lira under fresh pressure

A prolonged Iran war is leaving Turkey's economy management caught between maintaining painful monetary tightening and cutting rates before the economy is ready.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Ozgur Ozel

Analysis

What challenges await Erdogan’s new rival and Turkey’s new opposition party?

Ousted main opposition leader Ozgur Ozel's bid to challenge Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan depends on surviving a widening legal crackdown and reconciling deep ideological, nationalist and Kurdish divisions within his own coalition.

Halil Karaveli

By Halil Karaveli

Latest News

Top ally of Turkey’s Erdogan backs state funding for Ozel’s breakaway party

Turkey’s main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) Ousted party leader Ozgur Ozel waves to supporters from atop a police water cannon vehicle after being forcibly evicted by police from his party’s headquarters on May 24, 2026 in Ankara, Turkey.

Explainer

As Turkey rivalry heats up, Greece to acquire $4B Israeli air defense system

David's Sling.

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

A Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 belonging to the Royal Air Force shortly after takeoff.

Can warmer Germany-Turkey ties bring Ankara Eurofighters along with Airbuses?

Experts believe Turkish-German defense ties will see some strides following the German president’s much-hyped Turkey visit.

People walk at Kadikoy district in Istanbul on March 5, 2024. Turkey's annual inflation rose again in February, reaching 67.1 percent despite a string of interest rate hikes, official data showed on Monday. The Turkish central bank held its key interest rate at 45 percent last month, pausing after eight straight increases aimed at taming consumer prices that had remained stable at 64.9 percent in January.

Turkey’s annual inflation surges to almost 70% in April

April's inflation rate marks Turkey’s highest in the past 16 months, driven primarily by price increases in education, restaurants and hotels, and transportation.

Chairman of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in Turkey, Ozgur Ozel, delivers a speech during a rally by members of the Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions (Disk) calling for economic justice and protesting against the increasing tax burden on workers in Ankara on Nov. 17, 2023.

'Landmark' talks between Turkey’s opposition leader, Erdogan spark hopes for reform

A "historic" meeting between Turkey's president and Ozgur Ozel may mark the beginning of a budding political relationship — but that remains to be seen.

YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey cuts all trade with Israel as ties fray

The Israeli Foreign Minister said Ankara was blocking Turkey’s ports for Israeli imports and exports.

Members of the jury sit in the International Court of Justice in The Hague, The Netherlands, on Jan. 27, 2014.

Turkey seeks to join South Africa as plaintiff against Israel at ICJ

The move comes as Ankara seeks to dial up pressure on Israel after March 31 local elections.

Protesters scuffle with riot police as they attempt to defy a ban and march on Taksim Square during a May Day (Labour Day) rally, marking International Workers' Day, at the Sarachane Park aqueduct in Istanbul, on May 1, 2024.

Turkey: Over 200 detained in May Day demonstrations

Police used pepper spray and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

Newly re-elected Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

In Turkey, Istanbul mayor faces backlash after calling Hamas a ‘terrorist organization’

Turkey's president is notably staying mum over the comments made by Istanbul’s popular mayor.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya (C) addresses the press next to Santa Maria Church after an attack, in Istanbul, on Jan. 28, 2024.

Turkey expands ISIS crackdown, detains over 100 in a week

Eight more people were detained on Monday in a raid on individuals who were allegedly planning to carry out a bomb attack.

The Maiden's Tower is pictured.

Turkey eyes ExxonMobil LNG as country reduces dependence on Russian gas

The long-term deal being discussed with the American energy giant would give Turkey up to 2.5 million metric tons of LNG a year, Turkey's energy minister said in an interview.

EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/AFP via Getty Images

Blinken, Fidan meet after Turkey postpones Erdogan's White House visit

The top US and Turkish diplomats met in the Saudi capital today after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s long-sought visit to the White House was postponed Friday.

This photograph taken on Sept. 22, 2023, shows an Armenian flag fluttering near the border with Azerbaidjan near Kornidzor.

As Russia's footprint slumps, can Turkey anchor Armenia, Azerbaijan to West?

Russia’s declining footprint in the South Caucasus presents an opportunity for Turkey to anchor Azerbaijan and Armenia to the Western fold.

UAE's Energy Minister Suhail Mohamed al-Mazrouei (L) and Turkey's Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu (R) speak together during the signing of the "Development Road" framework agreement on security, economy, and development in Baghdad on April 22, 2024.

Can $20B Iraq Development Road project rival India-Middle East corridor?

A new trade route is in the works to connect the Gulf with Europe along the Development Road, starting in Iraq.