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

Turkey

Turkey

July 28, 2026

Ankara 6:33 pm

28°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

Latest News

Analysis

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

Ozgur Ozel

Halil Karaveli

By Halil Karaveli

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.

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

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) welcomes Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif as they pose upon his arrival during an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on June 1, 2022. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey treads cautious line amid Iran-Pakistan flareup

Turkey’s highly cautious tone over attacks by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps on Iraq and Pakistan reflects Ankara’s approach of not wanting to involve outside players in its disagreements with Tehran.

In this photograph taken on August 25, 2023, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Chair, WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference and Minister of State for Foreign Trade of United Arab Emirates, addresses the gathering on the first day of the three-day B20 Summit in New Delhi.

Davos 2024: Gold, precious minerals to drive UAE-Turkey trade in 2024, says minister

Since 2021, diplomatic ties between the two countries have greatly improved after years of antagonism over differing attitudes toward the Muslim Brotherhood and governance in Egypt.

United Arab Emirates

Turkey-backed Syrian fighter sits at a position on the outskirts of the town of Marea.

Turkey's operation in Syria could happen in 'upcoming months': Erdogan

The Turkish president’s comments come after the top Turkish diplomat leveled rare public criticism at Russia.

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.

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.

Turkey launches retaliatory strikes in Syria, Iraq as 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.