Author: Prof. Ilter Turan (Prof. Ilter Turan)

It is evident that Turkey has been trying to mend fences with countries with whom its relationship has deteriorated, often as a result of initiatives taken by the Turkish government. For example, Turkey’s relationship with Egypt was paralyzed when Abdul Fettah Sisi overthrew the Muslim Brotherhood government headed by Mohammed Mursi. Turkey’s negative reaction to...

I trust it has not escaped the attention of observers of Turkish foreign policy that the current Greek government is pursuing an active policy of mobilizing neighbors, friends, and allies against Turkey to isolate it in the region by limiting its access to the sea, rendering it militarily weaker by both increasing its military capabilities...

Recent plans put forth by Joseph Borrell, the European Union (EU) foreign minister, calling for the development of a 5000-strong, rapid-deployment European defense force, is another indicator of the Union’s aspirations to develop military capabilities and to be a powerful autonomous actor in the security domain. A similar aspiration led to a decision in 2007...

Although more than a week has lapsed since the Turkish President Erdogan and his American counterpart, President Biden met on the fringes of the G-20 Summit in Rome, debate continues to rage as regards what transpired at the meeting. It has become somewhat established by now that Turkey’s public statements about what happens at international...

Even as the Taliban government in Afghanistan struggles to take shape, plans to re-open the international airport in Kabul are already in motion. Turkey is still vying to play a central role in that process, as well as the future operation of the airport. As of writing, a Qatari technical team was on the ground...

After weeks of trying to persuade the Taliban that Turkey should command the security of Kabul airport, the Erdogan government appears to have relented and ordered the evacuation of the Turkish military contingent. Presidential Advisor Ibrahim Kalin has intimated that Turkey still hopes to offer its services to operate the airport. Whether the Taliban government...

In a stunning moment in world history, the Taliban rolled into the Afghan capital, Kabul, on August 15 and took control of Afghanistan with barely a shot fired, more than two weeks before U.S. forces were expected to complete their withdrawal from their longest ever war. Scenes from that day have been compared to the...

For a lot of Afghanistan watchers, last week was a whirlwind of emotions. In rapid succession, the Taliban conquered one city after another, primarily in the north of the country. Since the U.S. signed its so-called peace deal with the insurgent group, Afghanistan has experienced more violence, and more bloodshed, than at virtually any point...

In 2011, when Muhamad Bouazizi, a struggling vegetable seller in Tunis, set himself on fire and triggered convulsions that are still being felt to this day, some believed it would be the beginning of the reshaping of the Middle East. At first, that certainly looked to be the case. Egypt’s strongman, Hosni Mubarak, was ousted...

The debate over Medyascope’s foreign funding continues to rage in Turkey, fueled by the rather twisted logic that a media organization receiving foreign funding must be a propaganda tool. The question of the benefits of outside funding for Turkish organizations, whether media or others, is of course valid, but answering it requires a little more...