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Turkey

Turkey

July 16, 2026

Ankara 5:20 am

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Ozgu Ozel

Turkish opposition leader Ozgur Ozel could launch new party by August

Ozgur Ozel’s remarks on a potential new party came as the legal crackdown on the main opposition widened further this week with the arrest and suspension of the mayor of Cankaya,one of the party’s most secure and symbolically important strongholds in the heart of Ankara.

Visitors stand inside Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul on April 14, 2025.

Russian couple faces deportation from Turkey after Bible reading at Hagia Sophia

The couple were detained after reading from the Bible inside the Istanbul landmark, which remains one of Christianity’s most important historic sites despite its conversion into a mosque.

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler and his Egyptian counterpart, Lt. Gen. Ashraf Salem Zaher, met at the Turkey’s Defense Ministry in Ankara, July 13, 2026.

Turkey, Egypt expand military ties with cooperation frameworks: What to know

Increasing defense cooperation between Ankara and Cairo comes as Turkey seeks to offset the expanding Greek-Cypriot-Israeli alignment in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Latest News

Analysis

From S-400s to SAMP/T: Turkey’s defense pivot gathers pace after NATO summit

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pose after signing a defense partnership agreement on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Lebanese PM Salam in Turkey as Erdogan seeks wider regional role

Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaks during a joint declaration press event with French President following their meeting at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris on April 21, 2026.

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

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands during a bilateral meeting with Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan during the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RC1A03B4EBE0

Turkey finesses Trump for continued support against sanctions

Turkey's government is preparing to offer new incentives to the US administration to secure its lasting support against economic sanctions.

ANTALYA, TURKEY - JULY 26 : Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan (2nd R) and Minister of Energy of Russia, Alexander Novak (2nd L) sign a protocol at the end of the 16th Term meeting of Turkey-Russia Inter-governmental Joint Economic Commission in Antalya, Turkey on July 26, 2019. (Photo by Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Russia, Turkey seek to seize 'cooperation momentum'

Following Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 anti-air missile system, Moscow and Ankara are looking to expand the bilateral cooperation in trade and military fields.

Elizabeth Spehar, U.N. Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNFICYP Mission poses with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci in the buffer zone of Nicosia airport, Cyprus February 26, 2019. Iakovos Hatzistavrou/Pool via REUTERS - RC1B589A8390

Turkish muscle flexing in Mediterranean rekindles Cyprus peace efforts

Turkey's aggressive behavior in the Eastern Mediterranean over drilling for gas has focused the minds of Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders on getting back to the negotiating table.

Silivri Prison complex is pictured in Silivri near Istanbul, Turkey, June 24, 2019. REUTERS/Huseyin Aldemir - RC1D23495C00

Punishment for dissent begins with lengthy pretrial detention in Turkey

As the Turkish judiciary takes a summer recess, nearly 60,000 people remain behind bars as the trial process for political and terrorism-related charges drags on.

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands during a bilateral meeting with Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan during the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RC1DDD25D480

Republicans push tepid Trump to sanction Turkey

After huddling with President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, Republican senators tell Al-Monitor that the president isn’t keen on sanctioning Turkey.

Turkish journalist describes murky world of sheikhs, lies and video tape

A shocking tale of sexual abuse and exploitation has Turks reeling now that an investigative journalist has published new details about the cult of Ugur Korunmaz.

A discount sign is seen at a tourist shop at the historical Grand Bazaar, known as the Covered Bazaar, in Istanbul, Turkey, May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RC178DDDAD80

Turkey’s current account deficit shrinks, but budget gap widens

Turkey’s chronic current account deficit has fallen to a 16-year low, but this ostensible improvement is hardly the outcome or harbinger of sound economic headway.

ANKARA, TURKEY - JULY 14: A view of Murted Air Base as cargo aircraft carrying components of Russian S-400 Long Range Air and Missile Defense Systems lands in Ankara, Turkey on July 14, 2019. Delivery of S-400 Long Range Air and Missile Defense Systems is continuing as planned, and the seventh plane carrying S-400 parts landed at Murted Airbase outside Ankara.
(Photo by Gokhan Balci/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

What's at stake for Russia with S-400 deliveries to Turkey?

The decision to sell the missile system to Turkey is now seen as a win for Moscow, but this doesn't mean it came easy. And there are still potential downsides for Russia.

A motorbike burns after an airstrike in this screen grab taken from a social media video said to be taken in Idlib, Syria on July 16, 2019. Picture taken July 16, 2019. White Helmets/social media via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. - RC1FFC6630A0

As Idlib burns, Turkey focuses on another corner of Syria

Last year, Turkey helped stave off an attack on Syria’s last rebel stronghold of Idlib, but the truce may be crumbling as regime and Russian bombardments kill dozens.

Kurdish security members gather near a restaurant where Turkish diplomats and Turkish consulate employee were killed in Erbil, Iraq July 17, 2019. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari - RC1302A043E0

Kurdish officials in Iraq await fallout from Turkish diplomat's death

Iraqi Kurdistan authorities are concerned about the potential political, economic and security impacts of the recent killing of a Turkish diplomat in Erbil.

Former government spokesman tapped as KRG foreign relations head

A diplomat loyal to the Barzani family has been chosen as head of the KRG's Department of Foreign Relations.

A Turkish soldier stands on top of a tank near the Turkish-Syrian border in Hatay province, Turkey, January 28, 2018. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RC186578FC30

US envoy holds talks in Ankara as Turkey threatens to invade Syria

James Jeffrey, the special representative on Syria, met with senior Turkish officials amid renewed threats Ankara could send forces to a region controlled by a US-allied militia.