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

Turkey

Turkey

November 9, 2026

Ankara 7:40 pm

2°C

MEHMET ESER/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Will Democrats block Trump’s push to deliver Turkey F-35s, lift sanctions?

Democratic control of Congress complicates Turkey’s push for F-35s and sanctions relief, but Ankara remains hopeful Trump can still broker a deal.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Costa Rica's Grynspan extends lead in UNSG poll as Nusseibeh places fourth

The Costa Rican candidate received 12 encourage votes in Thursday's UN Security Council straw poll.

United Arab Emirates

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses Turkish members of parliament during the opening of the parliamentary session at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ankara, on Oct. 1, 2026.

Turkey’s parliament ratifies Mecca pact in boost to Saudi Arabia

Turkey will now decide the scope of military support for Saudi Arabia amid ongoing Iran-backed Houthi attacks on the kingdom.

Latest News

Can Erdogan’s Baku visit fix Turkey-Azerbaijan rift?

TOFIK BABAYEV/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey says soldier killed by gunfire from Iran at border: What to know

A sign marking the border of Turkey in Van, Turkey, on March 14, 2026.

Turkey probes Google’s AI search tools, orders protections for news websites

Turkey moves PKK leader Ocalan to prison villa as peace process faces new test

A protestor holds a flag bearing a portrait of jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Abdullah Ocalan during a demonstration of Kurdish people from all around Europe to mark the 27th anniversary of his arrest and to demand his liberation, in Strasbourg, Eastern France, on Feb. 14, 2026.

Samuel Wendel

Senior Analyst, Middle East Business & Tech

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

Free Syrian Army fighters gesture as Turkish military vehicles drive in the Syrian rebel-held town of al-Rai while heading towards the northern Syrian town of al-Bab, Syria January 9, 2017. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi - RTX2Y605

FSA sees 'golden opportunity' with end of Turkey's operations in Syria

The Free Syrian Army is conducting intense training in Aleppo’s countryside in preparation for future battles now that Turkey has announced the end of its operation in Syria.

A Turkish army tank drives towards to the border in Karkamis on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern Gaziantep province, Turkey, August 25, 2016. REUTERS/Umit Bektas - RTX2MYVY

Ankara not backing down from Iraq intervention

A week after announcing an end to operations in Syria, Turkey announced that it plans to launch a military operation in Iraq against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Sinjar, a move guaranteed to outrage the Baghdad government.

A man reads Sabah newspaper bearing a headline which translates as "Revolution of people"" in Istanbul on April 17, 2017, a day after Turkey's referendum.
The deputy leader of Turkey's opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) called on April 17, 2017 for the results of a referendum agreeing new powers for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to be annulled. / AFP PHOTO / YASIN AKGUL (Photo credit should read YASIN AKGUL/AFP/Getty Images)

Erdogan's referendum win no clean sweep

Turkey’s historic referendum has passed, yet the "yes" camp’s slim margin of victory and the opposition’s accusations of foul play mean Turkish politics will remain volatile.

Turkey’s security sector becomes latest arena of Islamism debate

Increasingly divisive Islamic and ultra-nationalist arguments in Turkey have started to plague the country's security sector following last summer's coup attempt.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greets supporters as he leaves Eyup Sultan mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, April 17, 2017. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RTS12LTA

Where does Erdogan's referendum win leave Turkey?

The result of Turkey's referendum was far from the mandate the country's president was seeking and leaves much of the population — and outside world — questioning the legitimacy of the process.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives at a news conference in Istanbul, Turkey April 16, 2017. Picture taken April 16, 2017. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RTS12L9W

Is calm transition possible after Turkey's referendum?

With a thin win in major cities and allegations of voter fraud and illegal maneuvering, how long can Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stifle a budding movement resisting the referendum outcome?

A billboard carrying a picture of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and a slogan that reads: "Yes. It is for the people to speak and to decide" is seen on a building ahead of the constitutional referendum in Istanbul, Turkey April 13, 2017. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RTX35F8G

Latest polls put 'yes' camp ahead in Turkey’s referendum

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seems closer than ever to his dream of an executive presidency as the newest polls give him a slight edge.

A street vendor sells t-shirts with portraits of modern Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan during a rally for the upcoming referendum in the Black Sea city of Rize, Turkey, April 3, 2017. Picture taken April 3, 2017. REUTERS/Umit Bektas - RTX34ZRF

Divided Turkey heads for historic referendum

Using underhanded tactics, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is campaigning to become Turkey’s sole and unencumbered leader as his supporters say this will make Turkey soar as an economic and political power.

TOPSHOT - A demonstrator holds a placard reading "Free Press Free Society", outside the Istanbul courthouse on April 1, 2016, where Turkish opposition Cumhuriyet daily's editor-in-chief Can Dundar and Ankara bureau chief Erdem Gul attend their trial.
Cumhuriyet daily's editor-in-chief Can Dundar and Ankara bureau chief Erdem Gul face possible life terms on spying charges over a news report accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government of seeking to illicitly deliver arms bound for neighbouring Syria.

Turkey's last Ergenekon trial ends as all defendants acquitted

The 13 defendants in the Turkey's controversial "Odatv trial" have been acquitted in the final case of Turkey's Ergenekon trials, but few Turks feel that justice was served.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters during a rally for the upcoming referendum in Istanbul, Turkey, April 8, 2017. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RTX34QH8

How Erdogan uses Turkey's mosques to push 'yes' vote

With the battle over Turkey's constitutional referendum, state-paid imams have become Erdogan’s best advocates for the 'yes' campaign.

Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu casts his ballot at a polling station in Ankara, Turkey, November 1, 2015. Turks began voting on Sunday amid worsening security and economic worries in a snap parliamentary election that could profoundly impact the divided country's trajectory and that of President Tayyip Erdogan. The parliamentary poll is the second in five months, after the ruling AK Party founded by Erdogan failed to retain its single-party majority in Jun

AKP, CHP exchange fire over coup as referendum ballots print

Turkey's ruling party and opposition leadership are trading accusations of complicity and cowardice in the July coup in a race to discredit each other as the constitutional referendum nears.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attends a news conference after the talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, March 10, 2017. REUTERS/Sergei Ilnitsky/Pool - RTS12BWW

Ankara welcomes US action in Syria, but doubts remain

Opinion in Turkey is divided after Washington’s missile strike on Syria, reflecting a mix of enthusiasm, wishful thinking and realism.