Analysis As it hosts NATO, Turkey eyes France's SAMP/T system, F-35 progress with Trump Turkey is set to host NATO leaders as doubts over US commitment linger prompting Ankara to seeks its own defense deals with Paris and Washington. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Israel, Greece conduct military drills ahead of NATO summit in Turkey Photos published by the Greek military showed fighter jets from both countries flying side by side over the Aegean Sea. Israel
Analysis In Libya, maritime dispute could complicate Turkey’s backing of US unity push Turkey and the US increasingly share an interest in stabilizing Libya through a Tripoli-Benghazi power-sharing deal, though their alignment may hinge on the durability of any such deal and Washington's stance on Ankara's disputed 2019 maritime agreement. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Newsletter: City Pulse Istanbul Inside Tayfun Erdogmus’ botanical universe Also this week: Izmir flavors, island photography and jazz nights By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir and Istanbul, reporting on culture
Arabs Soak Up Turkish Soap Operas Semih Idiz writes about the popularity of Turkish soap operas in the Arab world, and the reaction these shows are provoking in Turkey. Turkey
Turkey Cannot Solve PKK Terror Without Solving Kurdish Issue Kadri Gursel writes that the current talks between the Turkish government and Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned head of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), cannot disentangle the problem of PKK terrorism from a political solution to Turkey's Kurdish issue. Turkey
Chill to Remain in Turkey-Israel Ties Tulin Daloglu observes that the Israeli elections are unlikely to produce any change in Israeli-Turkish ties. Israel
Iraqi Kurds Press Ahead With Pipeline Plans Despite protests from Baghdad, the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq is moving ahead with plans to develop the infrastructure for an oil pipeline to Turkey, reports Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
Whispers of Change In Turkey's Syria Policy Tulin Daloglu reports on how, beneath the rhetoric of Turkey's hard line on Syria, there are signs that Ankara might be willing to call on Syria's opposition to show greater flexibility in dealing with the Syrian government. Syria
Turkey Seeks 'Interdependence' With Iraqi Kurdistan Turkish officials seek to set the record straight that Ankara seeks interdependence with, not independence for, Iraqi Kurdistan, writes Tulin Daloglu. Iraq
Patriots in Turkey: Defensive, Offensive or Symbolic? Semih Idiz analyzes the various rationales for NATO’s deployment of Patriot missiles to Turkey and their possible consequences. Turkey
Birand Represented Turkish Journalism at Its Best Cengiz Candar comments on the funeral and career of immortal journalist Mehmet Ali Birand. Turkey
Mehmet Ali Birand, Icon of Turkish Journalism Kadri Gürsel reflects on the life and career of Mehmet Ali Birand, who passed away on Jan. 17, 2013. Turkey
Turkey Angered by Petition On White House Website A petition on the White House website calling for Turkey to open its borders to Armenian-Syrian refugees has provoked a reaction from the Turkish Foreign Ministry as the Syrian crisis now appears linked to other issues in US-Turkey-Armenia relations. Turkey
Prospects Dim for Turkey's Ties With Israel Semih Idiz reviews Turkish-Israeli ties and sees no incentive for Ankara to improve ties with Israel at this time. Turkey
Ocalan a No-Show at Funeral For PKK Activists The funeral of the three murdered PKK activists in Diyarbakir proceeded without incident, and without posters of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, writes Kadri Gursel. Turkey