Newsletter: Daily Briefing US pauses Hormuz escort mission as Trump cites progress on Iran talks A tentative diplomatic opening with Iran emerges as the US sustains its pressure campaign. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Turkey, Armenia agree to restore medieval bridge in normalization push Ankara is pursuing normalization with Armenia ahead of June parliamentary elections in a thaw also positioned to advance its broader Middle Corridor ambitions. Turkey
Turkey hosts Kuwaiti FM as UAE's OAPEC exit fuels Gulf rift Kuwait's top diplomat visited Turkey as the Gulf rift deepens following the UAE’s exit from OPEC and its affiliated alliances, forcing Ankara to balance ties between Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. Turkey
Analysis Iraq’s Zaidi offers economic promise for Turkey but unknowns loom Iraq’s prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, is expected to sustain growing economic and strategic ties with Turkey thanks to his business-oriented approach, though uncertainty over his political stance could test cooperation on sensitive issues. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Newsletter: City Pulse Istanbul “Form-Craft-Activism” spotlights the labor behind making By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir and Istanbul, reporting on culture
Russian delegation heads to Turkey amid potential Syria offensive The top Turkish diplomat aired a rare complaint over the Russian stalling of constitutional talks between the warring Syrian actors, calling on Moscow to allow the process to resume. Turkey
Al-Monitor/Premise poll finds tight race for Erdogan in Turkey's elections As the battle for Turkey’s upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections intensifies, an Al-Monitor poll predicts a tight race between the country’s leading opposition bloc and the ruling alliance. Turkey
Row over militarization of Greek islands peaks with Turkish warning Mevlut Cavusoglu has stepped up rhetoric over Aegean islands that Ankara says should be free of Greek arms. Turkey
Turkey asks Finland to resume defense sales amid NATO talks Speaking ahead of the Finnish defense chief's visit to Turkey, the top Turkish diplomat has complained that his country is still under de facto defense sales restrictions from Finland. Turkey
Half a million Syrians return from Turkey, but were they forced? Some 560,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey have returned to their country as part of deportation projects, many fleeing the harassment they were facing in the country. Syria
Senior Turkish retail executive forced out after criticizing government economic policy The chief operator of Turkey’s largest discount chain resigned from a retail association post after threats from Erdogan's ally Nationalist Movement Party. Turkey
As Turkey’s inflation slows in November, all eyes now on pay hikes Despite the fall in the annual inflation rate, Turkish consumers are likely to face monthly price increases averaging 3% to 4% in 2023. Turkey
The Turkey Briefing: Can Ankara convince Moscow to grant green light for Syria invasion? In this week's newsletter, Ezgi Akin rounds up the top stories from Turkey. Turkey
Analysis Turkey’s leveraging of Syria, Ukraine crises frustrates US, Europe Erdogan disregards appeals by US for restraint in Syria and demands further concessions from Stockholm for agreeing to Sweden’s NATO admission. By Week in Review
The Security Briefing: Pentagon tries to reason with Turkey In this weekly newsletter, Pentagon Correspondent Jared Szuba rounds up the biggest security stories from the region. Turkey
Building restoration program shores up Istanbul’s cultural heritage Istanbul is working to protect its neglected structures while providing arts and culture spaces for the public. Turkey
Turkey presses Finland, Sweden for ‘asset freeze,’ extraditions Ankara demands “concrete steps” from Sweden and Finland before giving the nod to NATO's Nordic enlargement, including an “asset freeze,” a demand that hasn’t been expressed publicly before. Turkey