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

Turkey

Turkey

May 8, 2026

Ankara 6:42 am

11°C

People look at a drone on display at the Baykar exhibit at the SAHA International Defence and Aerospace Expo on May 06, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Turkey, Japan launch defense industry partnership with eye on drones

The initiative could eventually lead to joint UAV development and production as Japan looks to expand drone capabilities amid regional tensions.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara, May 6, 2026.

Saudi FM in Turkey as Ankara, Riyadh step up coordination amid Iran war

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan’s visit to Ankara comes amid rapidly expanding Turkish-Saudi coordination as the fallout from the Iran war reshapes Gulf security dynamics.

Latest News

Turkey, Armenia agree to restore medieval bridge in normalization push

A picture taken near Kars on Feb. 28, 2024 shows the ruins of a bridge over Arpacay river, the natural border between Turkey and Armenia.

Turkey hosts Kuwaiti FM as UAE's OAPEC exit fuels Gulf rift

Sabah Fidan

Analysis

Iraq’s Zaidi offers economic promise for Turkey but unknowns loom

Zaidi

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

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

Valery Gergiev

Culture

Turkish president decries 'witch hunt' against Russian artists

Russian businesses and artists in the West have faced a backlash over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Syrian refugees in Turkey have also faced politically motivated violence.

Sergey Lavrov addresses Geneva conference walkout

Turkey to host Ukrainian, Russian foreign ministers in first talks since invasion

Ankara has secured talks at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum after seeking to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv.

Turkey gas pipeline

Can Turkey benefit from Europe’s quest to reduce Russian gas?

Europe’s efforts to phase down gas imports from Russia might place Turkey at the center of routes for alternative supplies from Azerbaijan and Israel.

Turkey drilling

Fourth offshore drilling ship for Turkey en route from South Korea

The advanced vessel will join Turkey’s three others in conducting energy exploration in the Mediterranean and Black seas.

Women gesture as they take part in a protest ahead of the International Women's Day on Sakarya Street in Ankara on March 6, 2022.

On International Women's Day, Turks march in solidarity with Ukrainians

Women gathered in Istanbul and other cities for the Feminist Night Walk despite bans and demonstrators taken into custody, calling for the reinstatement of the landmark UN accord on violence against women.

Turkey's Cabinet discusses the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ankara, Turkey, Feb. 28, 2022.

Ukraine war shakes up Turkey's ties with both Russia and NATO

Ankara has adopted a dual approach on the Ukraine crisis through moves both pleasing its NATO allies and positioning Turkey as a lifeline for Russia amid crippling Western sanctions on the country.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Turkish public support for NATO declines

As Turkey scrambles in response to events in Ukraine, anti-NATO sentiment is spreading in large segments of Turkish society.

Turkish Presidential Press Office

How Ukraine crisis undermines Turkey's economic program

Ankara’s economic program has hit a deadlock under the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, marked by a stream of fuel hikes, canceled tourism bookings and textile orders, and shortage fears in the food sector.

ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images

Turks rush to buy sunflower oil as Ukraine war menaces food prices

Despite official assurances over supplies of basic items, a holdup of imports from Russia and Ukraine has already sparked panic buying of sunflower oil.

Employees install new solar panels at the Kalyon Energy's Karapinar Solar Power Plant, Karapinar, Turkey, Dec. 2, 2021.

Turkey balks at coal phaseout amid growing energy woes

Turkey’s pledge to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2053 has come into question after a major climate meeting ended without a coal phaseout plan.

People look at exchange rates outside an exchange office, Ankara, Turkey, Feb. 23, 2022.

Turkey’s inflation hits 54.4% as Ukraine crisis threatens fresh blows

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is producing fresh headwinds for Turkey’s economy, including further inflationary pressure and looming blows to the country’s tourism sector, a vital source of hard currency revenues.

Turkey masks

Turkey drops mask rules as it heads for normality ahead of tourist season

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announces a return to normal life after two years of COVID-19 measures, but medical association warns it may be too early.