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Turkey

Turkey

December 21, 2025

Ankara 7:30 pm

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Irem Guler has documented the walls of Turkey for two decades. — Irem Guler

Culture

Suck my walls: One woman’s archive of Turkey’s street art

From the Marmaray underpasses to the erased slogans in Gezi Park, Irem Guler has spent two decades documenting Turkey’s graffiti and street art, tracing how it is made, claimed and erased.

A picture taken on March 2, 2017, shows a sign displaying the routes to Palmyra-Deir Ezzor and Damascus-Iraq as Syrian regime fighters advance to retake the ancient city of Palmyra, from Islamic State (IS) group fighters. / AFP PHOTO / STRINGER (Photo credit should read STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

After Palmyra attack, Turkey adds pressure for SDF deal with Damascus

The Islamic State attack that killed US personnel has deepened uncertainty over Washington’s Syria policy, pushing Ankara to accelerate efforts to integrate the SDF into the Syrian military.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, showed up at a Dec. 16 meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan

Laced with intrigue: What did Tom Barrack’s shoes reveal about US-Turkey ties?

US Ambassador Tom Barrack’s choice of Nike sneakers at high-profile meetings has sparked speculation, conspiracy theories and widespread debate in Turkey over his intentions and messages.

Latest News

Facing Israeli pushback, Turkey recalibrates public messaging on Gaza force

Saeed Jaras / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Turkey rebuffs air-defense criticism after drone shot down near Ankara

KEMAL ASLAN/AFP via Getty Images

Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Analysis

Trump's Syria envoy Barrack tests Israel's patience as Netanyahu pushes back

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with US special envoy Tom Barrack, Jerusalem, Dec. 15 2

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

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

Jasmine

Culture

Turkey launches probe into HBO series citing ‘moral’ values: What to know

The probe into the TV series has fueled debate over censorship and artistic freedom in the country.

Libyan military graduates loyal to the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) take part in a parade marking their graduation, a result of a military training agreement with Turkey, at the Omar Mukhtar camp in the city of Tajoura, southeast of the capital Tripoli on November 21, 2020. (Photo by Mahmud TURKIA / AFP) (Photo by MAHMUD TURKIA/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey seeks two-year extension of Libya troop mandate

The mandate cites ongoing risks and threats that could impact Turkey’s interests in the Mediterranean and North Africa.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides signs documents with Lebanese Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny, as Lebanon's president, Joseph Aoun, looks on during an agreement signing ceremony at the presidential palace of Baabda, east of Beirut, on Nov. 26, 2025.

Analysis

As Turkey’s East Med isolation deepens, will Ankara seek maritime Syria deal?

Lebanon-Cyprus maritime agreements have further increased Turkey and Turkish Cypriots’ isolation in the Eastern Mediterranean amid growing Cypriot-Greek-Israeli alignment.

Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

This picture taken on Aug. 23, 2019 in Istanbul shows a view of Turkish General Directorate of Mineral research and Exploration's (MTA) Oruc Reis seismic research vessel docked at Haydarpasa port, which searches for hydrocarbon, oil, natural gas and coal reserves at sea.

Analysis

Turkey moves into Somalia’s untapped oil, raises stakes in Horn of Africa

Turkey’s plan to start drilling in 2026 marks its most assertive bid yet to secure a strategic foothold in Somalia, as Mogadishu continues to fight an Islamist insurgency.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

SAKIS MITROLIDIS/AFP via Getty Images

Ankara open to US mediation role in Turkey-Greece row with conditions: Source

A Turkish source told Al-Monitor that Ankara could be receptive to the idea of the US playing a role in easing tensions with Greece.

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 07: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin (L) talks to U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on April 7, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump is meeting with Netanyahu to discuss ongoing efforts to release Israeli hostages from Gaza and newly imposed U.S. tariffs. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Exclusive

Inside Netanyahu’s pressure campaign to block Turkey, Saudi Arabia from acquiring F-35s

On Dec. 1, Netanyahu met in his Jerusalem office with Frank St. John, chief operating officer of Lockheed Martin, lead contractor for the F-35's production.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Oval Office at the White House on September 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump has signaled that the U.S. might lift a ban on F-35 sales to Turkey during Erdogan's first visit to the White House since 2019. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Turkey, US push toward $100B trade goal as Bolat heads to Washington

Bilateral trade between the United States and Turkey reached almost $43 billion in 2024, according to the US trade representative.

A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter takes off during an air show at the Teknofest festival at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul on Sept. 17, 2019.

Analysis

Five ways Turkey could get back into US F-35 fighter jet program

As the US ambassador to Turkey emphasizes strict compliance with American law, Ankara faces a narrow set of options to regain access to the F-35 program.

Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

US President Donald Trump (L) greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he arrives at the West Wing of the White House, Washington, Sept. 29, 2025.

Analysis

Differences over Hamas, Turkey and Iran overshadow Netanyahu-Trump summit

When Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu meets US President Donald Trump in Washington, expect him to focus on Hamas' disarmament and rail against Turkey taking part in the international stabilization force in Gaza.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

An undated photo shows a Kizilelma unmanned fighter jet taking flight.

Analysis

Turkey's Kizilelma fighter jet redefines capability in air warfare: What to know

The unmanned fighter jet logged the first such strike by a drone against another drone in flight, underscoring Ankara’s ambition for next-generation aircraft.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

WALL: Ipek Duben's works at Galerist (Photo, courtesy of Gallerist).

Culture

Turkish artist Ipek Duben’s early years return to the wall

In solo exhibition “'70-,” Istanbul-born artist Ipek Duben opens the files she once kept to herself, tracing the foundations of a five-decade career shaped by identity, power, gender and belonging.