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Turkey

Turkey

August 17, 2026

Ankara 2:58 pm

27°C

Fireworks explode over Islamabad

Analysis

How Israel's rivalry, defense deals prompted Turkey to join Mecca pact

Turkey’s growing rivalry with Israel and mounting regional instability are driving its defense alignment with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, despite risks of strategic entanglement and friction with NATO partners.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Latest News

Exclusive

Turkey set to sign charter for Saudi-led Red Sea coalition on Friday

Servicemen of Yavuz class, TCG Turgutreis (F-241), warship stand at attention on the deck as they participate in the live-fire phase of the "Blue Homeland-2026" (Mavi Vatan) tactical military exercises in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, in Antalya on April 9, 2026.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Explainer

Three ways China benefits from Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan pact: What to know

SPA

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

Yasmen and Jan

Yazidi victims of Islamic State heal wounds, grow independent in Germany

Despite the tragedies they suffered at the hands of the terror group in their homeland in the Iraqi Kurdistan province, many Yazidis in Germany are now prospering in their new lives.

Turkish exchange rates

Turkey’s Central Bank hikes interest rates to 17.5%

The 250 basis point rise was lower than analysts' expectations, many of whom advocate for a steeper hike.

Ebrar Karakurt

Culture

Turkish volleyball star becomes target of homophobic slur

A conservative paper’s attack on a gold-medal-winning volleyball star for her sexual orientation has created controversy as Turks rallied to her defense.

UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) greeting Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Turkey, UAE ink $50 billion in trade deals during Erdogan visit

The $50 billion worth trade deals come as the Turkish government is struggling to draw foreign funds to ease its currency crisis.

United Arab Emirates

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen delivers a speech.

European Parliament rebuffs Turkey's NATO-EU trade-off

Turkey’s EU accession process cannot resume under the current circumstances, but new ways to cooperate should be explored, EP members say ahead of an EU foreign ministers meeting.

A man counts Turkish liras at a currency exchange office, Istanbul, Turkey, July 29, 2020.

Turkish lira hits record low, losing 2% amid concerns of smaller rate increase

As of 4:15 p.m. Istanbul time, the lira was trading at 26.99 against the dollar, 2.4% less than Monday’s close of 26.3505.

The UN-chartered vessel MV Valsamitis is loaded to deliver 25,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat to Kenya and 5,000 tonnes to Ethiopia, at the port of Chornomorsk, east of Odessa on the Black Sea coast, Feb. 18, 2023.

Turkey, Russia discuss Ukraine grain export deal after Moscow halts pact

The conversation between the top Russian and Turkish diplomats comes as Ankara is amping up its efforts to salvage the deal critical for global food markets.

A young man looks at the Bayraktar TB2 drone, manufactured by Turkey's Baykar, as it is presented during the opening of the Teknofest Azerbaijan aerospace and technology festival at Baku Crystal Hall, Baku, Azerbaijan, May 27, 2022.

Saudi Arabia signs major deal with Turkey to acquire Baykar drones

Riyadh has long been interested in Baykar drones and the possibility of producing the weapons in Saudi Arabia.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) welcomes Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman (R) during an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, on June 22, 2022. Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler took a big step out of international isolation on June 22, 2022, paying his first visit to Sunni rival Turkey since the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey’s Erdogan arrives in Saudi Arabia, first stop on Gulf tour

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his three-day Gulf tour, which includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, will focus on economic cooperation.

The Barbados-flagged ship "Nord Vind" coming from Ukraine loaded with grain is anchored for inspection in Istanbul, on Oct. 11, 2022.

Wheat prices rise by nearly 3% as Russia-Ukraine grain deal expires

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he may call his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in an effort to save the export deal. The deal’s termination could have economic effects on the Middle East.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) welcomes Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) during an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, on November 24, 2021. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

As Turkey grapples with deficit, Erdogan pins his hopes on Gulf funds during visit

Ankara is hoping for an inflow of Gulf dollars as the battered lira remains under pressure amid a gaping budget deficit and reluctance to take firmer measures to tame inflation.

Mustafa Sonmez

By Mustafa Sonmez

In Istanbul, reporting on economics

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shakes hands with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson during their meeting ahead of the NATO Summit on July 11, 2023 in Vilnius, Lithuania. The summit is bringing together NATO members and partner countries heads of state from July 11-12 to chart the alliance's future, with Sweden's application for membership and Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine as major topics on the summit agenda. (Photo by Filip Singer - Pool/Getty Images)

Inside Turkey's three dimensions for changing tune on Sweden's NATO bid

Turkey’s surprise decision on the Swedish NATO bid seems to be underpinned by considerations on defense and economic areas.