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Turkey

Turkey

August 17, 2026

Ankara 6:34 pm

25°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

Women chant slogans in front of the Istanbul courthouse in Istanbul on April 5, 2023.

Turkey denies female inmate access to tampons

Imposing a long-held taboo, Turkish authorities have denied a female inmate’s access to disposable tampons.

Ferries and tourist boats navigate the Bosphorus on June 22, 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Turkey holds up NATO defense strategy over straits amid Sweden standoff

As the July NATO summit approaches, Turkish demands over the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, among other issues, are reportedly holding up a defense strategy overhaul, the most ambitious since the end of the Cold War.

People wait to exchange money at a currency exchange shop on June 23, 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey. The Turkish Lira weakened to a record low of 25.74 against the dollar, a day after the central bank hiked interest rates from 8.5 percent to 15 percent in the first rate decision since the appointment of new central bank governor Hafize Gaye Erkan and the re-election of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last month. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Turkey’s smaller-than-expected rate hike comes as relief for banks

Turkey’s new economic chiefs are scrambling to navigate a return to rational policies as the lira continues to tumble, threatening to stoke inflation.

People queue to buy olive oil, which is sold cheaply by the Agricultural Products Office in Ankara, among soaring inflation in the country, Feb. 17, 2022.

Turkey hikes interest rates by 6.5 percentage points to 15%

The move by the central bank marks a dramatic departure from President Erdogan's yearslong policy of low rates.

This photograph taken on June 7, 2023, shows an Qatar Airways Airbus A320 aircraft landing at the newly opened runway of Belgrade Nikola Tesla airport. The opening of Belgrade airport's new runway marked the completion of one of the major infrastructure projects undertaken by French operator Vinci, since taking over the concession in late 2018. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images)

Qatar, Turkey, UAE airlines ranked among top 10 globally: Skytrax

Qatar Airways lost the top spot, while Saudia and Oman Air made big jumps.

Astana talks

Few signs of progress at Turkey-Syria normalization talks in Astana

Syrian president sees no need to compromise, while UN representative admits 'comprehensive solution is not doable.'

Iraqi Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani (L) meets with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) in Ankara, June 20, 2023.

Erdogan, Barzani meet in Ankara as Iraqi oil exports via Turkey remain frozen

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara as the deadlock continues over the exportation of Iraqi and KRG crude.

Turkey's newly appointed Foreign Affairs Minister Hakan Fidan delivers a speech during a handover ceremony in Ankara on June 5, 2023.

US top diplomat Blinken to meet Turkey's FM Fidan in London

The top agenda item would be Turkey’s continued objections to Sweden’s bid to join NATO, diplomatic sources told Al-Monitor.

JAVAD PARSA/AFP via Getty Images

NATO expansion reaches 3-way standoff between Sweden, Turkey, US

Despite some recent progress, dysfunction in US-Turkish relations and Sweden’s domestic politics are likely to keep the Swedish nation out of NATO for a little longer.

Visitors view a TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK attack helicopter on display at the Turkish Aerospace stand during the Naval Defence and Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX), part of the wider International Defence Exhibtion (IDEX) at the Abu Dhabi International Exhibition Centre on February 20, 2023. (Photo by Ryan LIM / AFP) (Photo by RYAN LIM/AFP via Getty Images)

Economic arsenals: the Middle East’s rise as a global defense industry hub

The Mideast's defense market is evolving, motivated by a desire to secure greater self-sufficiency and national sovereignty.

NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey appoints Tanju Bilgic as new ambassador to Russia

The appointment of Ankara's new envoy to Moscow coincided with the Kremlin’s announcement that the Russian president will soon visit Turkey.

View of the cottage village in the suburbs of Alanya, also known as the Turkish Riviera.

Russia, Iran, Ukraine nationals top Turkey's real estate market for foreigners

Official data shows the number of foreign real-estate buyers has increased in May from the previous month.