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Turkey

April 29, 2026

Ankara 10:58 am

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Cadets of the Saiqa Force (Special Forces) of the self-styled Libyan National Army affiliated with eastern strongman Khalifa Hifter take part in a graduation ceremony in tribute to the force's late commander, Wanis Bukhamada, in the eastern city of Benghazi, on Jan. 20, 2022.

In first, Libya’s rival armies to join drill in Turkey: What to know

The move follows the first joint exercise inside Libya amid renewed international efforts to unify the country.

Turkey's submarines and fast-attack craft ships 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.

Turkey’s military spending jumps to $30B, leads Mideast growth in 2025

Newly released data shows Ankara’s military spending hit $30 billion, while Saudi Arabia remained the region’s top spender and Israel’s outlays declined in 2025.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hosted the third meeting of the foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on the margins of the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum, on April 17, 2026.

Analysis

Why Saudi Arabia, Egypt are wary of Turkey’s proposed 4-way defense pact with Pakistan

The proposed framework faces major hurdles and fault lines, ranging from NATO constraints to Israeli opposition and weak military integration.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

CORLU, TURKEY- MARCH 2: A B model of Bayraktar AKINCI TİHA (Assault Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) in the sky on March 2, 2022 in Corlu, Turkey. (Photo by Baykar Press Office/dia images via Getty Images)

Turkey’s Baykar tests K2 swarm kamikaze drones for first time: What to know

Baykar tested its K2 and new loitering drones, featuring AI-driven swarm capabilities and the ability to operate under GPS jamming.

Latest News

Trump envoy Barrack’s embrace of 'strong leaders' sparks fury in Turkey

US Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrack attends a meeting with President Donald Trump and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Oval Office at the White House on Sept. 25, 2025, in Washington, DC.

How Syria's border opening with Iraq redefines Turkey-Kurd balance

Members of Iraq's security forces stand guard on the the al-Rabia border crossing with Syria on April 20, 2026.

Analysis

Italy’s TB3 drone deal signals turn toward Turkey amid US-NATO tensions

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shake hands during the press conference following their meeting at Villa Doria Pamphilj, on April 29, 2025, in Rome, Italy.

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

Turkish citizen, Ebru Ozkan, who was arrested at an Israeli airport last month, is being brought to an Israeli military court, near Migdal, Israel July 8, 2018 REUTERS/Nir Elias - RC12410D5420

Israel frees Turkish woman accused of terror-related smuggling

The release of a Turkish woman charged with smuggling in Israel marks an upturn in Turkey’s volatile relations with Israel, but analysts warn that the two countries' motivations for friendship — cynical business interests — can only do so much to keep the tension at bay.

Iraqi Turkmen shout slogans holding weapons as they gather to express their willingness to join Iraqi security forces in the fight against Jihadist militants who have taken over several northern Iraqi cities on June 23, 2014, in the Iraqi village of Taza Khormato, 20 kilometers south of the city of Kirkuk. Sunni Arab militants hold a string of towns and surrounding areas west and south of the the ethnically mixed oil city of Kirkuk. AFP PHOTO / MARWAN IBRAHIM (Photo credit should read MARWAN IBRAHIM

Turkmens see chance to expand influence in Kirkuk

With Kurdish peshmerga gone, and Kirkuk back under Baghdad's authority, Turkmens in the province feel their time might have arrived.

Child tragedies reignite death penalty calls in Turkey

A string of cases in which missing children were found dead has reignited calls to reinstate the death penalty in Turkey, but some see political motives behind the outcry.

A girl touches the snout of a Angora Goat at the Nampo Harvest Day Expo outside Bothaville on May 15, 2018. - Nampo Harvest Day, the biggest privately owned agriculture Expo in the southern Hemisphere, takes place from May 15 to 18 May 2018 outside Bothaville. (Photo by WIKUS DE WET / AFP) (Photo credit should read WIKUS DE WET/AFP/Getty Images)

Museum honors goats' central role in Ankara history

An exhibit in an Ankara museum explores Turkey's legendary mohair and the declining number of Angora goats that produce it.

Turks enter uncharted waters as Erdogan forges ahead with new powers

Armed with sweeping powers under Turkey’s new governance system, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has quickly issued a slew of decrees that bring almost all state institutions under his control.

Turkey’s battered lira takes another hit

Turkey's currency has sunk to a record low after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he expects interest rates to fall despite warnings a crisis looms as the country struggles under its burden of debt.

Soldiers’ funerals become bone of contention between AKP, opposition

Turkey's interior minister claims the main opposition party supports terrorism and bans its officials from the funerals of service members.

Turkey and Israel spar over Jerusalem

Turkey's increased support and involvement in Jerusalem to support Palestinians have created a backlash in Israeli media.

Turkish police officers escort televangelist and leader of a sect, Adnan Oktar (C) on July 11, 2018, in Istanbul, as he is arrested on fraud charges. - Turkish police detained the televangelist on fraud charges on July 11, 2018, notorious for propagating conservative views while surrounded by scantily-clad women he refers to as his "kittens". (Photo by - / DOGAN NEWS AGENCY / AFP) / Turkey OUT (Photo credit should read -/AFP/Getty Images)

Turkish TV preacher, disciples detained on sex abuse charges

Televangelist Adnan Oktar, who sparked both imaginations and outrage with his unconventional blend of sexuality with Islamic doctrine over decades, is accused of organized crime, espionage, sexual assault and more.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu arrive at the Alliance's headquarters ahead of the NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium July 11, 2018. REUTERS/Paul Hanna - RC1ACFF60500

'Erdoganism' makes Western debut at NATO summit

Though US President Donald Trump is already claiming his share of headlines at the NATO summit, much of the world is waiting to get a look at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's foreign policy approach now that his office has been granted expanded powers with his July 9 inauguration.

Turkeys Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (C) and his wife Sare Davutoglu (L), welcome freed Turkey's Consul in Mosul Ozturk Yilmaz (R) and dozens of other freed Turkish nationals hostages held by Islamist militants in northern Iraq for more than three months, on September 20, 2014 at the Esenboga Airport in Ankara. Fighters from the Islamic State (IS) kidnapped 46 Turks including diplomats, children and special forces from the Turkish consulate in Mosul and 3 Iraqis on June 11 as they captured swathes of nort

What's behind Turkey's rush to reopen Iraqi consulates?

Turkey's consulate in Mosul has been closed since the building was seized by Islamic State militants in June 2014, but now Ankara is looking to make a comeback in its southeastern neighbor.

Turkey, Israel battle over Temple Mount

Israel is looking into the increased flow of donations from Turkey into Muslim groups active on the Temple Mount.