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Turkey

Turkey

April 29, 2026

Ankara 3:12 pm

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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

As dollar rises, Turkey's tourism income suffers

Turkey's weak currency means more tourists can afford to travel there, but it doesn’t mean more revenue for the country.

Battle for Kurdish vote turns violent, leaves four dead in Turkey's Suruc

Four people were killed during campaigning in a mainly Kurdish town last week, and the government and the opposition are trading blame over escalating tensions ahead of the June 24 election.

Activists hold banners during a HIV/AIDS awareness rally on World AIDS day in central Istanbul December 1, 2010. REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY - Tags: HEALTH SOCIETY IMAGES OF THE DAY) - GM1E6C11SKP01

Turkey ramps up HIV awareness campaign

As the HIV rate among Turks has sharply increased over the last decade, the Turkish government has started raising awareness among university students.

Turkish army tanks and military personal are stationed in Karkamis on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern Gaziantep province, Turkey, August 25, 2016. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo - S1BEUGNIHMAA

Iran coy on support for Turkish assault on PKK in Iraq

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s offensive appears linked to Turkish elections and Iraqi politics; Is Turkey staying or going in northern Syria? Putin and Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri discuss Syrian refugees.

Sharp increase in Iranian visitors revitalizes Turkey's tourism sector

Passenger trains between the Turkish city of Van and Tabriz in Iran are resuming, providing further good news to the Turkish tourism industry that counts on Iranian tourists while other nationalities stay away.

Italy may impede Turkish-Azeri efforts for EU gas corridor

Turkey and Azerbaijan realize EU's gas corridor dream, but serious questions remain unanswered.

Turkish soldiers conduct military exercises near the Habur crossing gate between Turkey and Iraq on September 27, 2017 in the Silopi district, southeast Turkey.
Iraqi soldiers on September 26 took part in a Turkish military drill close to the Iraqi border on Tuesday, an AFP photographer said, a day after Iraq's Kurdish region held a vote on independence. / AFP PHOTO / ILYAS AKENGIN (Photo credit should read ILYAS AKENGIN/AFP/Getty Images)

Turkey takes on Kurds in evolving Qandil operation

Although Ankara seems determined to reach the PKK stronghold of Qandil in Iraq, it faces many obstacles to sustaining such an operation against Kurdish militants in the punishing mountain region.

Will Iraq's Qandil become Erdogan’s quagmire?

Although Turkey's military excursion into northern Iraq could be an electoral stunt by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an expanded operation into Qandil Mountains could become a quagmire for Erdogan and pose great risks for regional stability.

Polls show Erdogan ahead, but should Turks trust them?

Researchers have been publishing a slew of polls showing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan leading in his re-election bid, but a lack of transparency in methodology and funding mean the results are far from reliable.

Protesters hold a poster with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egypt's former president Mohamed Morsi during a demonstration against the US and Israel at Fatih Mosque in Istanbul on December 6, 2017.
Hundreds of people staged protests in Istanbul angrily denouncing the US president's move to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. / AFP PHOTO / YASIN AKGUL (Photo credit should read YASIN AKGUL/AFP/Getty Images)

Egypt braces for spillover from Turkey’s economic crisis

With the Turkish lira hitting a new low against the dollar and Jordan freezing its free trade agreement with Ankara, will Egypt take revenge on Turkey by imposing duties on Turkish imports?

Will pro-Erdogan columnist join ranks of jailed Turkish journalists?

Turkey has reached a startling new height in locking up journalists, sentencing a prominent supporter of the president to 105 days behind bars for criticizing a long-dead known torturer.

Turkey cultivating ever-deeper roots in Syrian territory

Turkey continues setting up parallel structures in Syria, the latest being a branch of Harran University in al-Bab.