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Turkey

Turkey

April 29, 2026

Ankara 5:03 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

U.S. forces set up a new base in Manbij, Syria May 8, 2018. Picture Taken May 8, 2018. REUTERS/Rodi Said - RC1504520BB0

Manbij plan raises expectations but not mood in US-Turkey relations

Just days after Ankara and Washington announced their agreement on a road map for Manbij, Syria, differing interpretations are threatening setbacks in their fragile progress toward rebuilding ties.

Turkish exports to Syria revived under shadow of war

Turkey remains Syria's leading supplier of goods despite the ongoing war, with exports standing at some $1.4 billion last year.

Supporters of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan wait for his arrival for AK Party's Istanbul congress, Turkey May 6, 2018. REUTERS/Osman Orsal - RC1E14E9FFA0

How a Turkish general's smile is now a key election issue

Turkey's opposition parties are harshly criticizing the presence of military officers at election campaign events in support of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Syrians making trek home from Turkey for holiday

Syrian refugees in Turkey are returning home by the thousands for Eid al-Fitr, with border crossing administrators providing the needed facilities.

People demonstrate outside the Caglayan courthouse on June 6, 2018 in Istanbul with banners reading "Freedom for Bogazici" as a trial opens today of 21 students from Bogazici University described by Turkey's President as "terrorists" after they opposed the Turkish military operation in Syria launched in January 2018. (Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP) (Photo credit should read YASIN AKGUL/AFP/Getty Images)

Turkish court releases students jailed on ‘terror propaganda’ charges

The trial of 22 Turkish students opened today with their release, though they still face terror charges for participating in a protest against Turkey's military incursion in Syria.

A female member of the anti-Iranian group, the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK), carries her weapon as she walks through their base deep in the Qandil mountains of northern Iraq's Kurdish autonomous region, on May 5, 2014. AFP PHOTO/SAFIN HAMED (Photo credit should read SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)

What's behind Turkish threats to invade PKK stronghold in Iraq?

Turkish leaders have raised the specter of a ground offensive on the Qandil Mountains in northern Iraq, home to the main camps of the PKK, but the motive and viability of such an operation remain questionable.

US, Turkey agree on Manbij road map, but when will they get there?

Ankara is pleased with Washington’s endorsement of a plan to rid Manbij of YPG fighters, but many questions remain and the plan’s implementation could take time.

Ankara hypes US-Turkey deal on Manbij

The Washington meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo may mark a turning point in troubled US-Turkey ties.

Muharrem Ince, presidential candidate of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), greets his supporters during an election rally in Istanbul, Turkey June 3, 2018. REUTERS/Huseyin Aldemir - RC1C588C4710

Turkey’s Ince galvanizes opposition hopes in presidential race

Muharrem Ince, the main opposition candidate in Turkey’s presidential polls, has put up a performance beyond expectations, spurring hope in opposition ranks that defeating President Recep Tayyip Erdogan might be within reach.

Kurdish fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG) fire rifles at a drone operated by Islamic State militants in Raqqa, Syria, June 16, 2017. Goran Tomasevic: "ISIS uses drones to monitor Kurdish fighters and drop bombs at their positions. On a few occasions I ran into a house with fighters because of drones. On one occasion a bomb from a drone landed near a house where I was hiding with the rest of our team and YPG fighters. The biggest challenge in Raqqa was very limited access and the heat. The te

US-Turkey road map in Syria risks Kurdish blowback

The Pentagon’s Kurdish allies could get shut out as the United States and Turkey move closer to a deal to settle a dispute over the contested Syrian city of Manbij.

A supporter of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) hangs posters of Selahattin Demirtas, the party's jailed former co-leader and the candidate for the upcoming presidential election, during a gathering in Istanbul, Turkey May 4, 2018. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RC18E770B250

Electoral noose tightens in Turkey's critical southeast

Turkey's ruling party has the country's largest pro-Kurdish bloc in a chokehold as the clock winds down toward the elections.

Turkey’s opposition battles media banishment ahead of polls

Ahead of critical elections this month, Turkey’s public broadcaster and mainstream TV channels are under fire for an unprecedented level of bias in favor of the government, while signs are emerging of audience fatigue with Erdogan.