Turkey advances gas pipeline plan to northern Cyprus as East Med rivalry grows The Turkish energy minister said the country's oil and natural gas pipeline operator, BOTAS, has started the engineering work for the pipeline. Turkey
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
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. Turkey
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. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Newsletter: City Pulse Istanbul Contemporary art takes over restored Byzantine cistern By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir and Istanbul, reporting on culture
Economic gloom fuels flight from Turkish lira The Turkish government slammed Moody’s for downgrading Turkey’s credit rating, but its own citizens are increasingly fleeing the Turkish lira for the safety of hard currencies. Turkey
Pompeo pick pleases Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates officials see a shift at the US State Department in their favor, but are unlikely to see all their hopes realized under Mike Pompeo. Legacy: Gulf
Turkish firms welcome return of air access to Iraqi Kurdistan Now that Baghdad has lifted the ban on international travel to the Iraqi Kurdistan region, experts say the Turkish government needs to resume mutual flights as soon as possible. Iraq
Foreign ministers set stage for Putin-Erdogan meeting in April Expect to see an effort to boost Russian-Turkish collaboration when the presidents of both countries meet in two weeks. Turkey
Turkey doubles down in pastor row with US American pastor Andrew Brunson, behind bars in Turkey on terrorism-related charges, risks up to 35 years in jail in a politically loaded case that critics describe as “an eclipse of reason.” Turkey
Turkey changes electoral law in boost for ruling party Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan say the new changes to the country’s voting rules will secure the elections, but the opposition worries the new law will lead to fraud and has filed a lawsuit to block it. Turkey
Turkey's rejection of Moody's downgrade won't make it go away Officials in Istanbul are dismissing a downgrading of Turkey's credit rating as part of a plot against the country, as the economy heads for troubled times. Turkey
Nationalistic fervor rising in Greece, Turkey It is increasingly difficult to distinguish between rhetoric and reality in the deteriorating relationship between Greece and Turkey. Turkey
Tillerson's departure could disrupt US-Turkey progress With US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson leaving office, critical Turkey-US plans to meet about Syria could be delayed as Ankara recalibrates to face incoming Mike Pompeo. Syria
Mystery lingers over Turkey’s missing weapons The Turkish government is reluctant or unable to explain the extraordinary increase in lost or stolen guns in the country, including weapons distributed and now missing since the 2016 coup attempt. Turkey
Why Erdogan called for updating Islam Misogyny in the name of Islam proved shocking to Turkey’s secularists, but it also was disturbing to most moderate religious conservatives, many of whom vote for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey
Turkish-Arab ties marked by fear and loathing A senior Turkish diplomat says Ankara misread the Middle East and ended up relying on Iran and its backer Russia, the two countries that Arab regimes fear the most. United Arab Emirates