Newsletter: Daily Briefing US pauses Hormuz escort mission as Trump cites progress on Iran talks A tentative diplomatic opening with Iran emerges as the US sustains its pressure campaign. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Turkey, Armenia agree to restore medieval bridge in normalization push Ankara is pursuing normalization with Armenia ahead of June parliamentary elections in a thaw also positioned to advance its broader Middle Corridor ambitions. Turkey
Turkey hosts Kuwaiti FM as UAE's OAPEC exit fuels Gulf rift Kuwait's top diplomat visited Turkey as the Gulf rift deepens following the UAE’s exit from OPEC and its affiliated alliances, forcing Ankara to balance ties between Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. Turkey
Analysis Iraq’s Zaidi offers economic promise for Turkey but unknowns loom Iraq’s prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, is expected to sustain growing economic and strategic ties with Turkey thanks to his business-oriented approach, though uncertainty over his political stance could test cooperation on sensitive issues. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Newsletter: City Pulse Istanbul “Form-Craft-Activism” spotlights the labor behind making By Nazlan Ertan In Izmir and Istanbul, reporting on culture
Ankara's Syrian plan falters as Moscow sets up in Afrin Turkey's move to enlist the Russians against the Syrian Kurds is not working out, as both the United States and Russia deepen their ties with the Syrian Kurds and Operation Euphrates Shield appears to have reached the limits of its expansion. Syria
Free Syrian Army getting backup from Turkish-trained police Turkey is shoring up the FSA's — and perhaps Ankara's — clout in Syria by providing newly schooled policemen to Aleppo province. Syria
Are Ankara’s prospects in Syria dimming? Turkey is hemmed in by the United States and Russia in Syria, unable to achieve its aim of blocking Kurdish gains. Syria
Patriarch election saga drags on for Turkey's Armenians Turkey’s Armenian community has remained without an active patriarch for years as Ankara uses a legal vacuum to interfere in its religious affairs. Turkey
On Nowruz, massive pro-Kurdish rallies flood Turkey's Diyarbakir Despite the wide repression their politicians have faced, Turkey's Kurds seem unintimidated as thousands gathered in Diyarbakir to celebrate Nowruz and raise their voices in defiance. Turkey
European court ruling on headscarves sparks ire in Ankara Turkey to provide legal assistance to women affected by a European ruling that allows companies to ban employees from wearing headscarves. Turkey
Flynn affair exposes Turkey's 'sloppy' PR efforts Though the pro-government Turkish media continues to studiously ignore the affair, the US media is busy probing former national security adviser Michael Flynn's ties to a Turkish businessman who hired him to lobby for Ankara. Turkey
Who really benefits from Turkey-Russia joint fund? A Turkish construction company, which runs major operations in Russia and was the builder of Erdogan’s controversial palace, figures prominently in a deal to create a joint investment fund between the two countries. Turkey
Turkey still determined to play role in final Raqqa assault Will a Turkish-sponsored army of 50 Arab tribes actually materialize in Syria, or is Turkey just rattling its saber regarding the Raqqa offensive? Syria
Are Turkey's big businesses breaking with AKP? A businesses' commercial to celebrate International Women’s Day may be a troubling sign for the AKP and the upcoming constitutional referendum. Turkey
Israel weighs response to Hezbollah rocket threat For now, deterrence holds on Israel’s northern border; Iran ready to "fight to the last man" in Syria; Why does Erdogan go easy on Putin over Syrian Kurds? Israel
Tillerson to woo Turkey during Ankara visit US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is set to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a visit to Ankara later this month, as tensions between their two countries persist over US support for Kurdish-dominated groups in Syria. Syria