Turkey - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Turkey

Turkey

May 15, 2026

Ankara 11:15 am

12°C

Mazloum Kobane, commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), speaks during the pan-Kurdish "Unity and Consensus" conference in Qamishli in northeastern Syria on April 26, 2025.

Interview

Syrian Kurdish commander Kobane says Turkey visit ‘in the making,’ Ocalan meeting possible

The SDF commander-in-chief reflected on a fragile integration deal with Damascus, growing Kurdish backlash and ongoing talks with Turkey as questions mount over Rojava’s political future.

Mazloum Kobane

Mazloum Kobane

SDF commander in chief

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, and Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan shake hands before a meeting at Prague Castle in Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022.

Turkey, Armenia to launch direct trade in normalization push: What to know

The move removes a decades-old reexport mechanism routed largely through Georgia as Ankara and Yerevan step up normalization efforts.

The helicopter of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lands on Abdulhamid Han drill ship, the fourth built by Turkey, in Mersin on Aug. 9, 2022, before being sent for gas exploration to an undisputed area in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Gazipasa.

New Turkey maritime draft bill fuels EastMed tensions with Greece, Cyprus

Turkey’s draft maritime bill seeks to formalize Ankara’s claims in the Aegean, Eastern Mediterranean and Black seas, raising tensions with Greece and Cyprus over contested maritime boundaries and offshore energy rights.

Turkish Red Crescent's cars and trucks cross the Turkish border as they leave the Syrian city of Tel Abyad on Oct. 19, 2019, in Akcakale, Turkey.

Turkey's border reopening unlocks new sphere of influence in Syria

Turkey reopened the Akcakale-Tell Abyad crossing on Monday, ending an 11-year closure along the Syria border.

Latest News

Analysis

From drones to deterrence: Turkey's ICBM missile signals bigger ambitions

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - MAY 06: A man poses for a photograph in front of the newly unveiled, Turkish made intercontinental ballistic missile Yildirimhan at the SAHA International Defence and Aerospace Expo on May 06, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. The International Defence and Aerospace Exhibition, showcased Turkish and foreign companies new products and technology. The expo was dominated by UAV products as modern warfare increasingly shifts to drone and unmanned technologies. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Culture

How ‘dog mom’ vacuum cleaner ad sparked culture war in Turkey

MURAT KOCABAS/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

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

Riot police fire teargas during a protest against Turkey's ruling Ak Party (AKP) and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul December 25, 2013. Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan presented a new list of cabinet ministers to President Abdullah Gul on Wednesday after three ministers resigned over a high-level graft inquiry, sources said. It was unclear if more than the resigned ministers had been replaced. Erdogan is expected to make a statement later amid the spiralling corruption scandal. REUTERS/Osma

Nedim Sener focuses on Cemaat role in Turkey scandal

Nedim Sener, an investigative journalist who documented the police misconduct that potentially led to Hrant Dink’s murder, is speaking against the Cemaat.

Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan addresses members of his ruling AK Party (AKP), during a meeting at party headquarters in Ankara December 25, 2013. Erdogan said his ruling AK Party will not tolerate corruption on Wednesday after three cabinet members resigned over a high-level graft probe. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX16TTF

Erdogan criticizes, undermines huge corruption investigation

The Turkish government has enacted a flurry of measures to thwart a massive corruption investigation, threatening fundamental norms of democracy.

Galatasaray's Hakan Sukur lies on the pitch during their UEFA Cup first round first leg soccer match against Sion at the Stade de Geneve in Geneva September 20, 2007. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse (SWITZERLAND) - RTR1U2VI

Ex-soccer player's resignation a turning point for the AKP

The resignation of Istanbul Deputy Hakan Sukur, one of Turkey’s all-time best strikers and a Gulenist, from the AKP seems to have come right in time for the all-out war between the government and Gulen movement.

Erdogan’s dream turns into a nightmare

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan blames an "international plot" for the corruption scandal that so far has seen three key AKP ministers resign.

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone (L, with white hair) speaks to media outside of the U.S. Embassy in Ankara February 1, 2013. A suicide bomber from a far-left group killed a Turkish security guard at the U.S. embassy in Ankara on Friday, blowing the door off a side entrance and sending smoke and debris flying into the street. The attacker blew himself up inside U.S. property, Ankara Governor Alaaddin Yuksel said. The blast sent masonry spewing out of the wall and could be heard a mile away. REU

US-Turkey crisis averted over corruption probe

The United States may be rankled, however, by the Turkish prime minister implying that Washington was part of international conspiracy behind the corruption scandal.

A plainclothes police officer reacts as riot police stand guard in front of the courthouse in Istanbul December 20, 2013. Turkish police arrested eight people in connection with allegations of official corruption and bribery, a newspaper said on Friday, in an investigation Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has called a "dirty operation" aimed at undermining his rule. REUTERS/Osman Orsal (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW) - RTX16PID

Turkey bans media from Security Directorate buildings

The Interior Ministry decided to ban journalists from entering police premises across the nation at the height of the corruption and bribery scandal.

Christmas in Turkey

Snapshots of changing Christmas and New Year's celebrations in Turkey portray a picture of cultural divisions.

A demonstrator holds a shoe box, as a reference to what the media said are shoe boxes of cash found in the house of Halkbank CEO Suleyman Aslan, during a demonstration against Turkey's ruling Ak Party (AKP) and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara December 21, 2013. Sixteen people, including the sons of two ministers, were charged on Saturday in connection with a Turkish corruption investigation that has struck at the heart of the ruling elite and threatened the authority of Erdogan. The general manager

Erdogan goes on offense against corruption charges

The government of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan claims a foreign plot is behind the corruption charges.

Turkey flirts with Asian arms suppliers

Turkey looks east for alternatives to NATO arms markets.

Turkish academia and the Armenian genocide

Turkish newspapers have exposed attempts by official institutions to control academic research on the Armenian genocide.

Arab League-United Nations envoy Lakhdar Brahimi gestures while answering journalists' questions at the end of a news conference after a meeting on Syria at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva December 20, 2013. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse (SWITZERLAND - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX16PPL

Iran, Saudi Arabia key to Syria peace conference

The Islamic Front snubs US Ambassador Robert Ford; Turkey rocked by scandal; reactions to the American Studies Association vote to boycott academic exchanges with Israel.

(L-R) Ministers of Turkey's ruling Ak Party (AKP) Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan, Energy Minister Taner Yildiz, Agriculture Minister Mehdi Eker and Interior Minister Muammer Guler attend a ceremony in Ankara December 18, 2013.Scores of people including the sons of Interior Minister Guler, Economy Minister Caglayan and Environment and City Planning Minister Erdogan Bayraktar, prominent businessmen close to Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, and local government officials were detained on Tuesday in the biggest

Pro-AKP media accuses Israel of role in Turkish corruption scandal

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to break the "dirty alliance" at the core of the crackdown.