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

Turkey

Turkey

October 27, 2026

Ankara 3:34 am

15°C

GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia’s KBS, top Turkish and Pakistani officials hold rare meeting in Iran: What to know

In first such gathering, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman will join Pakistani army chief Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin for talks with Iranian officials amid fears of renewed US and Israeli attacks against Iran.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan receives Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Turkish House in New York, on Sept. 19, 2023.

Analysis

What’s at stake for Turkey as Israel heads to the polls?

Israel’s Oct. 27 election could offer a chance to ease tensions with Ankara, but competing ambitions in Syria and beyond threaten to push the two US allies toward a dangerous confrontation.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrives for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly gathering, UN Headquarters, New York, Sept. 22, 2026.

Analysis

How Israel’s elections could bring thaw with Syria

The next Israeli government could have an opportunity to secure several diplomatic wins involving the United States and Iran by improving relations with Syria.

Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomes Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney

Analysis

As US ties fray, Canada turns to Turkey for defense, nuclear cooperation

Canada and Turkey aim to expand bilateral trade from $3 billion to $5 billion within five years, targeting an eventual $10 billion.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Latest News

Analysis

Turkey's Libya maritime win no guarantee for Saddam Hifter's presidential ambitions

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan meets with Saddam Haftar, Deputy Commander of the Libyan National Army, in Benghazi, Aug. 12, 2026.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Turkey says Qatar Eurofighter jet deal still on track despite Iran war

A German Air Force Eurofighter jet is seen during the NATO Media Day at Lielvarde Air Base in Lielvarde, Latvia, on Oct. 1, 2026.

Culture

Turkey egg donor scam allegedly sold clients on promise of blond babies

In this stock image, a female embryologist demonstrates freezing straws with embryos and sperm in real IVF laboratory.

Samuel Wendel

Senior Analyst, Middle East Business & Tech

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

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan holds up a map as he addresses the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., September 24, 2019. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri - HP1EF9O183U9F

Turkey’s Euphrates plans rely on Trump

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is hoping to convince President Donald Trump to accept Turkey's demands about the planned safe zone in northern Syria.

Meet the rocker whose music revives Turkey's quirky history

Taner Ongur's music explores curious incidents from the dusty pages of modern Turkish history.

Co-chairs of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), Selahattin Demirtas (L) and Figen Yuksekdag hold a news conference in Ankara, Turkey, November 1, 2015. Turkey looked set to return to single-party rule after the Islamist-rooted AK Party swept to an unexpected victory in elections on Sunday, an outcome that will boost the power of President Tayyip Erdogan but may sharpen deep social divisions. REUTERS/Stringer/Turkey - LR2EBB11L8L9N

Ankara likely to use new charges to keep HDP co-chairs behind bars

Despite both Turkish courts and the European Court of Human Rights calling for the release of opposition leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, the officials may remain behind bars in pretrial detention for new investigations.

Mediterranean drilling produces spurt of 'diplomacy'

Greek Cypriots have been boosting their diplomatic actions to form an anti-Turkey bloc in the eastern Mediterranean.

New Turkish hotel combines modern architecture, Roman mosaics

Ancient Antiochian mosaics and ruins are securely housed and on display inside a luxury hotel-museum in Antakya.

Uptick in Turkish exports, tourism comes at a price

Increased export and tourism revenues have helped limit the Turkish economy’s contraction in the second quarter, but the improved numbers have come at the expense of price cutting, economic data show.

Iraq's President Barham Salih gestures during a news conference with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (not pictured) at Salam Palace in Baghdad, Iraq March 11, 2019. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani - RC168FC63C00

Two to watch at the UN General Assembly: Turkey’s Erdogan and Iraq’s Salih

Turkish leader meets Trump ahead of safe-zone deadline; Iraqi president offers new direction for Iraq and region.

Kurdish academic who met with jailed PKK leader speaks out

Abdullah Ocalan remains uncontested leader of PKK, opposes US mediation and Kurds separating from Turkey, says Kurdish academic

People withdraw money from an ATM at the main shopping and pedestrian street of Istiklal in central Istanbul, Turkey January 30, 2016. Inflation has become Turkey's biggest economic challenge, hitting the pockets of ordinary people even as President Tayyip Erdogan and the ruling party have built their reputation largely on economic growth and stability. Picture taken January 30, 2016. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - GF10000296838

Turkish regulator aims to hasten banking sector recovery as loan market remains weak

A Turkish regulator instructed banks to write off $8.1 billion in bad debt, but analysts question whether the delayed move will suffice when it comes to reviving the nation’s troubled loan market.

View of old Hasankeyf, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam being constructed, with the new Hasankeyf in the background in the southeastern town of Hasankeyf, Turkey, June 1, 2019. Picture taken June 1, 2019. REUTERS/Umit Bektas - RC12E749C880

Dead are last to leave ancient Turkish town before submerging

In a grim postscript, former residents of the town Hasankeyf are relocating the remains of the dead before the unique settlement dating back 12,000 years is engulfed by water from the construction of a dam.

An American soldier walks near a Turkish military vehicle during a joint U.S.-Turkey patrol, near Tel Abyad, Syria September 8, 2019. REUTERS/Rodi Said - RC197A15DCF0

Congress aims to restore Syria stabilization aid

Congress is calling for the State Department to spend $130 million on stabilizing Syria next year, a rebuke to the Trump administration’s efforts to zero out the fund in its 2020 budget proposal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan talk after a joint news conference with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Ankara, Turkey, September 16, 2019. Pavel Golovkin/Pool via REUTERS - RC18FEF72E00

Turkey at odds with US and Russia over northern Syria

As Ankara loses ground in Idlib, President Erdogan’s threat of military action east of the Euphrates raises the stakes for Turkey.