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Turkey

Turkey

December 30, 2025

Ankara 9:13 am

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A picture taken at the port of Dilovasi, outside Istanbul, on June 20, 2019, shows the drilling ship Yavuz scheduled to search for oil and gas off Cyprus.

Turkey eyes offshore energy pact with Syria in 2026 amid East Med isolation

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has offered up details on a deal with Syria that could unsettle regional rivals in the gas-rich Eastern Mediterranean.

This aerial view shows residents waving Somaliland flags as they gather to celebrate Israel's announcement recognizing Somaliland's statehood in downtown Hargeisa, on Dec. 26, 2025.

Somalia’s president heads to Turkey as Israel’s Somaliland recognition rattles region

The Somali leader’s visit comes amid a heightened Turkish-Israeli rivalry, fueled by Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, in the region and beyond.

Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Australian LNG deal marks latest step in Turkey's energy diversification push

Although Turkey does not have abundant oil and gas resources, Ankara wants to position itself as a regional gas hub linking Europe and Asia.

Latest News

Analysis

Turkey's defense sector enters 2026 with naval progress — and unresolved vulnerabilities

Turkish naval forces patrol vessel TCG F 500 and an unidentified submarine (back) sail during a military naval parade on the Bosphorus in Istanbul on Oct. 29, 2023.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

Eyeing Turkey, Netanyahu boosts Greece, Cyprus ties ahead of US visit

ABIR SULTAN / AFP via Getty Images

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

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

Turkish Presidential Press Office/Getty Images

Prominent sheikh’s funeral exposes Turkey’s secular-religious divide

The funeral of a prominent religious leader has showcased the growing influence of religious groups in Turkey.

NATO

Analysis

The Takeaway: Turkey still has final say on Sweden, Finland NATO bids

Israel awaits Biden message on Iran; Egypt gains Saudi and Arab League support on Nile Dam dispute; Egypt’s chicken showdown; Hamas seizes Israeli surveillance balloon.

Andrew Parasiliti

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Andrew Parasiliti , Elizabeth Hagedorn

A couple holds hands for a wedding photo as they look at smoke rising over the district of Sur in Diyarbakir.

No respite for Kurds as Turkey's security forces ramp up repression

Musicians, newlyweds, journalists, and even restaurateurs are not immune to the Turkish government's repression of its Kurdish population.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L), NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (C) and Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson.

Deal with Sweden, Finland over NATO membership sees Turkey’s Erdogan hailed at home

Pro-government voices see agreement as Nordic countries bowing to Turkish demands, but opponents remain critical.

Sweden Finland

Turkey lifts objection to Sweden, Finland joining NATO at last minute

Following the signing of a memorandum between Turkey, Sweden, and Finland, Erdogan lifted his veto against the Nordic expansion of NATO hours before the Madrid summit started.

OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images

Ankara forces companies to sell hard currency as circle tightens

The Turkish government’s latest loan restriction may help the embattled lira recover to some extent, but not without the risk of damaging side effects.

AFP via Getty Images

Iran's foreign minister checks in with Ankara as Turkey courts Tehran's foes

Iran's foreign minister is meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara today.

A youth breaks a window as men smash up shops and homes believed to be owned by Syrian families.

Syrian refugees recount harassment, abuse in Turkey

Syrian refugees in Turkey are living in constant fear among rising attacks, while the Turkish government increases restrictions on them.

People queue to buy olive oil, which is sold cheaply by the Agricultural Products Office, Ankara, Turkey, Feb. 17, 2022.

Egypt, Turkey hold firm on interest rates

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is adamantly opposed to raising interest rates, but some observers expected Egypt to raise rates in line with Gulf banks and the US Federal Reserve.

An employee packs bread at a bakery on March 23, 2022, in Istanbul, Turkey.

Turkey says no evidence Ukrainian grains stolen by Russia reached its shores

Turkey is being lobbied by the UK to discuss the safe shipping of Ukrainian grain due to looming global shortages but denies any has reached its ports.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (R) and Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (L).

Israeli FM Lapid gets warm welcome in Ankara

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid is the latest regional leader to be greeted in Ankara as Turkey takes a fresh approach to its regional ties.

NATO

NATO blinks as Turkey maintains threats to block Sweden, Finland from alliance

Turkey's strategy in blocking Sweden's and Finland’s NATO memberships could soon start to pay off.