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

Turkey

Turkey

April 20, 2026

Ankara 11:07 pm

8°C

Members of Iraq's security forces stand guard on the the al-Rabia border crossing with Syria on April 20, 2026.

How Syria's border opening with Iraq redefines Turkey-Kurd balance

After years of closure, the reopening of al-Yaaroubiya crossing is redrawing Kurdish economic leverage and reinforcing Turkey’s regional strategy.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shake hands during the press conference following their meeting at Villa Doria Pamphilj, on April 29, 2025, in Rome, Italy.

Analysis

Italy’s TB3 drone deal signals turn toward Turkey amid US-NATO tensions

Italy’s expected TB3 drone purchase highlights a rapidly deepening, interest-driven alignment with Turkey on defense and geopolitics.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Latest News

Analysis

Is Syria’s Sharaa poised to outdo Turkey in formalizing gains for Kurds?

Kurdish people waving Kurdistan flags gather to celebrate Nowruz on the hill of Urkesh in the countryside of Amuda in northeastern Syria on March 18, 2026. Nowruz, meaning "new day," is an ancient festival that marks the start of spring and the new year on the vernal equinox, which usually falls on March 20 or 21. It is celebrated by more than 300 million people worldwide and has been observed for over 3,000 years across regions including the Middle East, Central Asia, the Caucasus and parts of Eastern Euro

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

At least 9 killed in Turkey’s second school shooting in 24 hours

YASIN AKGUL / AFP) (Photo by YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Inside Turkey’s role in the US-Iran ceasefire

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) walks with Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif upon his arrival during an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on June 1, 2022. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

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 Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu speaks during a joint press conference with his Swedish counterpart in Ankara on Dec. 22, 2022.

Turkish, Syrian FMs could meet soon as diplomatic thaw gains steam

The top Turkish diplomat said Saturday that he could meet with his Syrian counterpart in mid-January.

Syria Idlib

Turkey, Syrian government may cooperate on the ground

Turkey is considering cooperating with the Syrian government in rebel-held Syrian territories after the first high-level talks between Turkey and the Syrian government in Moscow this week.

Omar Havana/ Getty Images

Turkish-Syrian normalization continues as top diplomats meet

Turkey's foreign minister says Ankara wants to cooperate with the Syrian regime but will not let that get in the way of its fight against terrorism.

ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images

2022 in review: Turkey wraps up year of regional resets but more whiplash ahead

As 2022 forced the Turkish government to reverse course with regional powers, this election year is expected to usher in even more change in Turkey’s foreign policy.

Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar holds a joint press conference with the UN Secretary-General at the Joint Coordination Center established in Istanbul for the safe shipment of grain products from the Black Sea region in Istanbul on Aug. 20, 2022.

Turkish, Syrian defense chiefs hold landmark meeting in Russia

The defense ministers' meeting in Moscow was the first official engagement between Damascus and Ankara in more than a decade.

Meral Aksener, the leader of the Iyi Party and the only female chairman at the opposition's Table of Six, addresses women on Dec. 25, 2022.

Turkish leaders woo women voters as election year closes in

The Turkish government and right-wing parties are making a hard sell of their policies on women’s issues from domestic violence to child abuse.

Protesters hold roses while taking part in a demonstration to pay tribute to the Enghien Street shooting victims in Paris on Dec. 23, 2022.

Turkey urges France to ban PKK 'propaganda' after Paris shooting

Summoning France’s ambassador, Turkey expresses concern regarding "anti-Turkish propaganda" in Paris demonstrations.

ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey calls for more action, not words, from Sweden 

Turkey's foreign minister has told his Swedish counterpart that while Ankara welcomes the steps Sweden has taken to get Turkey’s nod for NATO membership, they are not even “halfway” toward fulfilling Stockholm's commitments.

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Turkey raises minimum wage, keeps interest rates unchanged

Inflation is running rampant in Turkey, but the president continues to stubbornly reject higher interest rates.

A Tesla office on April 20, 2022, in Fremont, Cal.

Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company Tesla hiring in Turkey

The US electric vehicle maker already has a presence in Jordan and Israel and could soon launch in Turkey, where Musk has a good relationship with President Erdogan.

Imamoglu

Turkey's media board fines TV chains for Imamoglu coverage

Three channels were given harsh penalties for criticizing the Istanbul mayor's prison sentence and politics ban and for questioning Erdogan’s economic policies.

Turkey's main opposition party chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu and Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, meet in an attempt to dispel rumors of rivalry over which of them will become the presidential candidate.

Opposition rallies around Istanbul mayor as Turks reel from conviction

Polls find that most Turks, including a sizable number of supporters of the ruling party and its nationalist ally, see the prison sentence and political ban against Istanbul’s charismatic mayor as unfair and politically motivated.