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Turkey

Turkey

April 24, 2026

Ankara 9:56 am

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US Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrack attends a meeting with President Donald Trump and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Oval Office at the White House on Sept. 25, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Trump envoy Barrack’s embrace of 'strong leaders' sparks fury in Turkey

Turkish opposition members say envoy Tom Barrack’s remarks praising “strong leaders” and monarchies undermine Turkey’s democratic tradition and embolden President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan watch honour guards passing by during a welcoming ceremony prior to their talks in Kiev on Feb. 3, 2020.

Turkish drones boost Ukrainian spirits amid fears of Russian invasion

Turkey's drones are a big morale booster for Ukraine as a potential Russian invasion looms.

Tourists shop inside spice bazaar at Eminonu district in Istanbul on Dec. 16, 2021.

Independent Turkey economists face court action over inflation figures that challenge official data

ENAGrup is sued over calculations that put yearly price rises at 83% and told to halt work refuting state agency’s rate.

A picture taken on Dec. 7, 2021 in Istanbul shows Turkish lira banknotes.

Turkey’s central bank continues window dressing with currency swaps

Hit by a foreign reserves drain, Turkey’s central bank eyes fresh currency swap deals, including with the central banks of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Libya.

People walk through snow in front of the Blue Mosque in the Sultanahmet District on Jan. 25, 2022 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Istanbul residents get stuck in snow as politicians throw blame at each other

The coldest weather in decades cripples life and transportation in Istanbul, with stranded passengers staging protests at Istanbul airport.

Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Why Turkey wants to mediate in Ukraine crisis

Erdogan’s offer to mediate between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders reflects Ankara’s growing fears over the conundrums it could find itself in should war materialize.

Turkish broadcast journalist Sedef Kabas (C), speaks to media members after her trial on Oct. 6, 2015, in Istanbul.

Turkish court jails journalist over proverb that 'insulted' Erdogan

TV media figure Sedef Kabas is the latest among tens of thousands to be investigated over insulting the president during Erdogan's time in office.

Ethiopia Tigray

Ripple effects from drone sales force Turkey to move Ethiopian embassy

Turkey was forced to relocate its Ethiopian embassy to Kenya after increasing threat out of its involvement in the country’s clashes with the Tigray rebels by supplying combat drones to Addis Ababa.

Israel gas

Can Israeli gas bridge Turkey-Israel rift?

The dimming prospects of the EastMed pipeline project offer Turkey an opportunity to mend fences with Israel and break its isolation in the energy rivalry in the Eastern Mediterranean.

A screen grab from the music video for Sezen Aksu's "Manifesto".

Turkey’s pop queen draws sudden wrath over five-year-old lyrics

Sezen Aksu, the reclusive diva of Turkish pop, has become the latest target of conservatives who accuse her of blasphemy.

People walk past a currency exchange office on Aug. 29, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Pro-Erdogan business leaders anxious about Turkey's economy

The pro-government business association MUSIAD has stood behind Erdogan’s controversial economic policies but appears concerned that both borrowing costs and foreign exchange prices remain above the desired levels.

Elderly people wearing a protective face mask, sit and look at the Bosphorus on May 10, 2020, at Besiktas, Istanbul, after a month and a half of lockdown restrictions aimed at stemming the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Inflation crisis hits Turkey's retirees hardest of all

According to economists and Turkish seniors' personal accounts, the elderly who suffered most during the COVID-19 pandemic are now being hardest hit by the economic slump.

This photo taken on Feb. 9, 2020, shows an attendant checking the stock of sanitary pads inside a mobile toilet on a bus in Pune, India.

Turkish women decry high price of sanitary pads

Women activists call on the Turkish government for a tax reduction and other measures to lower the prices of menstrual products, which have grown forbiddingly expensive amid the country’s economic turmoil.