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Turkey

Turkey

February 23, 2026

Ankara 10:40 am

3°C

ANKARA, TURKEY - JANUARY 21: Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to MPs at his party's group meeting in the Turkish parliament on January 21, 2026 in Ankara, Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is among world leaders that have been invited by United States President Donald Trump, to join the Gaza Board of Peace, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was also included as an appointed member. (Photo by Serdar Ozsoy/Getty Images)

Analysis

Why Turkey’s exclusion from Gaza force may be a strategic blessing

Despite being excluded from Gaza’s international stabilization force, Ankara will likely leverage its ties with Hamas to maintain influence within the Trump administration’s Board of Peace.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Turkish drama

Culture

Ramadan opens in Turkey as secular-conservative divide resurfaces

Ramadan began in Turkey amid a fresh flare-up of secular-conservative tensions, fueled by a controversial TV series and renewed concerns over secularism.

Latest News

Turkey backs Libya in legal challenge to Greece-Chevron offshore deal

A general view taken on April 4, 2014, shows oil tanker Morning Glory, during the unloading of oil in the Libyan seaport of Zawiya.

Fidan heads to US as Turkey eyes Gaza troop role: What to know

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during a press statement with his French counterpart in Ankara, on Jan. 27, 2026.

On first Horn of Africa trip in 10 years, Erdogan cautions Ethiopia over Somaliland

Marco Simoncelli / AFP via Getty Images

Turkey’s Erdogan heads to Ethiopia amid tensions over Horn of Africa

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan looks on as Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (not pictured) addresses the media during a joint press conference at the Presidential Complex, Ankara, Turkey, Feb. 11, 2026.

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

This photo taken on Oct. 29, 2023, in Istanbul shows a Bayraktar TB-2 drone and helicopters on the Turkish navy's L-400 Anadolu warship, during a naval military parade on the Bosphorus to mark the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic.

Turkey's military scorecard: Naval and aerial advances but lacks money, speed

If Turkey wants to play in the "big leagues" with the United States, Russia and China, it has to provide its military-industrial complex with greater pace and resources.

Turkish minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Simsek is surrounded by journalists after making a statement during the group meeting of Justice and Development (AK) Party at the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara, on June 21, 2023. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

How Turkey's economic, inflation policy hinges on upcoming local elections

The outcome of Turkey’s March 31 local polls is likely to influence Erdogan’s decision on whether to enact the tough disinflation measures favored by the economic leadership.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks as he announces Murat Kurum as his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) candidate in Istanbul's upcoming mayoral election in March, in Istanbul on Jan. 7, 2024.

Turkey hits back after Israel protests Erdogan's comments cursing Netanyahu

The Israeli foreign minister told the Turkish president to “be quiet" after Erdogan said he was leaving Netanyahu "in the Lord's hands" at a Thursday election rally.

Kurdish communities in Turkey gathered in Sirnak, Cizre, to commemorate Nowruz, March 20, 2024.

Turkey detains hundreds of Kurds for wearing ‘forbidden’ colors at Nowruz rallies

The government's actions come ahead of nationwide elections in which the pro-Kurdish DEM Party is fielding its own candidates.

Turkey GCC trade ministers

GCC, Turkey launch talks on free trade agreement

According to the Turkish trade minister, the new free trade agreement will create one of the world’s largest free trade areas.

A teller holds Turkish lira banknotes at a currency exchange office in Istanbul, Aug. 13, 2018.

Breaking | Last Updated: March 21, 2024, 12:45 pm

In surprise move, Turkey’s Central Bank hikes interest rates to 50%

The move comes after the bank announced last month that it was pausing the hikes.

A Kurdish man wearing a mask flashes the "V" sign.

PKK claims to down 15 Turkish drones in Nowruz announcement

The announcement comes one day ahead of the Kurdish New Year, or Nowruz, which is celebrated by millions of Kurds worldwide, and less than two weeks before Turkey's local elections that are due to be held nationwide on March 31.

A photograph taken on Oct. 22, 2011, shows a Turkish military helicopter flying over a mountain in Yemisli, in the Hakkari province

PKK kills Turkish soldier in northern Iraq as Ankara threatens major offensive

The militant group killed one Turkish soldier and wounded four others in northern Iraq, as Turkey threatened a major offensive to "annihilate" the Kurdish militant group by summer.

This picture taken on Sept. 30, 2020, shows logos of social-networking websites displayed on a mobile phone's screen in Istanbul.

Turkey hands Meta $148K daily fine over antitrust violation

Turkey’s competition watchdog also imposed an interim measure to suspend data-sharing between Instagram and Threads.

Relatives mourn over the caskets of 11 people killed in Turkish air strikes during their funeral in al-Malikiyah (Derik) in Syria's northeastern Hasakah province, on November 21, 2022. - Turkey hit dozens of targets in northern Syria as well as northern Iraq overnight into Sunday, a week after a deadly attack in Istanbul which Ankara has blamed on the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). (Photo by Gihad DARWISH / AFP) (Photo by GIHAD DARWISH/AFP via Getty Images)

Baghdad's PKK ban marks win-win for Iraq, Turkey but warning to Iran

The move could ease Turkey's military operations in northern Iraq while at the same allowing Baghdad to extend its presence and control over its territory.

US Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Rey White

Turkey hopeful on $1.4 billion reimbursement from US for F-35 deals

Turkey can get its money back, Turkish defense officials say, as ties with Washington strengthen following Sweden’s admission to NATO and Ankara’s F-16 purchase.

High-level officials from Turkey and Iraq held a security summit in Baghdad, March 14, 2024.

Iraq bans PKK as security ties with Turkey gain momentum

The decision comes after the high-level talks between Turkish and Iraqi officials in Baghdad.