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Turkey

Turkey

December 5, 2025

Ankara 2:41 pm

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Syrian Kurds lift placards and flags during a rally calling for an autonomous administration and Kurdish rights in Syria's predominantly Kurdish northeastern city of Qamishli, on Sept. 17, 2025.

Ankara: Jailed PKK chief favors unitary Syria, no separate Kurdish defense force

The militant leader called for “police-like” security units in Syrian Democratic Forces areas during his landmark meeting with a Turkish parliamentary delegation, according to a transcript summary.

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Turkey defense firms break record with $10B in revenues: SIPRI

Turkey set a new record with five companies in the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's Top 100 for 2024, which included nine Middle Eastern countries for the first time amid conflict-driven arms demand.

A boy sits outside the entrance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) building complex in Gaza City, on Sept. 6, 2025.

Interview

UNRWA plans Turkey office to boost Gaza, Syria aid as pledges dip

Speaking exclusively to Al-Monitor, UNRWA’s Tamara Alrifai said the upcoming Turkey office would help the agency to expand its operations not only in Gaza but also in Syria.

Latest News

Culture

Young artists pull traditional Turkish art into zeitgeist

Cagri Izdar's mix of miniatures, puppets and and dance macabre (Photo Baris Ozcetin/Offgrid)

Analysis

Trump’s Muslim Brotherhood move reignites Israel’s battle over Raam

Mansour Abbas, head of Israel's conservative Islamic Raam party, speaks to the press before casting his ballot at a polling station in the northern Israeli village of Maghar on November 1, 2022. - Israelis began voting in their fifth election in less than four years, with veteran leader Benjamin Netanyahu campaigning for a comeback alongside far-right allies. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Exclusive

Top PYD official Aldar Khalil: 'Syria is telling Kurds to separate'

Kurdish official Aldar Khalil, who played a key role in establishing Syria's semiautonomous Kurdish region in 2013, during an interview in Qamishli on Dec. 22, 2018.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

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 Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan arrives during a visit at the Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome on April 29, 2025.

Turkey's FM heads to Italy amid rising tensions with Greece over EastMed, Libya

The top Turkish diplomat is set to meet with his Italian counterpart, as Ankara seeks deeper cooperation with Rome amid a rivalry with Greece and ongoing Libya diplomacy.

ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

Turkish, Armenian envoys to meet Wednesday amid renewed peace push

The sixth round of Turkish-Armenian normalization talks will follow the Washington peace summit between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which is expected to inject fresh momentum into reconciliation efforts.

Protesters clash with Turkish anti-riot police officers near the Istanbul Province headquarters of Turkey's main opposition party Republican People's Party (CHP), on Sept. 8, 2025, in Istanbul.

Turkish police storm CHP's Istanbul office as clashes erupt with lawmakers

Scuffles have erupted inside and outside the CHP’s Istanbul headquarters following last week’s dismissal of the party’s provincial head and 10 people have been detained.

A missile system is displayed during Victory Day celebrations in Kayseri, Turkey, on Aug. 30, 2025.

Analysis

Turkey's Steel Dome air defense system: Game changer or work in progress?

The delivery of 47 domestically built air defense vehicles highlights Ankara’s deepening defense prowess, yet experts warn of production bottlenecks and integration challenges.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

A Syrian rebel fighter looks on as he stands at an inspection checkpoint for incoming vehicles at the entrance of the Russian-leased Syrian military base of Hmeimim in Latakia province in western Syria on Dec. 29, 2024.

Analysis

After setbacks in Syria and Turkish gains in Libya, Russia scrambles to retain Mediterranean sway

Moscow faces growing challenges coordinating in Libya and sustaining its regional presence after losing its key Syrian ally and confronting Ankara’s expanding influence.

Anton Mardasov

By Anton Mardasov

A Turkish Airlines plane prepares to take off from the Miami International Airport in Miami, on June 16, 2021.

Turkey resumes flights to Libya's Misrata as Ankara courts Tripoli, Hifter

The first direct flight from Istanbul to Misrata since 2015 underscores Turkey’s efforts to maintain good relations with the Tripoli government as well as its eastern-based rival.

Women's rights activists and relatives of victims of feminicide wait outside the Istanbul court ahead of a hearing on June 1, 2022.

Turkey's Erdogan acknowledges 'alarming' rise in violence against women

After one of the deadliest months for femicides, the Turkish president highlights the country’s surge in violence against women but provides little reassurance to rights groups.

A member of the security forces with Syria's new government stands over pills of Captagon during a raid in Latakia on Jan. 19, 2025.

Syria seizes Captagon with Turkish backing amid drug trade boom

The new Islamist government in Syria has prioritized dismantling the Captagon trade, but the industry is still thriving.

New cars are seen on the dock of Haydarpasa Port on May 02, 2025 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Turkey's trade deficit falls to lowest level in nearly four years: What to know

Turkey’s trade deficit in August shrank to $4.17 billion, its lowest level in 46 months, Trade Minister Omer Bolat said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives in the Chinese city of Tianjin to attend the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Aug. 31, 2025.

Turkey’s Erdogan holds hands with Iran’s Pezeshkian, sparks online buzz

A short video of Erdogan holding hands with Iran’s Pezeshkian at the SCO summit in China has captured global attention and stirred heated online reactions.

A Tesla Model Y is seen on a Tesla car lot on May 31, 2023 in Austin, Texas.

Turkish Tesla sales soar in August, surpassing European, Japanese rivals

Elon Musk’s EV company sold 8,730 Model Ys in August, jumping 86% compared to July, according to data from Turkey’s Automotive Distributors and Mobility Association.