Ankara

September 7, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi |

Turkey is escalating tensions in the Mediterranean (again)

Turkey is once again stoking tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean – this time by undermining the sovereignty of Greece and Cyprus while wagering that Washington and Brussels will look the other way....

September 3, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi |

Turkey’s Quiet Relationship with ISIS

On June 29, 2014, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State in al-Sham (ISIS), was recorded on video speaking at the al-Nuri Mosque in Mosul, Iraq. (“Al-Sham” is the traditional Arabic...

September 3, 2025 | |

Erdogan, Macron Condemn Trump Administration’s Denials of Visas for Palestinian Officials

Turkey Unhappy With Visa Ban: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan demanded that the United States reverse its decision to revoke the visas of Palestinian Authority (PA) and Palestinian...

August 29, 2025 | |

Turkey Announces Severing of Economic Ties With Israel, Closes Skies to Israeli Aircraft

Israeli Planes Barred From Turkish Airspace: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on August 29 that Ankara had closed the country’s airspace to Israeli aircraft as a protest...

August 26, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi |

Turkey’s Push for Regime Change in Syria: The Jihadi Highway

Syria’s civil war broke out in March 2011, in reaction to the brutal crackdown by the regime of Bashar al-Asad of popular protests that were part of the wider Arab Spring. In supporting the Syrian...

August 25, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi |

Turkey implements barriers to prevent shipping to and from Israel

The Turkish government is moving to enforce what officials describe as a “full ban on maritime traffic connected to Israel, prohibiting both Israel-flagged or Israel-owned vessels from entering...

August 20, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi |

Turkey’s Neo-Ottoman Moment

Turkey’s Syria policy didn’t materialize in a vacuum. Rather, it was a reaction to the Arab uprisings that began in January 2011, known as the Arab Spring, which Turkish policymakers interpreted as...

August 19, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Syria’s Deadly Wrong Turn

Ahmed al-Shara’s attempts to concentrate power and spurn Syria’s minorities are destabilizing the country.

August 19, 2025 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain |

The Mess Tom Barrack Is Creating

US Ambassador to Turkey and Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack is creating a mess in the Middle East, seemingly unaware of the repercussions. Working with the Lebanese government, he crafted...

August 14, 2025 | |

Turkey Signs Military Accord With Syrian Government

Latest Developments Military Memorandum Signed: Turkey’s Ministry of Defense has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Syria for the training of Syrian troops and military...

August 14, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Stalled Syria-SDF Deal Risks Sparking Wider Conflict

Clashes have erupted between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria. Since August 2, the SDF has reported five clashes, leaving tens wounded. The...

August 13, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Turkey ramps up military support for Syria

On August 13, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced that Turkish Minister of Defense Yasar Guler and Syrian Minister of Defense Murhaf Abu Qusra signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU)...

August 13, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi |

Turkey is Making a Power Play to Dominate the Middle East

With Iran’s regional influence in steep decline, Turkey is aggressively positioning itself to fill the vacuum and assert dominance across the eastern Mediterranean and the broader Middle East....

August 12, 2025 | Janatan Sayeh |

Armenia–Azerbaijan deal worries Iran

Washington brokered an agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan on August 8 aimed at opening a transit corridor through the South Caucasus. The new agreement replaces the original Zangezur...

August 11, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi |

Erdoğan’s Long Game in Syria

When Bashar al-Asad’s regime abruptly collapsed in December 2024, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan saw more than just a regional upheaval. He saw a long-awaited opportunity.  With Iran’s...

August 7, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi |

Turkey’s new precision weapons stoke regional tensions

In late July, Turkish defense contractors used the 2025 International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) to showcase the latest additions to the country’s arsenal. Headlining the event were two striking...

July 29, 2025 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain |

Replacing Iran with Turkey Is a Recipe for Disaster in Syria

The Syrian revolution was not an uprising for liberty, freedom, or democracy. It was a manifestation of Sunni Islamists, backed by Turkey and Qatar, venting their rage against the rule of Assad, supported...

July 25, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi, Ahmad Sharawi

U.S. Must Apply Pressure to Prevent Turkish Military Intervention in Syria

Syria after Bashar al-Assad is a country in chaos, but that does not mean it cannot get worse. One way that could happen would be a direct Turkish military intervention. Unfortunately, that is exactly...

July 24, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi |

Erdogan and Shara’s “Sunnification” Project

The recent sectarian violence shows that the Syrian government and its Turkish backers share a dangerous vision of a Sunni-dominant state.

July 23, 2025 | |

UK and Germany Agree to Sell Eurofighter Typhoon Fighter Jets to Turkey

Turkey to Purchase 40 Jets: Turkey reached preliminary deals with both the United Kingdom and Germany on July 23 for the possible purchase of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets....