Eastern Mediterranean

July 27, 2026 | Sinan Ciddi, Ahmad Sharawi

Turkey’s Cautious Bid for Regional Power

The difference in how Turkey treats Greece and Israel illustrates its diplomatic and military strategy.

July 17, 2026 | Richard Goldberg, Roger Zakheim

Is Israel Actually More Isolated Than Ever?

“Support for Israel around the world is declining,” former Chicago mayor and potential Democratic presidential candidate Rahm Emanuel declared in Israel last week. “The only diplomatic achievement...

June 23, 2026 | Sinan Ciddi |

Don’t Let Turkey Hijack the NATO Summit

NATO leaders must make it clear to Turkey that it cannot be a NATO member and pursue a foreign policy that undermines the alliance.

June 22, 2026 | Sinan Ciddi |

EU Report Slams Authoritarian Rule in Turkey, Urges Sanctions Against Justice Minister

An EU report has leveled the most scathing criticism of Turkey’s government in recent memory, recommending sanctions against a number of Turkish officials. They include Turkish Minister of Justice...

June 9, 2026 | Sinan Ciddi |

Turkey Escalates Tensions in Cyprus

Turkey’s increasingly confrontational posture in the Eastern Mediterranean was on display this week when aircraft carrying European defense ministers to Cyprus were reportedly harassed by Turkish fighter...

May 26, 2026 | Sinan Ciddi |

Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ‘Decapitation Strike’ on Turkey’s Opposition Party

Now seeking a fourth term in office, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is moving quickly to disarm the Republican People’s Party (CHP).

May 16, 2026 | Sinan Ciddi |

Turkey’s Missile Ambitions Should Alarm Europe and the United States

For years, European officials viewed Turkey’s growing defense industry as an important asset. Turkish drones proved effective in conflicts from Libya to Nagorno-Karabakh and Ukraine. Ankara...

May 13, 2026 | Sinan Ciddi |

Turkey’s Maritime Strategy Heightens the Risk of a New Eastern Mediterranean Crisis

Ankara’s New Legislative Initiative May Appear Technical or Bureaucratic, but It Represents a Calculated Escalation by Erdoğan

April 24, 2026 | Sinan Ciddi, Jonathan Schanzer

America’s Ambassador to Turkey Is Undermining U.S. Interests

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack raised eyebrows last weekend at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum when he stated, “Turkey is not a country to be messed with,” –– a remark intended to blame Israel...

April 1, 2026 | Sinan Ciddi, William Doran

Islamist Turkey: A Base for Muslim Brotherhood Jihadism

March 9, 2026 | Sinan Ciddi |

Turkish Deployment of F-16s in Occupied Portion of Cyprus Raises Tensions in Eastern Mediterranean

Using the regional turmoil sparked by the war against Iran’s clerical regime as a cover, Turkey has deployed six F-16 fighter jets to the occupied part of Cyprus. Turkey’s March 9 action represents...

February 10, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Syria Looks to Offshore Oil and Gas for Economic Renewal

Damascus’ entrance into the energy market will require it to update its dilapidated infrastructure.

December 30, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi, William Doran

Turkey Decries Cyprus–Greece–Israel Security Talks

A new “axis of evil” has arisen in the eastern Mediterranean Sea — at least according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s slavish media. The sharp reaction was brought about by a trilateral...

December 23, 2025 | |

Israel, Cyprus, Greece Sign Cooperation Agreement at Trilateral Summit in Jerusalem

Latest Developments Boost Trilateral Relations: The leaders of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel agreed to boost trilateral cooperation in the Mediterranean during a summit in Jerusalem on December 22. Against...

December 23, 2025 | William Doran, Sinan Ciddi

Libyan parliament speaker claims maritime deal with Turkey invalid but open to renegotiation

On December 15, Aguila Saleh, Libya’s House of Representatives speaker, deemed the 2019 Libya-Turkey maritime deal illegitimate and non-binding in an interview with the Libyan News Agency (LANA)....

November 24, 2025 | Justin Leopold-Cohen, Ryan Brobst

Eyeing Turkey, Israel and Greece Work To Deepen Defense Ties

Israel and Greece, two of America’s key Mediterranean partners, are deepening their defense ties as both face continued Turkish hostility. This cooperation includes sales of advanced Israeli weapons,...

November 21, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi |

London’s Eurofighter sale to Turkey: A win for industry, a loss for strategy

When British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stood side-by-side in Ankara on Oct. 28 to announce Turkey’s purchase of 20 Eurofighter Typhoons...

November 10, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi, William Doran

Erhurman’s election a step towards peace, but beware of Ankara’s appetite

The election of the new Turkish-Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman in the recent presidential election is a blow to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ambitions on the island, but his cadre is far from...

October 16, 2025 | Ben Cohen, David May

50 Years of Anti-Zionist Propaganda: Why the UN’s ‘Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People’ Must Be Dismantled

October 7, 2025 | William Doran, Sinan Ciddi

Erdogan’s imagined ‘arms race’ in Cyprus

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his loyalists wasted no time last week blasting Nicosia’s purchase of Barak MX air defense systems, denouncing it as a dire threat to Turkey and its client...