Journalist-Writer
Karl Marx had a poignant and apt observation: “History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.” The incident on September 2 in Konak Square, Izmir, where a plainclothes American soldier was attacked once again brought this saying to mind. The footage that gained quite a traction on social media showed an attacker throwing a
I wonder if it’s appropriate to describe the conspicuously close relationship between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli, as a “bromance.” This was on full display during the 953rd-anniversary celebrations of the Malazgirt Victory on August 26 in Ahlat, much to the chagrin of their opponents. Perhaps “strategic alliance” would be a
President Tayyip Erdogan delivered a speech on August 24th at the Aksaz Naval Base in Marmaris, vowing to further strengthen Turkey’s navy and army. The impressive TCG Anadolu, Turkey’s first amphibious assault ship, served as a backdrop. Anadolu had just returned to Aksaz after participating in a joint military exercise with the United States in
In recent weeks, Türkiye has entered a tumultous period marked by a series of interrelated internal and external developments. These events, although seemingly unrelated at first glance, when considered together, paint a picture of a country teetering on the edge of significant economic and political instability. The atmosphere is charged, open to provocations, and reminiscent
I first heard the phrase “Two states, one nation” from Abulfaz Elchibey. It was early 1992, just after Azerbaijan had declared independence from the Soviet Union. Elchibey was still officially banned from politics, but my colleagues Semih İdiz, Aziz Utkan, and I managed to interview him in a basement belonging to the Popular Front in
Türkiye and Iraq signed a “Memorandum of Understanding on Combating Terrorism” on August 15. On the 40th anniversary of PKK militants launching an armed struggle against Türkiye with raids on Eruh and Şemdinli from Iraqi territory, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein signed this symbolically significant agreement. However, this agreement, which
A recent claim has set diplomatic circles abuzz. Ömer Önhon, Türkiye’s last ambassador to Damascus before ties were severed, suggested in an Arabic newspaper El Mecelle that President Erdogan might arrange a meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leadership in Ankara. Abbas is scheduled to address the Turkish Parliament on August 15. While
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on August 12 and, summarizing from the American State Department’s statement, asked Türkiye to use its influence to get Hamas to return to the negotiation table with Israel on August 15. Fidan, as I summarize from Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Öncü Keçeli’s statement, told him
Perhaps you’re among those who no longer want to hear bad news. Just in Turkish news, neither the efforts of animal lovers to prevent what is almost a revenge massacre against animals, nor imprisoned lawmaker Can Atalay’s right to parliamentary immunity, nor the imprisonment of Osman Kavala and Selahattin Demirtaş, nor the increasing poverty of
Another test of pluralist democracy and rule of law within President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) will take place next week. The test is on August 14-15. The Turkish parliament, currently on summer recess, will convene extraordinarily on August 15 to host Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Following the assassination of Hamas leader