Journalist-Writer
When selecting the person and event of the year for 2024 in both domestic and foreign policy, establishing the criteria is the challenging part – everything else falls into place naturally. My criterion was simple: impact on the overall political trajectory. Specifically, how an individual shaped the course of political developments in 2024, and which
The first tangible outcome of the “Öcalan Initiative” – which MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli initiated by shaking hands with DEM Party members at the Parliament’s opening on October 1 – materialized on December 28. With President Tayyip Erdoğan’s approval, Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç granted permission for two DEM Party heavyweights, Pervin Buldan and Sırrı Süreyya
When President Tayyip Erdoğan began reciting the opening verses of Surah Al-Fath in Arabic during his Justice and Development Party (AKP) parliamentary group meeting on December 25, amid chants of “Conqueror of Syria,” I wrote in my notebook “We’re going into Syria.” However, launching an operation against the PKK/YPG in Syria is one thing; conquest
Last weekend, journalist Nevşin Mengü faced investigation over an interview, leading to her detention and subsequent release under judicial supervision with a travel ban. This weekend, journalist Özlem Gürses was investigated for a verbal slip during a live broadcast, resulting in detention, handcuffing, house arrest, and a travel ban. Additionally, news outlet T-24 came under
The US Military once again defies Trump on Syria. The Pentagon is pushing back against Donald Trump, who is set to take office on January 20th, after he questioned America’s presence in Syria. In response to Trump’s statement “we have nothing to do (in Syria)” Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder revealed that U.S. troop numbers in
The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Kurdish-issue focused DEM Party continue to confound their adversaries – and I mean this in a positive sense. Kurdish affairs have entered a new phase, particularly following the regime change in Syria. The most recent example of this shift was witnessed in the Turkish Parliament on December 17. DEM
Three powers continue to make advances in Syria. The first is forces under HTS leadership. Yesterday (December 10), they entered Deir ez-Zor city in southern Syria, west of the Euphrates. Earlier that day, US CENTCOM commander Erik Kurilla had visited SDF headquarters (his first visit since August 2023). The SDF, whose backbone consists of PKK/YPG,
While his loyal deputies of his oligarchic regime awaited an address from Bashar Assad, he reportedly fled to Moscow with his family. At the Doha press conference on December 8 when questioned about this, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s response was telling – rather than saying: “We don’t know,” he stated “I cannot comment, he’s
Even Tehran has understood that Damascus is collapsing, but Ankara cannot grasp it – this includes the government, opposition, and intellectuals alike. Those who have pursued politics under the illusion that “solving the problem means making a deal with Assad” – while failing to see that Bashar Assad and the Baath regime barely maintain control
Defense Minister Yaşar Güler made significant statements about Türkiye’s armament program during his ministry’s 2025 budget defense at the Parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission on November 26. According to his statements, the United States, which had previously expelled Türkiye from the F-35 fighter jet program over its purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems, has apparently