Last week there were news reports about a possible meeting between President Tayyip Erdoğan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, where Erdoğan was present as a dialogue partner. His meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin was of particular importance but Erdoğan met with leaders of a number of
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hinted at a significant diplomatic shift by suggesting a potential invitation to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. This invitation, Erdoğan indicated, could coincide with a visit from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Türkiye, marking a new phase in regional diplomacy. “We might have an invitation for Bashar al-Assad along with President
It’s high time to say that the time has come and gone for opening a new chapter in Syria. Türkiye’s policy towards Syria since the outbreak of civil war in 2011 is no longer sustainable; all signs have appeared. Otherwise, it’s unlikely that a sexual harassment incident in Kayseri would quickly turn into anti-Türkiye demonstrations
The Cyprus negotiations, a process that has not reached a solution for many years, continues to be the scene of deep divisions and political rivalries between the two communities. The 3D (direct flights, direct trade, direct contact) demand repeatedly voiced by the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Ersin Tatar to the
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has launched a cabinet reshuffle in the wake of the March 31 elections, prompted by the resignations of Environment and Climate Change Minister Mehmet Özhaseki and Health Minister Fahrettin Koca. Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu, currently serving as Istanbul Provincial Health Director, was appointed as the new Health Minister. Murat Kurum,
Recent political developments in Türkiye and Cyprus reveal efforts to shift away from long-standing polarization towards a more normalized political environment. Following the local elections in Türkiye, a process has been initiated between the ruling AKP and the main opposition CHP. A similar process is taking place in Cyprus, where the AKP has re-established contact
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s alliance partner Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli’s late arrival to his party’s parliamentary group meeting on June 25, his first-time seated speech, and subsequent need to rest backstage briefly stirred the political scene. Reasons included high blood pressure and the hot weather, which are plausible given the extreme heat,
The results of the local elections in May were a harbinger of the impending political defeat. The Conservative Party lost half of the council seats it was trying to retain, including in regions considered strongholds of the party. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was expected to call an election before the end of this year. The
A severe wildfire has erupted in the rural area between Diyarbakır’s Çınar district and Mardin’s Mazıdağı district, in Türkiye, claiming 11 lives and left many injured. The fire, which started as a stubble burning incident, rapidly grew due to strong winds, engulfing surrounding villages and causing significant casualties and damage, officials announced on June 21.
I read on the Hürriyet newspaper’s website that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is working on a new communication strategy. To be honest, when I heard the term “communication strategy,” I briefly wondered if President Tayyip Erdoğan and the AKP officials had finally decided to change their view of the media. Would the