Turkish economy: Timely reporting and analysis of economic developments in Turkey with all its structural problems, as one of world’s 20 biggest economies
Everyone is aware that the main obstacle to rapprochement between Türkiye and the European Union is political. For years it was Osman Kavala, Selahattin Demirtaş, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) rulings—now the Ekrem İmamoğlu case has been added on top of all that, increasing the barriers to meeting the Copenhagen Political Criteria, which
A debate over Rare Earth Elements (REEs) continues between Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan and the main opposition CHP leader Özgür Özel. The issue entered the domestic political agenda of Türkiye following Erdoğan’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on September 25, 2025. Özel accuses Erdoğan of “selling off” rich Turkish REE
My generation learned about energy geopolitics through oil. We witnessed oil wars, embargoes, tanker crises, the political power of OPEC, and how the United States reshaped the world through energy. Then came natural gas. It was called a “transition fuel,” but it quickly turned into a new tool of strategic dependency. Today, however, we stand
The 20-year Turkish-US deal signed in Washington on September 25 during Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan’s meeting with US President Donald Trump marks a new chapter in energy and geopolitics balance. The agreement between BOTAŞ and US producers is more than a long-term supply contract; it is a clear signal of Türkiye’s determination to reduce dependence
According to a decree published in the Official Gazette on September 22, 2025, signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the “additional financial obligations” imposed on 22 categories of U.S.-origin products since 2018 have been lifted. The decision came just before President Erdoğan’s departure to the United States on September 21 for the United Nations General
The front page of the Yeni Şafak newspaper on May 26 surprised those who saw it and was widely discussed in political and economic circles. The headline of Yeni Şafak (New Dawn in Turkish), one of the staunchest supporters of President Tayyip Erdoğan and the AKP government, read in large letters, “Interest rates up, foreign
From the dissolution agreement concerning the PKK to shifting dynamics in Syria and ongoing Russia–Ukraine negotiations, Türkiye is currently navigating an intense period of political and diplomatic activity. Another significant process is set to begin in July: the negotiations for a revised Turkish-UK Free Trade Agreement. If managed effectively, these talks could present Türkiye with
The energy map of the Middle East may be redrawn with the revival of the Kirkuk–Baniyas oil pipeline—a move that could sideline Türkiye. Iraq’s decision to bring back to life the pipeline connecting Kirkuk with Syria’s Mediterranean port city of Baniyas is not merely an infrastructure investment; it’s a strategic maneuver capable of shifting the
With a surprise decision, the Central Bank (CBRT) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) raised the policy rate by 350 basis points to 46 percent on April 17. The Committee raised the Central Bank’s overnight lending rate from 46 percent to 49 percent and the overnight borrowing rate from 41 percent to 44.5 percent. In its written
The United Kingdom (UK) prides itself on a legal system rooted in fairness, transparency, and the rule of law. Yet beneath this polished veneer lies a troubling loophole—one that allows straying jurists to sidestep ethical duties with impunity, find creative ways to ignore international treaties and cause the UK to dishonour its undertakings under international