Turkish Domestic Politics: Analysis and forecast on all relevant developments and insight about Turkish politics with its repercussions in its neighboring countries
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan disclosed that Bashar al-Assad’s departure from power came following direct pressure from Russia and Iran, marking a historic shift in Syria’s political landscape. Speaking on NTV broadcaston December 13, Fidan revealed that Assad left power after receiving phone calls from his long-standing allies, suggesting a coordinated diplomatic effort that reshaped
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
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that Türkiye has begun working on plans to facilitate the return of Syrian refugees, following major developments in Damascus where opposition forces have taken control of the capital and President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly left the country. Speaking at the Doha Forum 2024 in Qatar, Fidan outlined Türkiye’s vision
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
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed support for the opposition forces’ advance in Syria, as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied rebels push toward Homs after capturing Hama, marking a dramatic shift in Syria’s 13-year civil war. “Idlib, Hama, Homs, and of course the target is Damascus. The opposition’s march is continuing as we speak.
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
South Korea’s situation differs markedly from Türkiye’s – they face a truly existential threat from North Korea, a heavily militarized hostile sibling state that threatens invasion and annihilation daily. As South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol saw his public support steadily eroding, he opted to leverage this threat. Rather than risk losing power in an
The path to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was opened for senior Turkish diplomat Feridun Sinirlioğlu. On December 3, the OSCE Permanent Council, which convened in Vienna, unanimously decided to submit Sinirlioğlu’s position as Secretary-General for approval by the OSCE Foreign Ministers to be held on November 5-6 in Valetta, Malta.
Opposition forces in Syria achieve unprecedented advances through offensive operations. In my article published in Al Majalla on November 26, 2024, I explained how Bashar Assad had maintained his grip on power through the civil war with Russian and Iranian backing, gaining the upper hand against opposition forces. However, unlike his father Hafez’s decisive victory