The Turkish Ministry of National Defense (MSB) confirmed on January 12 that nine Turkish soldiers were killed while four others sustained injuries during a clash with PKK militants in the Pençe-Kilit Operation (Operation Claw-Lock) area in Northern Iraq. The injured soldiers were swiftly transported to a medical facility, where they are currently undergoing treatment, according
From President Tayyip Erdoğan’s speech at the 97th anniversary ceremony of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) on January 10, it is possible to draw a few important conclusions or ask questions in terms of Türkiye’s security approach. Before proceeding with the analysis, let us make a few brief notes. “We are living in an era
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s glance at Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç’s cell phone has become a hot topic in Ankara politics. We will get to that, but first, let me tell you the news. When it was revealed that no replacement for Türkiye’s Ambassador to Washington Murat Mercan, who will complete his term on January 14
President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Tayyip Erdoğan took a strategic step and entrusted the local election goal of “Istanbul Again” to former minister Murat Kurum. Kurum was not the candidate most likely to take the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality from the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) popular mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu. For
President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced Murat Kurum, former Minister of Urban Planning, Environment and Climate Change, as the candidate who will run against Ekrem İmamoğlu, the current mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, in the March 31 local elections. “Our aim is to appear before our nation for
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Jan. 6 in Istanbul as a part of his week-long diplomatic tour amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly in the context of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The high-level meeting attended by Fidan, National Intelligence
The Turkish Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee approved Sweden’s NATO membership protocol at its meeting on December 26. Once the approval is voted by the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Türkiye will be deemed to have ratified Sweden’s NATO membership. Political sources say that the plenary vote is likely to take place on
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is set to announce its candidates for the upcoming local election on December 15. Before the big announcement where all the municipal candidates will be revealed, political traffic has become quite hectic. President Erdoğan had a meeting with New Welfare Party (YRP) leader Fatih Erbakan
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s suggestion to lower the presidential election threshold from 50+1 percent to 40+1 percent and to make it a single round, further clarifies that his easy re-election in 2028 is the main aim of the discourse on a new and civil constitution he started on the 12th of September at the Ulucanlar museum.
Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President Mehmet Büyükekşi announced that all league matches have been suspended indefinitely following an attack on referee Halil Umut Meler by MKE Ankaragücü President Faruk Koca after the match between MKE Ankaragücü-Çaykur Rizespor. “We strongly condemn the inhumane and vicious assault against FIFA referee Halil Umut Meler. With the decision of