Like many others, I have been watching Türkiye’s policies regarding immigrants, refugees, and foreigners, especially the citizenship process, with growing concern for a long time. The lack of transparency, ambiguous statistics, and the failure to clearly articulate the purpose of the pursued policies have transformed this process into one of the worst examples in the
Turkish Defense Minister Güler stated that due to shifting geopolitical dynamics, the US could reinstate Türkiye in the F-35 program despite its possession of Russian S-400 missiles. Turkish National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler announced that the US might readmit Türkiye to the F-35 sales program despite its possession of Russian-made S-400 missiles, confirming that a
Turkish National Intelligence Organization’s (MİT) Legal Counsel Fuat Midas explains the concept of “Influence Espionage” through examples, without naming specific countries: “Consider a scenario where someone plans to assassinate a foreign national in a third country. They’re trafficking explosives and materials through our country from another country in the East. They intend to use our
As Türkiye celebrates the 101’st anniversary of its Republic, the definition of a “democratic, social state based on rule of law,” enshrined in the first three articles of the Constitution, remains fundamental to its founding principles. These three articles form the cornerstone of the constitutional order and are safeguarded against any proposal for change. However,
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is in Türkiye on October 19 for a one-day working visit to meet with President Tayyip Erdoğan. Despite all the ups and downs, among the G7 countries, Germany has the most high-level contact with Turkey. They had met just a month ago at the Turkish House within the framework of the
Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and key ally in Türkiye’s ruling coalition, has called on imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan to “unilaterally declare the dissolution of his organization.” “Let the terrorist leader, who claimed he was ‘ready for any kind of service’ when brought to Türkiye, now step forward and unilaterally
The rhetoric of a “new and civil constitution” and “liberation from the coup constitution,” frequently voiced by ministers appointed by President Erdoğan and AK Party officials since 12 September 2023, is not resonating with the public. The weakest point of Erdoğan’s discourse is the ambiguity regarding the reasons behind proposing a new and civil constitution.
I wonder if it’s appropriate to describe the conspicuously close relationship between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli, as a “bromance.” This was on full display during the 953rd-anniversary celebrations of the Malazgirt Victory on August 26 in Ahlat, much to the chagrin of their opponents. Perhaps “strategic alliance” would be a
I first heard the phrase “Two states, one nation” from Abulfaz Elchibey. It was early 1992, just after Azerbaijan had declared independence from the Soviet Union. Elchibey was still officially banned from politics, but my colleagues Semih İdiz, Aziz Utkan, and I managed to interview him in a basement belonging to the Popular Front in