The Iraqi government needs Turkey to counterbalance Iran and help alleviate Baghdad’s economic problems, but the Kurdish issue, which has long strained bilateral ties, might further snag progress in economic and strategic projects.
Read More »Turkish defense industry risks big damage from US sanctions
The US sanctions targeting Turkey’s defense industry agency may be seen as rather mild by some observers, but they threaten to deprive Turkey of key military technology should they last more than a year. The new US sanctions against Turkey over its purchase of Russian air defense systems stand to …
Read More »Turkey’s Kurdish party target of tug of war between Islamists, ultra-nationalists
As Turkey’s ruling party and its nationalist ally face a deeper legitimacy crisis, pressure on Kurdish politics is intensifying. Picture this: You’re watching the evening news and you see a political party emblem — in this case, the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) emblem — on which, in place of …
Read More »With Arms Deals and Donations, Turkey Steps up Balkan Influence
Turkey has long pursued a policy of soft-power diplomacy in the Balkans. More recently, the defence sector has come to the fore. When, in the midst of a reignited war over the Caucasus mountain region of Nagorno-Karabakh, President Aleksandar Vucic said Serbia was considering buying Turkish armed drones, it was …
Read More »Erdogan ally calls for Turkey's pro-Kurdish party to be banned
President Tayyip Erdogan’s nationalist ally said Turkey’s pro-Kurdish HDP party, the country’s third biggest, should be banned for separatism – a move the HDP’s co-leader condemned on Thursday as a bid to silence six million voters.
Read More »Turkey says will not reverse Russian S-400S purchase despite US sanctions
Turkey will not reverse its purchase of Russian S-400 missile defence systems and will take reciprocal steps after evaluating U.S. sanctions imposed over the acquisition, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday.
Read More »Turkey has evacuated seven Syrian military posts – source
Turkey has evacuated seven military observation posts in northwest Syria, pulling back troops from territory controlled by the Syrian government to areas held by insurgents and Turkey-backed rebels, a Turkish source said on Friday.
Read More »Turkey won't back down from S-400s despite sanctions, says foreign minister
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara will “take steps” to respond to the US sanctions unveiled this week. Turkey won’t back down from its purchase of Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile defense systems, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday, adding that Ankara is weighing how to respond to …
Read More »Iraq, Turkey agree to cooperate on counterterrorism, trade
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi committed to enhanced cooperation on terrorism, trade and energy, although Turkey’s ongoing military operations in Iraqi Kurdistan may remain a source of contention between the two neighbors.
Read More »Turkish Central Bank to pursue tight monetary policy against inflation
Turkey’s Central Bank Governor Naci Agbal said Wednesday he would seek to stem inflation, possibly through further rate hikes, pledging to continue tight monetary policies and stabilize the nation’s currency. Turkey’s new Central Bank Governor Naci Agbal pledged to maintain a tight monetary policy to stem the nation’s double-digit inflation …
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