Turkey

The rapprochement between Ankara and Cairo has catalyzed internal rifts between exiled leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood. Amid a fledgling Turkish bid last April to normalize ties with Egypt, a delegation of exiled Muslim Brotherhood leaders held talks in Ankara, seeking assurances that they would not be thrown under the …

Turkey is being accused by Kurdish security forces of carrying out a drone attack Tuesday in northeastern Syria that killed three civilians in a car. The strike took place in Qamishli, a city on the Syria-Turkey border that is controlled by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The three victims …

Sanctions are mandated by law for “any entity that does significant business with the Russian military or intelligence sectors” — Office of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Chair Robert Menendez, Daily Sabah, September 28, 2021. “Any new purchases by Turkey must mean new sanctions.” — U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, …

In addition to think tank funding that often does not get disclosed, a new report provides a behind the scenes look at DC’s Turkish lobby. “Issues of democracy, freedom of speech, and journalism but also the fight against terrorism, it’s not an easy thing to strike a balance between,” Turkish …

Pro-government Turkish media outlets last week reported that preparations are underway for a new set of military operations in Syria. A parliamentary motion to authorize the government to continue sending troops abroad was tabled last month and easily approved. Previous motions approved a one-year mandate for such operations, but this …

Factions pulling out of the recently formed Syrian Liberation Front raise questions about the future of Turkish-backed rebel groups. Sources close to Sultan Soleman Shah Brigade, one of the largest factions of the Syrian Liberation Front, said that the brigade has effectively withdrawn from the front to join the Thaeeroun …

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to three Gulf of Guinea countries last month brings attention to the importance not only of this body of water, but also the competition for influence there. The Gulf of Guinea is hotter than ever. Erdogan visited Angola, Togo and Nigeria on his latest …

Recent comments by top Turkish officials promoting disregard for some laws has activists, opposition figures and journalists concerned that they alone will be the ones subject to restrictions and regulations, with AKP supporters given leeway. On Oct. 26, Turkish Minister of Interior Suleyman Soylu gave a speech addressing Turkey’s female …

Turkish military reinforcements pour into the frontlines with the Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria, as Turkish-backed FSA factions stand on alert ahead of an imminent battle. The Turkish army continues to send military reinforcements to the areas controlled by the Syrian opposition in northeastern Syria, amid ongoing Turkish threats against …

Turkey has ramped up military activity on the ground in Syria following a parliamentary extension of the government’s mandate to carry out cross-border operations. Yet, such an operation still seems unlikely without Washington and Moscow’s approval. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan might be counting on nationalism to sidestep Turkey’s deepening …