Turkey

By Ali Bilgic, Loughborough University | – The longstanding neutrality of Sweden and Finland was abandoned when both states submitted formal applications to Nato. But they are facing an unexpected obstacle on the way to membership: Turkey. While Turkey supports the alliance’s “open door” policy, Ankara’s veto reflects its aims to change the status quo […]

Featured

Turkey wants Anti-Kurdish Pledges in Writing from Finland and Sweden before they can Join NATO

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Turkey is still holding up the application of Finland and Sweden to join NATO over what President Tayyip Erdogan says is the two countries’ support for what he considers Kurdish terrorist organizations and the Gulen sect. Turkey has been a member of NATO since it was formed in 1949 and […]

Kurds

Why Turkey isn’t on board with Finland, Sweden joining NATO – and why that matters

The Conversation

By Ronald Suny, University of Michigan | – After decades of neutrality, the two Scandinavian states that have to date remained out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have reacted to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by declaring an intention to join the American-led alliance. But there is a major obstacle in their way: Turkey. The […]

Russia

Did the Ukraine War lead to Turkish-Saudi Rapprochement?

Middle East Monitor

Motasem A Dalloul | – ( Middle East Monitor ) – Turkish President Recep Erdogan visited Jeddah in July 2017 and met Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to mediate for an end to the blockade imposed on Qatar by the Saudis, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt. “No […]

Russia

Russia in Ukraine: Is Turkey’s neutrality Option Viable?

Middle East Monitor

By Omar Kosh | – ( Middle East Monitor ) – Turkish politicians waited for several days before describing the events in Ukraine as a “state of war”, after first referring to it as the Russian invasion. Russia itself, meanwhile, refers to it as a “military operation”, in order to avoid the consequences, especially those […]

Joe Biden

Turkey will Block Certain Russian Warships from Bosphorus, but still Seeks Neutrality on Ukraine War

Global Voices

By Lamiya Adilgizi | – ( Globalvoices.org ) – Over the last week, nations and corporations all over the world have announced extensive economic and political sanctions against Russia, targeting the finance, energy, transport, technology, and visa sectors. A number of Russian banks have been removed from the SWIFT messaging system. Russia’s Central Bank assets […]

Employment

From Couriers to factory Laborers, Turkish Workers are Protesting low Wages amid economic Crisis

Global Voices

By Doga Celik and Arzu Geybullayeva | – ( Globalvoices.org ) – Prices are rising in Turkey and people have had enough. The leader of a Turkish opposition party recently tweeted he won’t be paying inflated electricity bills following January price hikes on basic commodities. At the same time, shop owners have been posting their […]

Russia

Turkey’s High Wire Act between Russia and Ukraine

Elif Selin Calik

By Elif Selin Calik | – ( Middle East Monitor ) – Turkey’s military-industrial partners are on the verge of war. The war scenario between Russia and Ukraine is testing Turkey’s balancing policy, especially in the defence industry. Both countries are important partners for Turkey in terms of sales and purchasing of defence equipment. This […]

journalism

Turkish journalist Sedef Kabaş arrested for ‘insulting’ President Erdoğan

Committee to Protect Journalists

Committee to Protect Journalists – (Istanbul)– Turkish authorities should immediately release journalist Sedef Kabaş, drop the charge of “insulting the president,” and cancel the fine and ban imposed on TELE1 TV, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On January 22, 2022, an Istanbul court charged Turkish freelance journalist Sedef Kabaş with insulting President Recep […]