Turkey

Politics

Ninety-one Turkish lawmakers defected from the opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, to Ozgur Ozel's Yeni Parti, or New Party, DW reported on July 24.

Turkey: Mass Defections Cripple Main Opposition Party

Ozgur Ozel, the ousted leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, announced that he was resigning from the party and would form a new one after weeks of internal disputes, Reuters reported on July 21.

Turkey: Ousted Opposition Leader Resigns, Set To Form New Political Party

Burkina Faso

Togo

Military & Security

Togo is reportedly undertaking a major overhaul of its counterinsurgency strategy to combat the growing threat posed by al Qaeda-affiliate Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, or JNIM, along its border with Burkina Faso, including the construction of trenches stretching for several hundred kilometers across vulnerable sections of the northern border, the establishment of new forward operating bases, and reinforced military deployments in the Savanes region, Jeune Afrique reported on July 9.

Togo: Government Strengthens Counterterrorism Strategy, Deepens Security Cooperation With Turkey

Europe

A delegation of high-level EU officials, including foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, visited Ankara, Turkey, on June 30 to discuss economic and security cooperation with senior Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

EU, Turkey: Brussels Sends High-Level Delegation to Ankara for Wide-Ranging Talks

United States

The United States is weighing the provision of a $700 million package of GE-made engines for Turkey's KAAN 5th-generation fighter jet, Interesting Engineering reported on June 24.

U.S., Turkey: U.S. Set To Greenlight Engine Sale for Turkey's Stealth KAAN Fighter

Italy

Italy will deploy a SAMP/T air defense system to Turkey's 3rd Main Jet Air Base Command in Konya to boost Turkey's air defenses over the next six months, Turkey's defense ministry said in a June 17 statement.

Turkey, Italy: Italy Deploys Anti-Ballistic Missile SAMP/T System to Konya

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Saudi Arabia

Director General of Ethiopia's National Intelligence and Security Service Redwan Hussein and former chief of Tigray's interim regional administration Getachew Reda accused the Tigray People's Liberation Front, or TPLF, of planning to launch an offensive against pro-government forces with the support of Eritrea "in the coming days" in a June 11 op-ed published by Al Jazeera.

Ethiopia: Intelligence Chief, Former Tigray Administrator Accuse TPLF of Planning Offensive in 'Coming Days'

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Russia

Armenia's Central Election Commission said Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contract party won 49.8% of the vote in the June 7 parliamentary election, giving it a projected 64 of 101 base parliamentary seats under the D'Hondt apportionment method, Armenpress reported on June 8.

Armenia: Pashinyan Wins Election but Falls Short of Constitutional Majority

Snapshots

Demonstrators yell through a megaphone and hold a framed portrait of the ousted Republican People's Party (CHP) chairman, Ogur Ozel, during an opposition rally in Izmir, Turkey, on May 24, 2026. 

The split could reduce the opposition's competitiveness in the 2028 general elections and further embolden Erdogan to pursue another term via constitutional or electoral mechanisms.

Turkey's Main Opposition Party Splits, Casting Uncertainty Over Efforts to Oust Erdogan

Assessments

Ukraine

Billboards are seen ahead of the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, on June 26, 2026.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Recent U.S. military drawdowns in Germany and threatened reductions in Italy and Spain underscore the stakes of the summit on July 7-8.

Transatlantic Tensions Set To Dominate NATO Summit in Ankara

The ousted chair of Turkey's opposition Republican People’s Party, Ozgur Ozel, addresses lawmakers during his party's group meeting in the Turkish parliament on June 2, 2026, in Ankara, Turkey. 

Economics

Turkey's main opposition party will struggle to gain traction amid legal battle and deepening internal divisions, freeing up the ruling party to consider returning to more unorthodox economic policies ahead of the 2028 election.

Turkey's Opposition Struggles To Stay United in the Face of Legal Strife

A window view from Turkey's Eastern Express train. 

Improved relations could unlock strategic and economic benefits for both countries, especially if their border is reopened, though Russia's entrenched influence in Armenia remains a key constraint.

Russian Coercion Will Constrain Budding Turkey-Armenia Rapprochement

Egypt

Iran

Israel

Jordan

Lebanon

Palestinian Territories

Qatar

Syria

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

United Kingdom

Right-wing activists gather with Israeli flags outside the Damascus Gate of the walled Old City of Jerusalem on May 26, 2025, during a flag march for Jerusalem Day, commemorating the Israeli army's 1967 capture of the city's eastern sector during the Arab-Israeli war.

Israel's quest for middle-power status will be defined by its ability to unify its Jerusalem core, which has remained divided throughout the modern state's history.

The Modern Geopolitics of Israel

A digital illustration of the Turkish flag.

Continued high inflation, political uncertainty and bureaucratic hurdles will likely limit the overall effectiveness of the reforms, which come ahead of the 2028 presidential election.

Turkey Pursues Tax Reforms Amid Economic Fallout From the Iran War

A an Iranian missile that landed March 4 near the Turkish border in the Qamishli district of al-Hasaka, Syria. Although direct strikes as part of Iranian regional retaliation remain unlikely, the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran threatens Egypt and Turkey with energy disruptions and security challenges.

U.S.-Iran Relations

Although direct strikes as part of Iranian regional retaliation remain unlikely, the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran threatens Egypt and Turkey with energy disruptions and security challenges.

Evaluating the Spillover Risks of the Iran War for Egypt and Turkey

Iraq

Members of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) participate in a military drill in an outpost near Arbil, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, on Jan. 15, 2026.

Although arming Iranian Kurdish factions might increase pressure on Tehran, such an uprising alone would be unlikely to collapse the regime, while significantly raising the risk of drawing Turkey and Iraq into the conflict.

The Risks and Constraints of a U.S.-Backed Kurdish Uprising in Iran

Columns

On Geopolitics

Somalia

Sudan

Libya

A dark earth map of the Middle East with glowing details of cities and human population density areas.

Two blocs are emerging in the Middle East: one focused on preserving existing states and institutions, and the other on creating new ones.

Preservation vs. Fragmentation: Two Paths Toward a New Order in the Middle East

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) inspect the honor guard during an official welcoming ceremony at the presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on June 22, 2022.

After years of discord, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are finding common ground as they increasingly position themselves against Emirati- and Israeli-backed regional initiatives. 

Saudi Arabia and Turkey's New Regional Alignment

A digital satellite illustration shows Europe at night.

Energy

The EU enlargement chief's upcoming visit to Turkey signals an attempt to balance cautious engagement with clear strategic interests, rather than an imminent breakthrough on the country's stalled accession process.

Understanding the EU's Strategic Reengagement With Turkey

Residents wave Somali flags as they attend a rally denouncing Israel's recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland at Mogadishu Stadium in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Dec. 30, 2025. 

Two regional alignments are coalescing along the Red Sea and in the Horn of Africa, risking the escalation of proxy conflicts and longstanding rivalries.

The Unfolding Regional Realignments Along the Red Sea and Their Implications

<p>The Republic of Turkey straddles Europe and Asia, forming a land bridge that links the Levant, Iran and the Caucasus with Southeastern Europe. In stark contrast to its predecessor, the Ottoman Empire, modern Turkey is confined largely to the semi-arid, mountainous terrain of the Anatolian Peninsula and the capital-rich lands surrounding the Sea of Marmara. This low-lying region contains the large cities of Istanbul and Izmir and the two chokepoints linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean &mdash; the Bosporus and the Dardanelles. This area is the core of Turkey&#39;s population and economy. Turkey&rsquo;s geographic challenge is expanding the economic stability and development of this core into the eastern region of the country. Anatolia&rsquo;s rugged geography and mountainous terrain make economic and infrastructure development difficult, but has historically helped to prevent land invasions from the east and south. Modern Turkey is working to integrate this largely rural, poorer hinterland into the political and economic mainstream in an attempt to link its current Islamist government to its neighbors in the broader Middle East. However, significant challenges remain. Turkey has fought a decades-long Kurdish insurgency in its southeastern regions, where the Taurus Mountains and the Eastern Anatolian plateau give sanctuary to Kurdish separatist militants. Turkey&rsquo;s position at the crossroads between East and West provides the country with several geopolitical possibilities. The country is working to serve as a transit state linking the exports of its energy-rich eastern neighbors to consumer markets in Europe. Its location also invites a series of constraints, as reflected by Turkey&rsquo;s position surrounded by Europe&rsquo;s economic decline, Iranian ambitions in Syria and Iraq, and Russian interests in the Caucasus.</p>

SITUATION REPORTS

Turkey: Mass Defections Cripple Main Opposition Party

Turkey: Ousted Opposition Leader Resigns, Set To Form New Political Party

Togo: Government Strengthens Counterterrorism Strategy, Deepens Security Cooperation With Turkey

EU, Turkey: Brussels Sends High-Level Delegation to Ankara for Wide-Ranging Talks

U.S., Turkey: U.S. Set To Greenlight Engine Sale for Turkey's Stealth KAAN Fighter

Turkey, Italy: Italy Deploys Anti-Ballistic Missile SAMP/T System to Konya

Ethiopia: Intelligence Chief, Former Tigray Administrator Accuse TPLF of Planning Offensive in 'Coming Days'

Armenia: Pashinyan Wins Election but Falls Short of Constitutional Majority

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