Author: Turkiye Scoop

Against waning Western influences, Türkiye is growing as a reliable partner to African countries as it reaps the benefits of seeds it has sown in business and diplomacy across the continent for the past two decades under what Ankara calls its “win-win policy.” Ankara’s mediation between Ethiopia and Somalia over a controversial deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland has demonstrated its strategic influence in the Horn of Africa, said Kaan Devecioğlu, the Northern Africa Coordinator at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies (ORSAM), an Ankara-based think tank. Türkiye has managed to bring Somalia and Ethiopia together for two rounds…

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will visit Türkiye next week to address Parliament in what pundits have called a “big opportunity” to define his position on the factions within the Palestinian resistance amid Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza. Abbas’s speech will come against the backdrop of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination in Iran, which briefly caused a power vacuum in the resistance group that was swiftly filled by Yahya Sinwar, the alleged mastermind of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Hamas, which has ruled the besieged Gaza Strip since 2007, and Abbas-led Fatah, the main party in the U.S.-backed Palestinian…

With the U.S. presidential race looking all but set to come down to a Donald Trump versus Kamala Harris ticket, the outcome of the November election will impact agitated relations with Türkiye as well. Regardless of whether a Democrat or a Republican is in the White House, Ankara will have much to tackle in its dealings with Washington in the upcoming period, a range of differing stances that threaten to evolve into full-blown crises if left unattended any longer. Experts argue that a Harris presidency could preserve the Joe Biden-installed status quo if not guided by more Türkiye-friendly advisers, while…

The Turkish people are divided more than ever on Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek’s economic policies these days, with discussions raging both on social media as well as on the streets. With Şimşek’s appointment into the new Cabinet of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after the 2023 elections, the finance minister was perceived as a savior for the country’s worsening economy. Since 2018, the government has experienced several currency crises, the devaluation of the lira, purchasing power dying down and soaring inflation of over 75%. Just a day before, Erdoğan, at his party’s parliamentary group meeting, said that inflation would fall. “We…

The Turkish people are divided more than ever on Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek’s economic policies these days, with discussions raging both on social media as well as on the streets. With Şimşek’s appointment into the new Cabinet of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after the 2023 elections, the finance minister was perceived as a savior for the country’s worsening economy. Since 2018, the government has experienced several currency crises, the devaluation of the lira, purchasing power dying down and soaring inflation of over 75%. Just a day before, Erdoğan, at his party’s parliamentary group meeting, said that inflation would fall. “We…

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s recent remarks on Türkiye’s possibility to join the BRICS group have sparked yet again debates on Ankara “turning away” from the West. However, the statement should not cast doubt about Ankara’s commitment to the Euro-Atlantic alliance; rather, it should be read as another initiative to diversify its foreign policy further. During a recent visit to China, Fidan, at a talk at the Center for China and Globalization, said, “We would like to, of course. Why would we not?” when asked about possible membership. This is not the first time Türkiye has voiced interest in participation as…

Nintendo surprised fans on Tuesday by announcing a new chapter in its 40-year-old “Zelda” saga, one of the Japanese video game giant’s biggest cash-cows. During an event broadcast on the web, the firm said “The Legend of Zelda Echoes of Wisdom” would be scheduled for release on the Switch console on September 26. Eiji Aonuma, producer of the Zelda series, said on the webcast that fans would be able to play as Princess Zelda herself rather than the elf-like warrior Link — a first for an official entry into the game’s cannon. “This time around Link has vanished and it’s…

Turkish politics witnessed successive messages and statements this week from several political parties that have been intensely discussed and, by some circles, interpreted as emerging fractures within the ruling People’s Alliance. All focus was on a memorandum-like written statement by Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairperson Devlet Bahçeli, published on Wednesday, which came after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday met with main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chair Özgür Özel and the wife of murdered nationalist activist Sinan Ateş on the same day. Following local elections, Özel visited Erdoğan on May 2 and Erdoğan’s visit to the CHP headquarters in…

This week, upon an invitation by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al Sudani, I visited the Grand Al-Faw port, which is projected to constitute the heart of the Development Road project, which will link the East to the West. After a road trip from the capital to the southern Basra province, we entered the huge area of 54 square kilometers (33.5 square miles) devoted to the port town. A long, curvy road is to be followed until one can reach the seaside. Farhan al-Fartousi, director general of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, accompanied us, showing the different features…

After Greece announced it would create two marine parks in the Aegean Sea, Türkiye launched its own initiative to map similar parks in the region in a tit-for-tat move. According to a Turkish official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, Türkiye’s Transportation and Infrastructure Ministry will plan to map out its own marine parks in the region. Greece will create the parks by the end of this year, the country’s environment and energy minister said in April. This announcement was harshly criticized by neighbor Türkiye, which has accused Athens of exploiting environmental…