Author: Turkiye Scoop

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…

As another vital step to support the Palestinian cause, end Israel’s attacks on Gaza and bring peace to the Middle East, Türkiye has decided to join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the United Nations’ highest court. After Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced the decision, questions have been raised about the process. Türkiye will highly likely join the case under Article 63 of the statute of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which does not necessitate the court’s approval. Should a state consider that it has an interest of a legal nature that may be affected by the decision…

Relations between Ankara and Paris have had significant ups and downs in the past decade, originating from different views on issues such as Libya, the Mediterranean, Africa and Syria. Yet, despite the tumultuous political and diplomatic relations, economic ties continued to grow, indicating a stable and high-potential foundation for further growth. Türkiye and France do not always see eye to eye when it comes to major international issues. While both support ending the war in Gaza as well as a two-state solution for Palestine, views differ on the nature of Hamas. In Syria, Türkiye has long criticized France’s close relations…

Economic prosperity and security are tightly knitted for Türkiye and Iraq as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan heads to Baghdad on Monday for the first time in over a decade to “establish new grounds for relations and resolve outstanding issues.” The visit comes after Ankara announced plans to mount a comprehensive military operation against the PKK terrorist group in northern Iraq’s mountainous Qandil region – currently under the de-jure control of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) – this summer. It will also underpin the groundwork laid by Turkish-Iraqi diplomats in recent months, most notably for the Development Road, a $17 billion…

After rocky ties between Ankara and Baghdad in recent years due to unresolved bilateral problems, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will pay a critical visit to Iraq on Monday, signifying a turning point toward a positive agenda in relations. The visit, which comes after 13 years, will focus on four points: the fight against the PKK, the Iraq Development Road project, the water problem and pipelines. Iraqi officials with whom I talked clearly have a more positive and willing attitude to overcome contentions than before. Several agreements will be signed during the Baghdad visit, after which Erdoğan will also hold talks…

The West’s perception of the Syrian wing of the PKK, the YPG, remains unchanged, even as Türkiye is stepping up its operations against the terrorist group in Iraq or increasing coordination with its NATO ally the U.S. The terrorist organization is hailed by the West, especially the U.S., after the group was used as a “fighting force against Daesh.” Indeed, several states were actively engaged in the fight as Daesh threatened not only Syria and Iraq but rendered every country a potential target for terrorist attacks. As Daesh made increasing territorial gains, the U.S. in 2014 launched a coalition against…

Debates on Sunday’s election outcomes are vividly ongoing in Türkiye, where the ruling Justice and Development Party has suffered a significant setback while the main opposition has surprised everyone by increasing its votes since last May. The election commission will announce the official results on April 14. The main puzzle that political parties currently discuss is whether the success of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) is an emerging trend that will grow until the general elections in 2028 or whether the election results were an outcome of a temporary reaction toward the AK Party. Two days after the election, President…

Ten months after the presidential elections, Türkiye will once again go to the polls, this time to choose their local administrators. Although public attention is not as high as the May polls, political parties have set their ambitions high and will continue their harsh rivalry until the last day. After determining their candidates and drafting their election manifestos, parties have flooded the field to introduce and promote their candidates. The People’s Alliance, formed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), this time does not face a rival alliance since the opposition’s May…