December 15, 2025
In two weeks, the year 2025 will be behind us. The end of a year is a moment of reflection on the achievements, disappointments, and failures of the past twelve months and whether different paths could have been taken. In international relations, those who choose between “new chapters” and “the same old story” are world leaders, primarily among them the leaders of major powers. And “new chapters” are not easy to start writing.
Continue readingDecember 8, 2025
In recent years, Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has increasingly lauded the country’s Ottoman past while being more reserved about its Republican achievements. Yes, AKP leaders visit the Atatürk Mausoleum every year to pay their respects on the anniversary of his passing, but they rarely emphasize his accomplishments. However, a quick look at history reveals that it was Atatürk’s military, political, and reformist leadership that ensured Türkiye’s survival and placed the country on a progressive path.
Continue readingDecember 1, 2025
Once his 28-point peace plan became public knowledge, President Trump gave Ukraine less than a week to accept it. He also said that President Zelensky had little choice but to agree to the plan. “He’ll have to like it. And if he doesn’t like it then they should just keep fighting,” Mr. Trump told reporters. To Ukrainians, this sounded like an ultimatum, and there was a backlash in Europe.
Continue readingNovember 22, 2025
President Trump’s 28-point Ukraine-Russia peace plan is now public knowledge, making it clear that since the August 15, 2025, Alaska summit, Washington and Moscow have remained engaged in behind-closed-doors diplomatic talks, working on the details of a peace deal, the basic parameters of which were agreed upon during that meeting.[i]
Continue readingNovember 19, 2026
In my last post, hours before the UN Security Council began its deliberations on the draft US resolution on November 17, I said that the authority to be given to the Board of Peace (Bopp), the lack of detail about the International Stabilization Force (ISF), and the issue of UN Security Council monitoring might require further negotiations; that whether Russia will persist or accommodate Mr. Trump remained uncertain; and that it was unlikely that Beijing and Moscow would readily give him carte blanche in Gaza.
Continue readingNovember 17, 2025
On November 11, 2025, Reuters, under the heading “Partition of Gaza a looming risk as Trump’s plan falters”, reported that a de facto partition of Gaza between an area controlled by Israel and another ruled by Hamas is increasingly likely, with efforts to advance President Trump’s plan to end the war beyond a ceasefire faltering.
Continue readingNovember 10, 2025
Today marks the 87th anniversary of Atatürk’s passing into eternity. It is a solemn occasion when the people of Türkiye reaffirm their deep gratitude to him and their commitment to his worldview.
What makes him so unique?
Continue readingNovember 4, 2025
President Trump announced his 20-point Gaza Peace Plan on September 29, 2025, in a press conference with Prime Minister Netanyahu at the White House.[i] The ceasefire went into effect on October 10. As expected, there have been many ceasefire violations since then. On October 28, Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least 104 people, including dozens of children, according to local health authorities. The strikes came after Israel accused Hamas of killing a soldier. Thus, the deployment of an international force to Gaza, as envisaged in the Plan, appears to have moved up on the agenda. However, this will only follow the formation of the Board of Peace that will govern Gaza “until the Palestinian Authority completes its reform program”.
Continue readingOctober 24, 2025
Before the Alaska summit of Presidents Putin and Trump on August 15, 2025, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov predicted that the meeting would last at least six to seven hours, adding that Moscow expected a “productive” meeting. The meeting lasted only three hours and did not result in a ceasefire, the West’s top priority. Nonetheless, the joint press conference was held as planned, no questions were taken, and Mr. Trump said very little beyond mentioning that it was an extremely productive meeting. Mr. Putin, as usual, reiterated that the “root causes” of the Ukraine conflict need to be eliminated before a full peace deal can be reached.
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Diplomatic Opinion - Ali Tuygan 