Author Archives: Ali Tuygan

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About Ali Tuygan

Ali Tuygan is a graduate of the Faculty of Political Sciences of Ankara University. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in January 1967. Between various positions in Ankara, he served at the Turkish Embassy in Brussels, NATO International Staff, Turkish Embassies in Washington and Baghdad, and the Turkish Delegation to NATO. From 1986 to 1989 he was the Principal Private Secretary to the President of the Republic. He then served as ambassador to Ottawa, Riyadh, and Athens. In 1997 he was honored with a decoration by the Italian President. Between these assignments abroad he served twice as Deputy Undersecretary for Political Affairs. In 2004 he was appointed Undersecretary where he remained until the end of 2006 before going to his last foreign assignment as Ambassador to UNESCO. He retired in 2009. In April 2013 he published a book entitled “Gönüllü Diplomat, Dışişlerinde Kırk Yıl” (“Diplomat by Choice, Forty Years in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs”) in which he elaborated on the diplomatic profession and the main issues on the global agenda. He has published articles in Turkish periodicals and newspapers.

Europe and Russia  Have to Resume Dialogue

Europe and Russia  Have to Resume Dialogue June 15, 2026 Since the beginning of the year, there have been references to the resumption of dialogue between Europe and Russia. European Council President Costa said ⁠he believed there was “potential” for … Continue reading

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Iran-US Negotiations

June 8, 2026 Today marks the 100th day of the Israeli-US war with Iran, which President Trump had said would last “four to six weeks”. Despite the ceasefire, both sides remain engaged not only in exchange of fire but also … Continue reading

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Türkiye’s Darkest Hour

June 1, 2026 The “darkest hour” captures a moment when things are at their worst. Türkiye’s 1950 general election, which brought the Democratic Party (DP) to power, was a major step toward democracy. During the twenty-seven years, a very short … Continue reading

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The China-Russia Summit

May 21, 2026 Beijing has become an increasingly popular destination for world leaders. Over the past ten months, 18 heads of state and government visited China. Among them were President Trump, King Felipe VI of Spain, President Halla Tómasdóttir, Prime … Continue reading

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The China-US Summit

May 18, 2026 On April 10, 1971, the US table tennis team arrived in China. Later that year, in July 1971, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger made a secret trip to China, paving the way for President Nixon’s visit. On … Continue reading

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Waiting for Washington’s Response to Tehran

May 11, 2026 In his election night victory speech on November 6, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump said, “I’m not going to start a war. I’m going to stop wars.” Yet, he twice joined Prime Minister Netanyahu’s war against Iran. And, … Continue reading

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Europe’s Shifting Geopolitical Landscape

April 30, 2026 On February 24, 2022, Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. The West condemned the invasion and began to support Ukraine. Four months later, at their summit in Madrid on June 29, NATO allies adopted the “NATO 2022 … Continue reading

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A War of Nerves

April 27, 2026 Merriam-Webster defines the title of this post as “a conflict characterized by psychological tactics (such as bluff, threats, and intimidation) designed primarily to create confusion, indecision, or breakdown of morale”. The targeting and seizures of ships by … Continue reading

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Time for Tough Choices

April 20, 2026 The Iran-US ceasefire expires on Wednesday. Yet, there is still some uncertainty regarding the second round of the “peace negotiations” in Islamabad. The past ten days have seen intense diplomatic activity, Trump’s flurry of comments and threats, … Continue reading

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The “Pause”

April 13, 2026 Last Tuesday, Washington and Tehran agreed, through Pakistan’s mediation, to stop fighting for two weeks. The term used to define the “agreement” was “ceasefire,” often accompanied by the adjective “temporary.” Another word that goes a step beyond … Continue reading

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