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.

The Russia-Africa Summit and Black Sea Grain

July 31, 2023 The center of interest of the past week was the second Russia-Africa Summit which took place in St. Petersburg on July 27-28. The US and some of its allies were delighted that only 17 heads of African … Continue reading

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The Black Sea Grain Deal, What Now?

July 24, 2023 Heatwaves unseen in the past, wildfires, and huge floods have led some scientists to say that “The earth is in uncharted territory.” So is the world. The war in Ukraine grinds on. Washington’s strategic competition with China … Continue reading

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The Black Sea Grain Initiative

July 18, 2023 Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on July 17, that the Black Sea agreements were effectively terminated on Monday as the part of the deal concerning Russia has not been fulfilled. “The Black Sea agreements are no … Continue reading

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NATO’s Vilnius Summit

July 13, 2023 On February 19, 2021, at the 2021 Virtual Munich Security Conference, President Biden addressed the global community for the first time. He defined the partnership between Europe and the US as the cornerstone of all that the … Continue reading

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Unease Over the Supply of Cluster Munitions to Ukraine

July 9, 2023 The decision by the US to provide Ukraine with cluster munitions has led to strong criticism from humanitarian groups; met with the disapproval of some members of the US Congress, and created unease in some NATO capitals … Continue reading

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Unrest in Moscow and Greater Uncertainty in Russia-West Relations

July 3, 2023 Last week’s developments in Russia have been described as a “rebellion”, “uprising”, “coup”, and “mutiny”. The exception was China. Neither President Xi Jinping nor senior officials of the Chinese government said a word about what was happening … Continue reading

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The US-China-India Triangle

June 26, 2023 I have just finished reading Odd Arne Westad’s book titled “The Cold War, A World History”. It is indeed a remarkable book giving the reader deep insight into the period extending from the end of the Second … Continue reading

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China-US Competition in the Middle East

June 21, 2023 The title of one of my recent posts was, “A Light Breeze of Change in the Middle East”. Hopefully, it would continue to blow more and more strongly and turn into a “wind of change” after decades … Continue reading

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The Question of the Endgame in Ukraine

June 18, 2023 In a recent Foreign Affairs article titled “Ukraine’s Winnable War, Why the West Should Help Kyiv Retake All Its Territory” Gideon Rose said: “A common view of the war sees it as a military deadlock destined to … Continue reading

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Wars and War Crimes

June 5, 2023 It has been a year and a half since Russia invaded Ukraine. Despite the havoc it has caused and the widespread resentment with its global impact, like many other wars, the world is getting used to living … Continue reading

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