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.

With the Israel-Iran War, Gaza Becomes a Secondary Issue

June 16, 2025 The US-Israel relationship began with the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. The Truman administration was among the first to recognize the new state, combining moral obligations following the Holocaust with strategic interests in the … Continue reading

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Russia’s Likely Response to the Ukrainian Drone Attack

June 6, 2025 In recent years, as military technologies have advanced, drones have become a crucial tool in modern warfare. Ukraine’s recent drone attacks against Russian strategic targets illustrate this shift. Ukraine has increasingly used drone warfare to target critical … Continue reading

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Facts as Opposed to Public Discourse

June 2, 2025 In recent weeks, there have been more references to growing international criticism of the IDF’s Gaza operations and mounting pressure on Israel. President Macron, in a speech opening a security forum in Singapore last week, said that … Continue reading

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The Long Call

May 26, 2025 Following his two-hour-long telephone call with President Putin on May 19, President Trump claimed that his conversation with the Russian leader went very well and that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to start negotiations toward a ceasefire … Continue reading

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A Frenetic Week

May 19, 2025 Last week, the world focused on President Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and the Russia-Ukraine “peace talks”, and the rising death toll in Gaza. Looking at the welcome extended to Mr. Trump and the … Continue reading

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Days of Gloom in Türkiye

May 12, 2025 The world is going through a period of conflict and uncertainty. Where does Türkiye stand? What is Ankara’s relationship with its allies, traditional partners, regional countries, and neighbors?

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Trump’s First Hundred Days and Türkiye

May 5, 2025 At the end of President Trump’s first 100 days in office, the US and world media published assessments of the past three months. The International Crisis Group, in a commentary titled “Trump’s Turbulent First 100 Days: Views … Continue reading

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Ukraine Conflict in Its Fourth Year

April 28, 2025 President Trump likes being on the center stage at all times, prefers communicating his messages personally, and enjoys press gaggles. His messages, remarks, threats, and flip-flops are confusing and have introduced an element of unpredictability into US … Continue reading

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Türkiye’s Radish War

April 21, 2025 Following President Erdoğan’s first use of it in early January after the arrest of Mr. Rıza Akpolat, the Mayor of the Beşiktaş district of İstanbul, “radish” has become the top word of the Turkish political lexicon. Once … Continue reading

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High Time for the Left to Rally

April 14, 2025 People aspire to democracy.  Regardless of the level of respect they have for fundamental rights and freedoms, all regimes, including dictatorships claim to be democratic as this remains the ultimate source of legitimacy. People also aspire to … Continue reading

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