Category Archives: Uncategorized

Türkiye’s Darkest Hour

Posted on June 1, 2026 by Ali Tuygan

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

Posted on May 21, 2026 by Ali Tuygan

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

Posted on May 18, 2026 by Ali Tuygan

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

Posted on May 11, 2026 by Ali Tuygan

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

Posted on April 30, 2026 by Ali Tuygan

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

Posted on April 27, 2026 by Ali Tuygan

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

Posted on April 20, 2026 by Ali Tuygan

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”

Posted on April 13, 2026 by Ali Tuygan

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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The Imperative of Dialogue

Posted on April 6, 2026 by Ali Tuygan

April 6, 2026 As recent polls in the US show, the majority of Americans oppose sending US ground troops into Iran and wish Washington to end the war quickly, even if that means not achieving the goals set out by … Continue reading →

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The West in a Leadership Crisis

Posted on March 30, 2026 by Ali Tuygan

March 30, 2026 Last Saturday, the war in Iran entered its second month. During the past four weeks, the only European leader to object to the attacks on Iran was Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. He issued a clear and … Continue reading →

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