Category Archives: Uncategorized

Iran Sanctions and Turkey’s Brunson Headache

Posted on August 10, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

August 10, 2018 The JCPOA was finalized by Iran and the P5+1 on July 14, 2015. Six days later the UN Security Council voted unanimously to endorse the agreement and “terminate” all prior UN sanctions subject to re-imposition through a … Continue reading →

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Turkey-US: A Mind-boggling Relationship

Posted on August 3, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

August 3, 2018 Washington has imposed sanctions on Turkey’s Ministers of Interior and Justice. These may be symbolic but their significance cannot be underrated. Ankara has reacted. The disarrayed opposition is clamoring for retaliation. Russia and Iran have condemned US … Continue reading →

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The Idlib Challenge

Posted on July 31, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

July 31, 2018 Ever since the beginning the dictum was “there is no military solution to the Syrian conflict”. Yet external parties involved in the war and their proxies knew all along that this was far from reflecting their true … Continue reading →

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On Turkish-American Relations

Posted on July 24, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

July 24, 2018 In conventional wisdom, continuity was a prominent feature of sound foreign policy. This did not mean that adjustments, seeking new political/economic opportunities, innovative approaches to conflict resolution were only to be resisted. Nonetheless, a country’s remaining on … Continue reading →

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President Trump’s Stormy Journey to Europe

Posted on July 16, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

July 16, 2018 After a confrontational NATO summit in Brussels where the primus inter pares target was Germany and a UK visit which was characterized by some observers as an “assault on diplomatic norms” President Trump met his Russian counterpart … Continue reading →

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President Trump Upends the NATO Summit

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

July 12, 2018 Donald Trump took the oath of office as the President of the United States on January 20, 2017. By then, the Ukraine conflict had already turned into a frozen one and despite statements regarding non-recognition of Crimea’s … Continue reading →

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Regime Change

Posted on July 5, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

July 5, 2018 In November 2003, thousands of Georgian demonstrators took to the streets to protest the flawed results of a parliamentary election. They gave red roses to the soldiers symbolizing their peaceful intentions. And, soldiers who were expected to … Continue reading →

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A Victory for the JDP / A Setback for Turkish Democracy

Posted on June 26, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

June 26, 2018 Everybody knew this was a landmark election, the last exit on the road to authoritarian rule. With continuing state of emergency, a failing economy, extreme polarization and a chain of foreign and security policy disasters, Government’s only … Continue reading →

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The War in Yemen and the OIC

Posted on June 20, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

June 20, 2018 On June 13, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Dr. Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen issued a statement saying he “… extended his sincere congratulations and best wishes to the Islamic Ummah on the advent of … Continue reading →

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Turkey’s Election Campaign: Foreign Policy

Posted on June 15, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

June 15, 2018 A friend suggested that I should write a post comparing the foreign policy of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party with the outlook of the opposition. I believe the foreign policy record of the JDP speaks for … Continue reading →

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