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 Middle East. During this early period, US involvement in the West Bank and Gaza was minimal since these territories were under Jordanian and Egyptian control, respectively.
Continue readingJune 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 infrastructure and military assets in Russia. These attacks are designed to weaken Russia’s ability to sustain its military operations and to disrupt logistical supply chains.
Continue readingJune 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 he heard the voice in this region, as well in Africa, South America, the Gulf, about the double standard in Gaza, where a lot think that the Americans and the Europeans are giving a free pass to Israel, and this is a big risk.[i]
Continue readingMay 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 immediately. He also said, “Russia wants to do large-scale TRADE with the United States when this catastrophic ‘bloodbath’ is over, and I agree. There is a tremendous opportunity for Russia to create massive amounts of jobs and wealth. Its potential is UNLIMITED. Likewise, Ukraine can be a great beneficiary on Trade, in the process of rebuilding its Country.”[i]
Washington’s Western allies hardly shared his optimism.
Continue readingMay 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 deals made in the three Gulf nations, one cannot help but remember President Biden’s visit to the region in July 2022.
Continue readingMay 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?
Continue readingMay 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 from Around the Globe,” said:
Continue readingApril 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 foreign policy on a wide range of issues, including the war in Ukraine. And he constantly berates his predecessors, blaming them for failures.
Continue readingApril 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 he used the word, Mr. Özgür Özel, the leader of the main opposition party CHP, reacted by calling it “a declaration of war”. Thus, while the world remains engaged in a tariff war, we are fighting an internal “radish war”.
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Diplomatic Opinion - Ali Tuygan 