Tag Archives: Syria

“Retreat” or “Normalization of Relations”?

Posted on August 25, 2022 by Ali Tuygan

August 25, 2022 In the military context, the word “retreat” means “the usually forced withdrawal of troops from an enemy or from an advanced position”. In a broader context, it is defined as “an act or process of withdrawing especially … Continue reading →

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Balance Sheet of the Past Week

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Ali Tuygan

July 25, 2022 The Presidents of Iran, Russia, and Türkiye met in the Astana format on July 19, 2022. President Erdogan went to Tehran to secure the understanding of his partners for a military operation against the PKK/YPG in Syria … Continue reading →

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Ukraine Crisis: A Reminder from the Middle East

Posted on February 7, 2022 by Ali Tuygan

February 7, 2022 The Russia-West standoff over Ukraine continues. The US and its European allies are warning of a serious risk of a Russian offensive against Ukraine. Moscow is claiming that the US is trying to pull Russia into an … Continue reading →

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Turkish Foreign Policy Must Restore Its Republican Settings

Posted on October 19, 2021 by Ali Tuygan

October 19, 2021 Afghanistan developments could only divert Turkey’s attention from Syria for a while. With the meeting on September 29 between Presidents Putin and Erdogan, and the latter’s comments signaling another  operation against the PYD/YPG, we are back to … Continue reading →

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Turkey’s Vicious Circle of Foreign Policy

Posted on October 5, 2021 by Ali Tuygan

October 5, 2021 In late September,  President Erdogan traveled to New York and addressed the UN General Assembly. He also hoped to have a face-to-face meeting with President Biden. When such a meeting failed to materialize, President Erdogan vented his … Continue reading →

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Global Leadership: The Moral Dimension

Posted on July 19, 2021 by Ali Tuygan

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

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An Ultimatum That Boomeranged

Posted on March 3, 2020 by Ali Tuygan

(Co-authored with Yusuf Buluç)[i] The people of Turkey held their breath on the eve of the deadline set in the ultimatum  President Erdoğan served on the Syrian regime promising severe military punishment if  its forces  were not to withdraw to … Continue reading →

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Turkey’s Narrowing Horizons

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Ali Tuygan

February 27, 2020 In the fall of 1966, I took a series of exams to join the Turkish Foreign Ministry. Among other things, we were asked to comment on a widely used metaphor, “Turkey is a bridge between East and … Continue reading →

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The Middle East: A Disheartening Beginning for the New Decade

Posted on January 5, 2020 by Ali Tuygan

January 5, 2020 The Iraq-Iran war started on September 22, 1980. It lasted eight years. In August 1991 Iraq invaded Kuwait. A massive US-led military campaign forced Iraq to withdraw in February 1991. It was followed by years of no-fly … Continue reading →

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2017: Another Year of Turmoil

Posted on December 20, 2017 by Ali Tuygan

  December 20, 2017 The following is from my summing-up of the year 2016 (*): “The Ukraine conflict has led many analysts to frequently mention President Putin’s unpredictable tactics and actions if not policies. With Mr. Trump in the White … Continue reading →

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