Tag Archives: Turkey

Türkiye’s Zeitenwende

March 7, 2023 On February 6, 2023, two major earthquakes struck southern and central Turkey and northern and western Syria. The international media correctly referred to them as the “Turkey-Syria earthquakes”. But for those familiar with the downturn relations between … Continue reading

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Toward an Inflection Point

November 28, 2022 President Erdogan’s handshake with President al-Sisi has once again triggered criticism about the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leadership’s foreign policy U-turns. On the list were the relations with the UAE, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. … Continue reading

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Global Uncertainty Continues

October 31, 2022 This was a revealing month for the world. In Beijing, President Xi Jinping presented to the Chinese Party Congress the report of the Central Committee in a two-hour-long speech.[i] Having secured a third five-year term as president, … Continue reading

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Time to End the War of Words between Greece and Turkey (*)

September 12, 2022 For decades, since the days of Atatürk and Venizelos, Greek-Turkish relations have been characterized by a roller coaster pattern. Between the years 1997 and 2001, I was the Turkish ambassador in Athens. For a Turkish diplomat serving … Continue reading

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Water Disputes Reaching the Clouds

September 5, 2022 Clouds have always fascinated people. White clouds turning dark remind people of the coming rain or storm, sometimes inspiring hope, at other times fear. Cloud colors at sunrise or sunset captivate them. Regardless of one’s vantage point, … Continue reading

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World Happiness Report 2022, Türkiye

August 29, 2022 The “World Happiness Report 2022” was published on March 18, 2022, by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a global initiative of the United Nations.[i] This was three weeks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and nearly three … Continue reading

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“Retreat” or “Normalization of Relations”?

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

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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President Biden’s Middle East Trip

July 18, 2022 President Biden’s trip to the Middle East took place against the background of Arab-Israeli disenchantment with the Obama White House, the Netanyahu-Trump relationship, the uncertain future of the Iran nuclear deal, the far-reaching consequences of the war … Continue reading

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President Biden’s Upcoming Visit to Saudi Arabia

President Biden’s Upcoming Visit to Saudi Arabia July 12, 2022 Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, in an interview with newspaper editors in Cairo in March 2018 said that Türkiye, Iran, and extremist groups represented a … Continue reading

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