Analysis – Turkey In Depth – Smart, informed focus on the stories that matter

Deciphering Turkish Diplomacy Sep 29, 2025

TURKISH PRESSURE OR LOCAL WILL? NORTHERN CYPRUS FACES ITS CHOICE

It was already known that the questions posed to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on board the presidential plane were pre-prepared by the Directorate of Communications. Media Ombudsman Faruk Bildirici has revealed, with concrete evidence this time, what has been an open secret. Bildirici received the full text of the questions and answers long before the conversation took place on the plane taking Erdoğan and journalists back to Turkey from Washington.

Barçın Yinanç

Portrait of the Week Sep 26, 2025

THE CHP IN GENERAL, AND ‘ÖZEL’ IN PARTICULAR

“In every heart hides a lion.” This is a common folk saying. And in every CHP member’s heart and mind lies the thought: “One day I could be chair of the party.” A sort of “Why not?” sentiment. Let’s put aside the phrase “every CHP member” as it might be an exaggeration—but still, 90% of them live with this mindset, something unseen in any other party. No matter their place inside the party—ordinary member or deputy chair—it makes no difference. What fuels this thought is not what has happened so far, but the fact that names keep surfacing for the chairmanship. The reasoning is: “If he can do it, why can’t I?”

Anonymous

Capital Currents Sep 26, 2025

EIGHT AKP PROVINCIAL CHAIRS STEP DOWN: WHAT DOES THE SHAKE-UP MEAN?

As politics remains focused on CHP, the resignation of eight provincial chairs from the ruling AKP has prompted the question: What is happening on the government side? The resignations of the provincial chairs of Çanakkale, Niğde, Adıyaman, Elazığ, Muğla, Ordu, Bitlis, and Tunceli—submitted within just 48 hours—were followed by statements from the party headquarters stressing that this was merely a “change of duties to take the party forward” and that “no criminal situation is involved.”

Nergis Demirkaya

Media, Internet and Culture Sep 26, 2025

TELE1 EXECUTIVES RELEASED

Detained for comparing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the TV screen, TELE1 TV executives were released on judicial supervision after giving statements to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

Editorial Team

Economy and Finance Sep 26, 2025

PRESIDENCY SPENDING SOARED TO 12.5 BILLION LIRA IN 2024

The Turkish Presidency spent more than 32 million lira per day in 2024, according to financial records shared by the Court of Accounts. The annual total reached 12.57 billion lira, a significant increase over the previous year, BirGün reported.

Editorial Team

Economy and Finance Sep 26, 2025

ADDITIONAL TARIFFS ON U.S.-MADE PRODUCTS REMOVED

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan removed additional tariffs on certain U.S.-made products, including automobiles, ahead of his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. The Presidential Decree was published in the Official Gazette, saying that no additional taxes will be imposed on imports of U.S.-origin products such as passenger cars, cosmetics and skin care products, leaf tobacco, and alcoholic beverages.

Editorial Team

Economy and Finance Sep 26, 2025

LABOR MINISTER CALLS JOBLESS YOUTH “THE OTHER SIDE”

With the youth unemployment rate above 25 percent, Labor and Social Security Minister Vedat Işıkhan characterized jobless young people as the “other side” and blamed them for making “excuses” instead of accepting available jobs, stating that they suffer from a “perception disorder.”

Editorial Team

Security and Defense Sep 26, 2025

TURKEY AND ITALY AGREE LANDING GEAR MAINTENANCE DEAL

Turkey and Italy signed a joint venture agreement for landing-gear maintenance, starting with T129 attack helicopters produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries, and aiming to expand capacity for military and civilian aircraft.The Military Factory and Shipyard Management Corporation of Turkey and Italy’s Magnaghi Aerospace will establish a joint maintenance center in Turkey. The Turkish side plans to extend services to civilian platforms, aiming to make Turkey a regional hub for landing gear maintenance and exports. The deal was signed during the technology and defense festival Teknofest Istanbul, on Sept. 19.

Editorial Team

Foreign Affairs Sep 26, 2025

BAHÇELİ'S TRÇ PROPOSAL FALLS FLAT

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan shows no interest in MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli's proposal that Turkey, Russia, and China (TRÇ) should form an alliance against the U.S.-Israel coalition.

Editorial Team

Foreign Affairs Sep 26, 2025

REMARKS INCREASED TENSION PRIOR TO ERDOĞAN AND TRUMP MEETING

Three different remarks increased the tension prior to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s meeting with the U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. During an interview with FOX TV, Erdoğan challenged Trump’s main motto that he ended seven wars.

Editorial Team

Inside Turkey Sep 26, 2025

RENEWED FOCUS ON YAVAŞ’S CANDIDACY AMID ATTACKS

The Ankara Municipality became the latest target of the crackdown against CHP-run municipalities, and CHP Chair Özgür Özel once again started highlighting Mayor Mansur Yavaş’s presidential candidacy. “Mansur Yavaş is seen as the strongest possible candidate if Ekrem İmamoğlu cannot run for presidency. Polls show he would beat (Recep Tayyip) Erdoğan,” Özel said. “It is clear that Yavaş is also being targeted with the same intent.”

Editorial Team

Deep Dive Sep 25, 2025

PROMISES MADE, GAZA AVOIDED

The first meeting in six years between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House started with positive messages, as both refrained from directly addressing the issue of Gaza, on which they are at odds.Trump suggested the U.S. could lift sanctions on Turkey and allow it to buy U.S. F-35 jets, blocked due to Turkey’s procurement of S-400s from Russia, but added that he would like to see Turkey - a NATO member - stop buying Russian oil while the war in Ukraine continues. 'I'd like to have him stop buying any oil from Russia while Russia continues this rampage against Ukraine.'

Editorial Team

In-Depth Analysis