Analysis

In-Depth Analysis

Smart, independent reporting on Turkey's politics, economy and foreign affairs.

TURKEY’S 2026 BUDGET MISSES £5.4B EUROFIGHTER COST
Security and Defense Dec 2, 2025

TURKEY’S 2026 BUDGET MISSES £5.4B EUROFIGHTER COST

Under the agreement signed between Turkey and the U.K., the £5.4 billion payment to the Eurofighter consortium for 20 Typhoon fighter jets was not included in either the Defense Ministry’s budget or the Defense Industry Presidency's (SSB) budget. The Defense Industry Support Fund (SSDF) can be used as a source of funding for this project, but the cost of the Typhoons is approximately double the annual amount transferred to the fund from taxes collected by the state.

Editorial Team
DEFENSE HUB, AIRFIELD RENOVATIONS SHAPE ANKARA’S NATO PREP
Security and Defense Nov 7, 2025

DEFENSE HUB, AIRFIELD RENOVATIONS SHAPE ANKARA’S NATO PREP

As the countdown continues for the NATO Summit to be hosted by Ankara on July 7-8, 2026, preparations are accelerating in the capital. Activity focuses on sites along the approximately 17.5-km route from the Presidential Palace, where the leaders' summit will take place, to the military airfield in Etimesgut.

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MOON MISSION POSTPONED TO 2027
Security and Defense Sep 5, 2025

MOON MISSION POSTPONED TO 2027

Turkey has postponed its moon landing project, which it had aimed to carry out in 2023 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Republic but later delayed to 2026, this time to 2027. The government established the Turkish Space Agency in 2018 to coordinate space activities.

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İŞ BANK SEES 29% INFLATION, 35% INTEREST RATES AT END-2025
Economy and Finance Aug 15, 2025

İŞ BANK SEES 29% INFLATION, 35% INTEREST RATES AT END-2025

Hakan Aran, head of İş Bank, the country’s largest private lender, said they expect Turkey’s annual inflation to drop to 29% by the end of 2025, with interest rates falling to 35%. Aran shared his predictions regarding the economic normalization process at a press conference. According to Aran, “we may see monthly inflation rates drop below 1% as the normalization process begins in May 2026.”

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GOVERNMENT PAY RISE PROPOSAL SPARKS UNION OUTRAGE
Economy and Finance Aug 15, 2025

GOVERNMENT PAY RISE PROPOSAL SPARKS UNION OUTRAGE

The government’s first pay offer in collective bargaining—10% for the first half of 2026, 6% for the second half, and 4% for each half of 2027—was rejected by public sector unions representing about four million civil servants and more than two million retirees.

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TURKEY RESHAPES OIL TIES WITH IRAQ
Foreign Affairs Jul 25, 2025

TURKEY RESHAPES OIL TIES WITH IRAQ

After a decision to terminate the 1973 crude oil pipeline agreement with Iraq as of July 27, 2026, Turkey started negotiations with the Iraqi central government for a more comprehensive agreement on the transportation of Iraqi oil. The move is not a withdrawal from the partnership but a strategic reset. Under the 1973 agreement and its supplementary protocols, either party must notify the other at least one year before expiry if it intends to terminate the deal. If no such notice is given, the contract automatically renews for five years. Turkey has now officially informed Iraq of its intent to withdraw, preventing automatic renewal and opening space for renegotiation.

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CIVIL SOCIETY WANTS TURKEY TO HOST COP31, BUT CHANCES ARE SLIM
Guest Voices Nov 22, 2024

CIVIL SOCIETY WANTS TURKEY TO HOST COP31, BUT CHANCES ARE SLIM

As the world anticipates the outcome of the COP29 summit, which will end this week in Baku, Turkish audiences expect to hear the results of the COP31 bids. Turkey has announced its bid to host the 31st session of the climate summit in 2026. Yet the path to securing the event remains challenging, with its competitor, Australia, currently viewed as the frontrunner. At COP29 in Baku, Turkish officials are making an effort to capitalize on the familiar environment to secure a favorable decision on hosting COP31. While it remains unclear whether the host of COP31 will be decided at this summit, Ankara is actively lobbying for its candidacy, leveraging its proximity to Azerbaijan to strengthen its bid.

Editorial Team