NOD FROM EASTERN LIBYA SETS OFF MEDITERRANEAN TRAFFIC
Libya's eastern-based parliament has ratified the maritime deal with Ankara, rebalancing alliances across the Eastern Mediterranean.
Analysis
In-Depth Analysis
Smart, independent reporting on Turkey's politics, economy and foreign affairs.
ÜMİT KOCASAKAL: SINGING THE OLD SONG
Who is back? Ümit Kocasakal. He won the election for president of the Istanbul Bar Association on Oct. 25, returning to the post he held from 2010 to 2016. And which slogan did he bring back with him? “We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal.” He and his supporters chanted it together after his victory.
TWO FACES OF THE PROCESS: DISARMAMENT, YES. DEMOCRATIZATION, NOT YET
Two years into the PKK’s disarmament process, fears of stalling have resurfaced. DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan put it plainly: “The pace of the process has slowed.”
JOURNALISTS MARCH IN TURKEY FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER 15 YEARS
On Oct. 24, journalists marched simultaneously in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Eskişehir, Antalya, Adana, Kocaeli, Diyarbakır and Van, answering a call from press unions and professional organizations including the Diplomatic Correspondents Association under the slogan “No to censorship, freedom for news.”
GREEN SPONSORS, COAL PORTFOLIOS
Authorities launched a tax audit targeting Cengiz Holding, a prominent pro-government conglomerate, but the decision to move the case from Istanbul to Ankara has raised questions. The group is also facing fierce environmental backlash over its partnership in the COP31 climate summit.
ALIYEV DOUBLES DOWN AS ANKARA REMAINS OVERLY CONCILIATORY
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, declined President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s invitation to attend the summit of the Organization of Turkic States, scheduled for the day after Turkey’s Republic Day, marking one of the biggest crises in the two countries' close relationship. Despite Ankara’s visible steps to defuse the recent tension, his refusal to come on a date carrying symbolic importance for Turkey attests to the changing dynamics in the relationship since the military victory over Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020.
BAKU WELCOMES UAE’S UN CANDIDATE AS ANKARA READIES CANDIDATE
Azerbaijan has welcomed the United Arab Emirates’ candidate for UN secretary-general just as Ankara prepares to put forward its own. Then, President Ilham Aliyev decided to skip the Organization of Turkic States summit in Ankara on Oct. 30.
JOURNALISTS TAKE TO THE STREETS AS CRACKDOWN CONTINUES FULL-FLEDGED ON MEDIA
Journalists will take to the streets on Oct. 24 to urge the government to end the detentions, arrests, blockages, access bans and all kinds of pressure on media members as the crackdown escalated after the liquidation of investment funds.
CENTRAL BANK CUTS INTEREST RATE IN FIRST EASING SINCE JANUARY
The Central Bank cut its benchmark policy rate by 100 basis points to 36% on Oct. 22, its first monetary easing since January, in line with market expectations.
LEFT OUT BY PARIS AND BERLIN, TURKISH AUTO SECTOR PUSHES FOR “MADE WITH EUROPE”
Turkey’s automotive sector is fighting a rearguard battle in Brussels after France and Germany agreed on Oct. 16 to a “Made in Europe” definition that includes the UK and Norway but leaves Turkey out.
ERDOĞAN CALLS ALIYEV TO EASE TENSIONS AS BAKU BARS 31 TURKS
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a telephone call with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in an effort to defuse a sharpening diplomatic rift between the historic allies, even as Baku escalated its stance by barring dozens of Turkish figures and initiating criminal proceedings against online critics.
FROM ARMS EMBARGO TO STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP: CARNEY IN ANKARA WITH FULL-FLEDGED PRAGMATISM
The first bilateral visit by a Canadian prime minister yields deals on defense, energy and air transport as Ottawa seeks to reduce its reliance on the US and makes a sharp U-turn toward finding alternative partners.