By M. K. Bhadrakumar Being a “swing state” may have tactical advantages but when life gets tough and the tough gets going, there could be consequences. Turkey once faced such a moment of truth a hundred years ago. It faces a similar predicament today. At a meeting on Thursday in Ankara with the European Union ambassadors, Turkish President called for bold action in … [Read more...] about Turkey Draws Closer to the US and Europe
Turkey
British Intelligence orchestrating terrorist organizations in Turkey and Syria
The appointment in June 2020 of Richard Moore, a former ambassador to Turkey, as head of MI6, Britain’s foreign intelligence service, was a move to strengthen the British position in the Central Asian theatre. He is not only a stalwart Russophobe, but also a fierce apologist for Great Turania: that is, the success of the pan-Turkist aspiration to create a state uniting the … [Read more...] about British Intelligence orchestrating terrorist organizations in Turkey and Syria
Lira’s Historic Crash: Protests Erupt In Turkey: Call for Erdogan’s Resignation
Protests were held in Turkey’s largest city Istanbul and the capital Ankara on Nov. 23 after the lira’s historic crash. Protesters were demanding the resignation of Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his government over skyrocketing inflation. The protests come amid an escalating currency crisis. The Turkish lira has gone from $0.1 to $0.078 in value just over the … [Read more...] about Lira’s Historic Crash: Protests Erupt In Turkey: Call for Erdogan’s Resignation
Turkey and Iran, Friends or Foes?
Turkey and Iran, whose cooperation and potential conflict are closely intertwined despite the occasional disagreement and contradictory views on world events, are still trying to maintain a complex balance between themselves to prevent a significant escalation of tension. Indeed, any shift in the balance of power between these two critical poles in the Middle East could … [Read more...] about Turkey and Iran, Friends or Foes?
The Genie’s Out of the Bottle after Kiev’s Turkish Drones Strike Donbass
Now that Kiev is in possession of such potentially game-changing offensive weapons that have already been proven to have emboldened its aggression in the ongoing civil war over its eastern region’s future political status, there’s nothing that Ankara can do to restrain its partner. I wrote earlier this summer that “Turkey’s Military Engagement With The Lublin Triangle Aims … [Read more...] about The Genie’s Out of the Bottle after Kiev’s Turkish Drones Strike Donbass
With threats to foreign diplomats, Turkey’s Erdogan unleashes another distraction drive
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s latest move against his NATO allies has reignited the debate about his successful use of polarizing tactics and gimmicks to distract people. Several sections in the country, including the main opposition parties, have criticized Erdogan’s threat of expulsion of foreign diplomats over their joint statement on the release of activist Osman … [Read more...] about With threats to foreign diplomats, Turkey’s Erdogan unleashes another distraction drive
Turkey’s Existential Choice: BRI or Bust
Two destinies pull on Southwest Asia from two opposing visions of the future. Where the devotees of the Rules Based Order laid out by Zbigniew Brzezinski 40 years ago strive to revive the dystopic nightmare of sectarianism and endless wars, a more optimistic program of cooperation and long-term thinking is being ushered in by China’s ever-evolving Belt and Road … [Read more...] about Turkey’s Existential Choice: BRI or Bust
Afghanistan and Erdogan’s “Great Turan”
After the withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan, Turkey intends to play a more important role in the country and cooperate with the Taliban. 2,000 Turkish soldiers have been part of the international military contingent within the ISAF mission in Afghanistan since the beginning. From June 2002 to August 2005, Turkish commanders were responsible for the mission, in which … [Read more...] about Afghanistan and Erdogan’s “Great Turan”
Has the “Cold War” between Turkey and the UAE Ended?
An Ankara-initiated phone call on August 31 between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Crown Prince of Abu Dabi Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan drew the attention of the broad political establishment and raised questions about its possible implications for many countries in the Arab-Muslim world. First of all, does it signal an end to the Cold War affecting … [Read more...] about Has the “Cold War” between Turkey and the UAE Ended?
101 years of communist struggle in Turkey
September 10, 2021, marks 101 years since the founding of the Türkiye Komünist Partisi or the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP). The party was created in the period following Russia’s October Revolution, in a moment where the ideas and inspiration of the Bolsheviks gave new energy to causes for national liberation and working class struggles globally. In Turkey, this was a … [Read more...] about 101 years of communist struggle in Turkey
Whom is Ankara and Kyiv Developing Cooperation Against?
Recently, Ankara and Kyiv have actively sought to demonstrate to all their intentions to develop and deepen bilateral relations on various fronts. First of all, a certain anti-Russian vector is conspicuous, demonstrated in particular by the positions of both countries being close in not recognizing Crimea as Russian, which Turkish President Erdogan never misses a chance to … [Read more...] about Whom is Ankara and Kyiv Developing Cooperation Against?
The Turkish Factor in Syria and Iraq
In response to Turkey’s recent policy in the Levant, criticism against Ankara’s actions is growing in the region. For example, at the end of July, the al-Nasr coalition in the Iraqi parliament called to end all Turkish interference in Iraq’s internal affairs, especially the Turkish military occupation and other forms of interference in politics, security, and economic … [Read more...] about The Turkish Factor in Syria and Iraq
Erdogan’s rocky-path to better ties with the US
Ever since Joe Biden’s inauguration as the US president, US-Turkey ties seem to have undergone a shift from a thorny and crisis-ridden path that characterized the Trump era to a relative period of calmness and cooperation. The calmness is apparent from a relative absence of exchange of critical statements between both leaders. Erdogan’s most recent eagerness to help the US … [Read more...] about Erdogan’s rocky-path to better ties with the US
Erdogan Pursues a Broad Coalition in Asia
Against the background of the frank failure of US policy, not only in Afghanistan but also in Iraq and Syria, as well as the decline in activity and authority of the European Union in the region, the course taken by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to create a broad coalition of pro-Turkish forces in Asia has become increasingly apparent in recent years. The Turkish … [Read more...] about Erdogan Pursues a Broad Coalition in Asia
On China’s Role in Afghanistan
Fearing increasing instability and the risk of widespread civil war in Afghanistan, many countries have recently been working to fill the vacuum created by the US withdrawal from that South Asian country. Thus, regional powers Turkey and Iran actively seek to strengthen their influence. In particular, Turkey, in line with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s expansionist policy, … [Read more...] about On China’s Role in Afghanistan
Why Isn’t Turkey Putting the S-400 Into Service?
As we know, Russia and Turkey signed a contract for Moscow to supply Ankara with S-400 surface-to-air missile systems in 2017. On October 23, 2019, Rosoboron export reported that Russia had fulfilled this contract ahead of schedule by supplying all elements of S-400 systems to Turkey, including missiles, and Turkey had fully paid for the contract. As a result, Turkey was the … [Read more...] about Why Isn’t Turkey Putting the S-400 Into Service?
What Card is Washington Playing in Afghanistan via Ankara?
Despite the intense debate that has been going on in Turkey and beyond over the last few days about the advisability of Ankara taking over the baton from the USA in Afghanistan, as well as the main intrigue – what it will do in the IRA, President Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed the other day that Turkey was ready “to take over the Kabul Airport if the United States provides the … [Read more...] about What Card is Washington Playing in Afghanistan via Ankara?
What was the End Result of the US Attempt to Stage a Coup in Turkey in 2016?
Five years ago, on the night of July 15-16, 2016, a group of military conspirators tried to unseat Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. The residence of the president was attacked, military vehicles took to the streets in large cities, and the insurrectionists’ aircraft carried out strikes on the parliament building. Army and police units … [Read more...] about What was the End Result of the US Attempt to Stage a Coup in Turkey in 2016?
Turkish Intelligence Establishes its Own Laws in Central Asia
The so-called “disappearance” of Orhan Inandı, president of the Kyrgyz-Turkish Lyceum network, in Kyrgyzstan is adding new details, which put both the so-called “Western democracy fighters” and Ankara’s demonstrative disregard for international norms and the sovereignty of independent states, stealing their political opponents abroad with the patronage of the US and the EU in a … [Read more...] about Turkish Intelligence Establishes its Own Laws in Central Asia
Updated 7/10 – Erdogan Erases Turkey’s Christian Past By Returning Hagia Sophia to a Mosque
Note completely separate from these two articles - There are at least 3 Youtube Channels I follow that believe the mosque being blown up in the iPetGoat II video is Hagia Sophia. For those unfamiliar with IPetGoat II, it is an occultic video which shows a timeline of events, coded in symbolism, of End Times and the rise of the Antichrist. If this destruction occurs, this … [Read more...] about Updated 7/10 – Erdogan Erases Turkey’s Christian Past By Returning Hagia Sophia to a Mosque
The CIA, Fetullah Gülen and Turkey’s Failed July 2016 Coup
The Office of the Istanbul Prosecutor has issued arrest warrants for two “former” CIA agents, accusing them of involvement in the failed July 2016 coup attempt against the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. US media and various Washington think-tanks have dismissed the charges as “implausible” and a “likely tit-for-tat” response of Erdogan for the arrest by US … [Read more...] about The CIA, Fetullah Gülen and Turkey’s Failed July 2016 Coup
Turkey: The Country ISIS Uses As A Home Base And Where It Has Sold 800 Millions Dollars Of Oil
If we truly do want to get rid of ISIS, why aren’t we doing anything about the Islamic governments that are funding them, aiding them and facilitating the sale of their oil? As you will see below, ISIS fighters hop back and forth over the Turkish border with impunity, there are “direct dealings between Turkish officials and ranking ISIS members”, and more than $800,000,000 … [Read more...] about Turkey: The Country ISIS Uses As A Home Base And Where It Has Sold 800 Millions Dollars Of Oil