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Turkey Today

@turkeytoday.bsky.social
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Breaking news, major stories, articles, reports, deep analysis. Epicenter of all you need to know about Turkey.

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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 16h
Weekend’s log read on a “mass gag order" of a society, by @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social The regime is tightening its grip on the flow of news, critical comment and public debate; it seems also resolved on dismantling an honorable profession: journalism." yavuzbaydar.substack.com/p/turkey-rac...
yavuzbaydar.substack.com
Turkey Races Toward a Total Digital Blackout—and the Dismantling of Journalism
When even the account that counts the bans can be banned, the question is no longer who will be silenced next. It is who will be left to say so. And the who is complicit in it?
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
"Nine years of Kavala’s life are gone; no ruling can give them back. That irreversible loss is what makes this the most symbolic case of Europe’s number one political prisoner." Commentary by @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social yavuzbaydar.substack.com/p/turkeys-ka...
yavuzbaydar.substack.com
Turkey’s Kavala Case Has Become a Crucial Test for the Relevance of the European Court
Nine years of Kavala’s life are gone; no ruling can give them back. That irreversible loss is what makes this the most symbolic case of Europe’s number one political prisoner.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Erdogan gebruikte de coup om Turkije naar zijn hand te zetten - de Kanttekening Een analyse door @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social dekanttekening.nl/columns/tien...
dekanttekening.nl
Erdogan gebruikte de coup om Turkije naar zijn hand te zetten - de Kanttekening
Tien jaar na de couppoging van 15 juli 2016 blijft in Turkije hetzelfde officiële verhaal rondzingen: die nacht zou de democratie zijn verdedigd. In werkelijkheid werd het de stichtingsmythe van een n...
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
"The root causes of Turkey’s systemic crisis lie in a longer trajectory—in which external alliances reduced the cost of that deferral. NATO sits uncomfortably at the center of this story." by @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/yavuzbay...
open.substack.com
How Turkey’s Post–Cold War Trajectory Helped Normalize the Far-Right, Modern Autocracies
This path has since offered a striking template for the European populists and the far-right that seems fiercely intent on hollowing out the substance of democracy.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
"En Turquie, le pouvoir transforme l’opposition en façade, instaurant un « pluralisme encadré » vidé de toute réelle compétition politique." par @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social blogs.mediapart.fr/yavuz-baydar...
blogs.mediapart.fr
L’illusion du choix : le basculement de la Turquie vers un pluralisme ornemental
En Turquie, le pouvoir transforme l’opposition en façade, instaurant un « pluralisme encadré » vidé de toute réelle compétition politique.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
"Une décision judiciaire majeure marque un tournant en Turquie, paralysant l’ensemble de l’opposition et signalant un basculement vers la dictature." par @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social blogs.mediapart.fr/yavuz-baydar...
blogs.mediapart.fr
Le pas décisif d’Erdoğan vers une « autocratie fermée » : une Turquie sans opposition
Une décision judiciaire majeure marque un tournant en Turquie, paralysant l’ensemble de l’opposition et signalant un basculement vers la dictature.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
"Face à l’Europe qui se durcit, Ankara multiplie les tactiques anti-isolement. Sans doctrine cohérente, la Turquie s’enlise dans une « zone liminale » aux portes de l’Occident." par @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social blogs.mediapart.fr/yavuz-baydar...
blogs.mediapart.fr
La Turquie est-elle piégée dans un « no man’s land » diplomatique ?
Face à l’Europe qui se durcit, Ankara multiplie les tactiques anti-isolement. Sans doctrine cohérente, la Turquie s’enlise dans une « zone liminale » aux portes de l’Occident.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
A group of PACE lawmakers demand "Magnitsky Sanctions" Over Osman Kavala’s Imprisonment. And an unprecedented joint letter by Turkey rapporteurs, mentioning jailed Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, raises concerns on "the state of local democracy" in Turkey. open.substack.com/pub/yavuzbay...
open.substack.com
Video: With a new motion on Kavala, the Council of Europe turns up the heat on Ankara
A group of lawmakers demand "Magnitsky Sanctions" Over Kavala’s Imprisonment. And an unprecedented letter raises concerns on the state of local democracy in Turkey.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
"En trois décennies, elle a troqué l’élan d’un leadership démocratique contre l’illusion d’une “autonomie stratégique” devenue rhétorique d’isolement — la fin du pont entre l’Est et l’Ouest, le début d’une invisibilité assumée." par @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social 👇 blogs.mediapart.fr/yavuz-baydar...
blogs.mediapart.fr
Ankara, le choix de l’isolement
À Munich comme ailleurs, la Turquie s’efface. En trois décennies, elle a troqué l’élan d’un leadership démocratique contre l’illusion d’une “autonomie stratégique” devenue rhétorique d’isolement — la…
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
Three expert observers sat down to discuss the key aspects of the talks between Ankara and Öcalan, and whether or not there are any prospects for a lasting resolution on the Kurdish issue. 👇 open.substack.com/pub/yavuzbay...
open.substack.com
Does Turkey’s “Kurdish Initiative” stand a chance? -- Turkey Today Talk
Three observers discuss the key aspects of the talks between Ankara and Öcalan and whether or not there are any prospects for a lasting resolution on the Kurdish issue.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
"Against the backdrop of a ‘process’ that bears no resemblance whatsoever to conflict resolution, Ankara’s Kurdish tangle once again strains the very fabric of its system.” @mediapartblogs.bsky.social @mediaparten.bsky.social blogs.mediapart.fr/yavuz-baydar...
blogs.mediapart.fr
"The Öcalan Initiative": Turkey’s High-Stakes Gamble Faces Increasing Challenges
Against the backdrop of a ‘process’ that bears no resemblance whatsoever to conflict resolution, Ankara’s Kurdish tangle once again strains the very fabric of its system.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
Turkey 2025 Report: "Accession negotiations with Türkiye have remained at a standstill since 2018. The EU’s serious concerns about the continued deterioration of democratic standards, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights were not addressed." enlargement.ec.europa.eu/document/dow...
enlargement.ec.europa.eu
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 02/11/2025
A Deep-Rooted Crisis Unfolding Beyond a Single Scandal open.substack.com/pub/yavuzbay...
open.substack.com
Rot on the Field: The Football Corruption Scandal Exposes a Profound Crisis of Morality in Turkey
A Deep-Rooted Crisis Unfolding Beyond a Single Scandal
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
"By prolonging the pain, the judge’s ruling adds fuel to Turkey’s deepening crisis and leaves even more questions hanging." By @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/yavuzbay...
open.substack.com
CHP Trial Delayed, Stakes Undiminished
By prolonging the pain, the judge’s ruling adds fuel to Turkey’s deepening crisis and leaves even more questions hanging.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 17/08/2025
"The AKP-MHP alliance is demonstrating for the world how to neutralize opposition through a potent cocktail of judicial abuse, psychological warfare, “carrots” and coercion." Update and analysis by @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social 👇 open.substack.com/pub/yavuzbay...
open.substack.com
Refining the Authoritarian Playbook: Turkey’s Opposition Under Siege
The AKP-MHP alliance is demonstrating for the world how to neutralize opposition through a potent cocktail of judicial abuse, psychological warfare, and old-fashioned coercion.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 03/08/2025
"Do the best-laid plans go awry? That question is once again looming over Syria’s transition agenda, entangling Ankara in a growing web of challenges." open.substack.com/pub/yavuzbay...
open.substack.com
Turkey’s Kurdish Tangle
Do the best-laid plans go awry? That question is once again looming over Syria’s transition agenda, entangling Ankara in a growing web of challenge.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 02/08/2025
"L’idée : rassembler tous les partis sous la bannière d’une « Turquie sans terrorisme », afin de consolider un régime de plus en plus autocratique." Une analyse de @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social 👇 blogs.mediapart.fr/yavuz-baydar...
blogs.mediapart.fr
Le Piège Kurde d’Ankara
Les plans les mieux préparés finissent-ils toujours par échouer ? Cette question revient avec insistance alors que l’agenda de transition en Syrie se complexifie, piégeant Ankara dans un enchevêtreme…
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
A Turkish archeologist said that the “Ani Kathedral” (Surp Asdvadzadzin), a prominent monument in the ancient city of Ani, and a symbol of Armenian identity, at the Turkish-Armenian border, will be reopened as a mosque, after restoration. www.agos.com.tr/tr/yazi/3511...
agos.com.tr
Ani Katedrali restore ediliyor, cami olarak ziyaretçilere açılması düşünülüyor | Agos
Ermeni tarihinin en önemli merkezlerinden olan Ani'deki kiliselerden Ani Katedrali, restore ediliyor. Restorasyondan sonra kilisenin cami olarak ziyarete açılması düşünülüyor.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
Arrest wave at CHP-run municipalities has widened today, confirming a massive purge of the main opposition party. The mayors of Antalya, Adana and Adıyaman have been taken into custody on corruption charges. Zeydan Karalar, Mayor of Adana: “Whoever is with impact will be silenced, for sure."
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
We are here, to serve the. public interest. Our social role is based firmly on remaining independent, with equal distance to all the power circles, no matter what the cost would be.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
In a latest development, access to Leman’s internet site has been banned by the authorities. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
theguardian.com
Clashes and arrests in Turkey over magazine cartoon allegedly depicting prophet Muhammad
Turkey police face demonstrators after prosecutor orders arrests at LeMan magazine, whose editor-in-chief denies allegation and says image has been deliberately misinterpreted
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Selon Tuncay Akgun, le rédacteur en chef du magazine, l’offensive judiciaire contre le magazine, bastion satirique de l’opposition lancé en 1991, est « incroyablement choquante, mais pas très surprenante ». « C’est un acte d’annihilation », a-t-il dénoncé. www.lemonde.fr/internationa...
lemonde.fr
Turquie : un dessin de presse controversé conduit à l’arrestation de son auteur et d’un rédacteur en chef ainsi qu’à des affrontements à Istanbul
Le responsable du magazine « Leman » nie que l’image incriminée représente le prophète Mahomet. Des dizaines de manifestants en colère ont voulu s’en prendre à des employés de la revue satirique, prov...
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
As the news broke, several dozen angry protesters attacked a bar often frequented by LeMan staffers in downtown Istanbul, provoking angry scuffles with police, which quickly degenerated into clashes involving between 250 to 300 people, an AFP correspondent said. www.france24.com/en/live-news...
france24.com
Clashes in Istanbul over alleged 'Prophet Mohammed' cartoon
Clashes erupted in Istanbul Monday with police firing rubber bullets and tear gas to break up an angry mob after allegations that a satirical magazine had published a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed,…
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
"Four days after its release, the image went viral on social media, sparking outrage. Hundreds of protesters marched down Istanbul’s main tourist avenue, chanting “Allahu Akbar”." www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
independent.co.uk
Journalists at satirical magazine in Turkey arrested over Prophet Muhammad cartoon
Clashes erupt in Istanbul as police fire rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse protestors demonstrating against Turkish magazine
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 25/05/2025
Having chaired the Socialist International (SI) meeting in Istanbul - where the delegates called President Erdoğan to release Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu from prison - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Erdogan for a closed-door meeting, to discuss economic relations between Turkey and Spain.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
Turkey set to join EU defense programs "Despite objections from Athens – and Nicosia – Turkey’s participation in new European defense programs is expected to move forward, as final decisions will be made by qualified majority voting rather than by unanimity." www.ekathimerini.com/politics/for...
ekathimerini.com
Turkey set to join EU defense programs despite objections | eKathimerini.com
Despite objections from Athens – and Nicosia – Turkey’s participation in new European defense programs is expected to move forward, as final decisions will be made by qualified majority voting within ...
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
"With my friend Trump taking office, we reached a more open, more constructive, more sincere communication." www.reuters.com/business/med...
reuters.com
Erdogan says U.S. CAATSA sanctions on Turkey defence sector easing under Trump
President Tayyip Erdogan said he believed the United States' 'CAATSA' sanctions on the Turkish defence sector would soon be "overcome" thanks to U.S. President Donald Trump's "more open, more constructive" approach.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
USA lifts CAATSA sanctions on Turkey? "President Donald Trump is leaning toward removing the restrictions that have for nearly five years obstructed the US-Turkey defense ties, a publicly stated goal of both governments, sources in Washington tell Kathimerini.” www.ekathimerini.com/politics/for...
ekathimerini.com
Fresh momentum seen in Washington for lifting sanctions on Turkey | eKathimerini.com
After weeks of relative stagnation, momentum appears to be building in Washington around the potential lifting of CAATSA sanctions imposed on Turkey, a development that could transpire in the near fut...
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
Here is the statement by the PKK, on its dissolution: ""At its extraordinary 12th Congress, the PKK declares that its struggle has dismantled the policies of denial, annihilation imposed on the Kurdish people; brought the Kurdish issue to a stage where it be addressed through democratic politics.+
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
Zafer Partisi Genel Başkanı Ümit Özdağ hakkında hazırlanan iddianamede "Zincirleme şekilde basın yoluyla halkı kin ve düşmanlığa tahrik" suçlamasıyla 7 yıl 10 ay 15 güne kadar hapis istendi.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
Gov’t controlled Radio/TV regulator RTUK bans the opposition channel SozcuTV for 20 days from brosdcasts. BBC reporter Mark Lowen, covering the protests, is deported for “being a security threat”
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
"The European Union is set to keep pumping billions of euros into Turkey despite President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s sweeping crackdown on political opponents." Ankara is too important an ally to alienate, no matter what happens on the streets of Istanbul, politicians and officials tell POLITICO.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is to meet with his US counterpart Marco Rubio in Washington today. On the agenda: The end of Turkey’s exclusion from the F-35 advanced fighter program. Sanctions against Turkey, (CAATSA), lifted. Kurdish forces YPG in Syria eliminated. Gaza discussed.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 23/03/2025
BREAKING: Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, is detained (pre-trial detention), to be sent to prison, probably Silivri (where hundreds of political prisoners, including Osman Kavala, are held). The detention ruling is based on the graft probe, reports say.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 23/03/2025
Turkey today.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
Police blocks the lawyers who want enter the Courthouse.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
The chief of Police in Istanbul has arrived at the Courthouse.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
Elon Musk's social media platform X has suspended several accounts belonging to opposition figures in Turkey amid widespread civil unrest in the country. www.politico.eu/article/musk...
politico.eu
Musk’s X suspends opposition accounts in Turkey amid civil unrest
Suspensions affect accounts spreading information about the widespread demonstrations.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
"Trump expressed an intent to finalize the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey and is open to the idea of selling Turkey F-35 jets, if the two sides can come to an agreement that renders Turkey’s Russian S-400 system inoperable, two sources confirmed to Fox News." www.foxnews.com/politics/tru...
foxnews.com
Trump eyes lifting sanctions, potential sale of prized fighter jet to Turkey
President Donald Trump is considering lifting sanctions on Turkey and resuming the sale of fighter jets to Turkey after a call with President Recep Erdogan.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
"Turkey is shifting its strategy toward Donald Trump, emphasizing potential economic and national security benefits for the US.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
Huge arrest wave in early hours in Turkey: Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu and more than 100 people, among them his media representative and many journalists are being taken to police custody, linked to a graft probe.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
President Tayyip Erdogan has escalated Turkey’s battle with its top business group, expanding a broad political crackdown on dissent and raising the stakes for his government’s economic turnaround program.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
BREAKING: Two top figures of Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD), Orhan Turan and Ömer Aras, are being taken to police custody, following a statement by Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul. The reason is the speeches criticising the Gov’t, delivered by the two at a recent meeting.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Ekrem Imamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul, is charged for "publicly insulting” and “threatening" the chief prosecutor of Istanbul-- with a prison sentence of up to 7 years and 4 months and a political ban. Imamoğlu, a popular figure, is seen as the main challenger to Erdoğan in the elections, due in 2028.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
"The premature triumphalism around the idea that “Turkey won Syria” creates a set of assumptions and expectations that are not necessarily grounded in reality, setting policymakers up for potentially nasty surprises." foreignpolicy.com/2025/01/13/t...
foreignpolicy.com
Turkey Hasn’t Won Anything Yet in Syria
It’s too early to celebrate Assad’s departure as Erdogan’s victory.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 28/12/2024
Police have made welve arrests as part of a coordinated parallel operation against the Turkish mafia in Athens and Thessaloniki. In Athens, officers from the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (DAOE) searched in three houses in the center of Athens, during which 11 people were detained.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
Bashar Assad's official channel releases his statement on the background of his escape to Moscow and his reasonings.
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
“Mitsotakis described Turkey’s stance as “revisionist” and noted efforts to address core disputes over the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the continental shelf. However, he emphasized that he sees “no prospect” for meaningful dialogue at this time.” www.ekathimerini.com/politics/125...
ekathimerini.com
Mitsotakis sees ‘no prospect’ for talks on EEZ, continental shelf with Turkey | eKathimerini.com
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis discussed Greek-Turkish relations, the New Democracy party, and the electoral law for 2027, speaking on the second day of the “50 Years of Greek Foreign Policy” conf...
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Two top experts on Turkey, @stevenacook.bsky.social and @sinanciddi.bsky.social respond to questions by Turkey Today podcast host @yavuzbaydar.bsky.social on Turkey’s role and prospects on Syria’s future. open.spotify.com/episode/0Ewp...
open.spotify.com
Syrian puzzle: What is Turkey’s endgame?
Turkey Today · Episode
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Turkey Today @turkeytoday.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
Donald Trump picks Tom Barrack, the founder of Colony Capital, to serve as ambassador to Turkey, elevating a longtime friend to a crucial diplomatic post. He has also nominated Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former prosecutor, Fox News TV host, to be the new Ambassador to Greece. (Bloomberg)
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