The Kurdish question loomed large in NATO’s meeting last month in Madrid. The headlines focused on Turkey’s objection to Sweden and Finland joining the military alliance while Ankara’s long-standing concern about Kurdish separatists was an unspoken elephant in the room. Turkey has long claimed that Sweden and Finland harbor Kurdish militants along with other high-profile … Continue reading “Turkey’s Standoff With NATO Isn’t Over Yet”
By joining the West in condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and supporting Ukraine’s military, Turkey is walking a fine line between two allies – Moscow and Kyiv. Although last month’s meeting of Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul failed to deliver a peace deal, Turkish policymakers continue to insist that they can facilitate dialogue between the warring parties. But … Continue reading “With Ukraine in Flames, Turkey’s Eurasianism is Losing its Luster”
The shift in the balance of power in Iraq after the recent election could have an important impact in a key arena where Turkey and Iran play out their regional rivalry. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq borders both Iran and Turkey – two countries caught in a web of complex and often competing interests in the Middle East. After the 2003-US led invasion, … Continue reading “Turkish-Iranian Rivalry Threatens Stability in Kurdistan Region of Iraq”
Turkey is bolstering defense cooperation with Azerbaijan as it seeks to double down on the military success of last year’s war between Azerbaijan and Armenia. As skirmishes along the Armenian-Azerbaijan border increased in recent weeks, there was even speculation that Turkey was on the brink of forging a joint military force with Baku. Turkey helped … Continue reading “Azerbaijan Support Underpins Turkey’s Ambitions in the South Caucasus”
With the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, fears are rising in Turkey that the country will see a surge in refugees. Turkey is a major final destination for Afghan refugees, as well as a jumping off point for those intending to head to Europe. Already, there are up to 600,000 Afghans in Turkey, refugees … Continue reading “Fall of Kabul: Refugees from Afghanistan Expected to Surge Toward Turkey and Europe”
