Latest News from Turkey
The stakes in Turkey’s elections: From Turkish democracy to the Aegean
Turkey's elections are drawing the attention of the world, and many - including The Economist - are describing them as the country's last chance for democracy. Expert Steven Cook joins Thanos Davelis to look at the stakes involved in these elections, from what they could mean for Turkey's democracy to key issues like the sale of US F-16s or tensions in the Aegean.
UN Committee: Switzerland Shouldn’t Deport Turkish Couple to Kosovo
The UN Committee Against Torture said in a decision that the Swiss government should not deport a Turkish couple who are alleged members of exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen's network to Kosovo because "they would face a real risk of being forcibly transferred to and subjected to torture in Turkey".
US reiterates support for Finland, Sweden joining NATO
The Biden administration on Tuesday reiterated its support for both Finland and Sweden joining NATO at the earliest opportunity, after Helsinki said a pause was needed in trilateral talks with Turkey on the Nordic countries' application to join the military alliance.
PM: Greek skies shielded as never before
The attacks threatened by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may turn into a disorderly retreat in the face of the triangle of international law, Greece's thriving armed forces and powerful alliances, according to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, stressing that Greece is better protected than ever following deals to acquire upgraded and next-generation fighter aircraft.
A ballot box hanging over the Aegean
With the Turkish elections set for May 14, we are now entitled to hope that it will not be long before the date of our own elections is announced, ending those cryptic government statements.
Turkey cancels trilateral Sweden-Finland meet after protest
Turkey has cancelled indefinitely a trilateral mechanism meeting with Sweden and Finland scheduled for February after a weekend protest in Stockholm that drew condemnation from Ankara, state broadcaster TRT reported on Tuesday.
Turkey condemns Quran protest in the Netherlands
Turkey's foreign ministry said Tuesday it summoned the Dutch ambassador following a demonstration targeting Islam's holy book, days after a similar protest in Sweden tensed relations.
Finland says time-out needed in talks with Turkey over NATO bid
Finland's foreign minister said on Tuesday a time-out of a few weeks was needed in Finland and Sweden's talks with Turkey on their application to join the NATO military alliance.
Turkey's president said on Monday that Sweden should not expect his country's support after a protest near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm at the weekend, which included the burning of a copy of the Koran.
Mitsotakis: Greece has no time for ‘dialogue with the absurd’
Greece has no time for a "dialogue with the absurd" in neighboring Turkey, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said, noting that Greece is better protected than ever following deals to acquire upgraded and next-generation fighter aircraft.
Finland Seeks to Pause NATO Talks as Turkey Blocks Sweden
Finland's Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto in Bucharest, Romania, November 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE/Robert Ghement
"A time-out is needed before we return to the three-way talks and see where we are when the dust has settled after the current situation, so no conclusions should be drawn yet," Haavisto told Reuters.
The message from Davos: Greece is back
This past week Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis traveled to Davos to participate in the World Economic Forum.
Aside from a number of key meetings with leading business personalities, Mitsotakis also spoke to Fareed Zakaria in a wide ranging interview that covered Greece's economic transformation, upcoming elections, and tensions with Turkey.
Finland may consider joining NATO without Sweden
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said in an interview with Yle (Finland's national public broadcasting company) published on Tuesday that his country may seek to join NATO without Sweden if Stockholm's bid is take more time to be approved.
Sale of F-16s to Turkey ‘would be baffling,’ says US Senator Menendez
Any decision by the United States to go ahead with the sale of F-16 fighter jets and upgrade kits to Turkey would be "baffling" given the "belligerent" stance of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan towards NATO ally Greece, said Senator Bob Menendez, chair of the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, reiterating that he will not approve the sale.
Athens, Istanbul mayors send message of peace
The transfer of the presidency of the Balkan Cities Network from Istanbul to Athens on Monday was accompanied by strong political messages by the mayors of both cities, Ekrem Imamoglu and Kostas Bakoyannis, on the need to strengthen democracy, peace and cooperation.
Rights group files suit in Germany against Myanmar military
A human rights group and 16 people from Myanmar have filed a criminal complaint in Germany seeking punishment of Myanmar's generals for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity they alleged were committed in that country after their 2021 government takeover and during a 2017 crackdown on Muslim Rohingya.