National Security Council

A decision by Turkey’s top security body to maintain its presence off the southern coast of Cyprus, where Cypriot authorities already have a license to drill for oil and gas, has heightened fears of tensions climaxing in the region if the Turkish seismic survey vessel Barbaros moves into other areas.

Turkey’s top national security body has publicly documented the movement of U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, referred to by government officials as the “parallel state,” as one of the leading threats against the country’s national security.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will chair his first National Security Council (MGK) meeting on Oct. 30 since becoming president in August.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu will also participate in the gathering for the first time since being assigned to their posts.

Former Turkish President Süleyman Demirel has decided not to testify in the legal case into the Feb. 28 process, widely known as the “post-modern coup,” which unseated Turkey’s first-ever Islamist prime minister.

Iran is to give a military grant to the Lebanese Army, the head of Iran's national security council said

With the minor Cabinet reshuffle, the dossier on the Kurdish resolution process has been handed over to Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç to the contrary of expectations that it would be given to Deputy Prime Minister Yalçın Akdoğan.

U.S. President Barack Obama has ordered a review of the distribution of military hardware to state and local police out of concern at how such equipment has been used during racial unrest in Ferguson, Missouri.
   

The hostage crisis in Iraq, as well as the political crisis in the neighboring country, marked the National Security Council (MGK) meeting on Aug. 13, when outgoing President Abdullah Gül chaired the top-level meeting for the last time.

President Abdullah Gül will chair a meeting of the National Security Council (MGK) for the last time when it gathers on Aug. 13.

Confident that he will win presidential elections in the first round, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has declared that he will not be a “traditional president,” hinting that his term will include the unprecedented implementation of powers given to the country’s head of state by the Constitution.