Turkish foreign policy has undergone constant transformation under President Erdoğan’s rule since 2002. Zero problem with neighbors, trading state, neo-Ottomanism, and precious loneliness are some well-known terms coined to symbolize the periods of this transformation. President Erdoğan and his close circle lead this change in interaction with global developments and domestic politics.

The Syrian civil war has had a major impact on relations between Turkey and the United States. Syria has created both areas of cooperation and sources of tension between the two countries. As interests and the regional balance of power shifted, the nature of the relationship also changed.

Videos showed fighting erupting in residential areas as civilians fled en masse, while green buses later transported defeated fighters out of the city under a mediated evacuation arrangement. The Aleppo clashes in early January 2026 brought back grim memories of Syria's civil war, even as the new government in Damascus, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, claimed another military win against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Aleppo.

Turkey’s Syria policy is often portrayed as a case of foreign policy failure driven by ideology. According to this view, Ankara abandoned realism in favor of Islamist enthusiasm during the Arab Spring and later returned to pragmatism after paying significant political and strategic costs. While this narrative highlights an important shift, it relies on a simplified understanding of the relationship between ideas and foreign policy.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was cordially received by U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on September 25. Progovernment media celebrated the Oval Office meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump as a diplomatic success that might reset troubled U.S.-Turkey relations. Yet, instead of opening a new page with Washington, Erdoğan’s visit unexpectedly highlighted something else: the question of succession and the rivalries within his own circle.

Today, Turkey’s overtures to non-Western initiatives are no longer surprising to the US and Europe. Yet, what does this visit say about Turkey’s place in the shifting balance between the United States and China?

28 Temmuz 2024 Pazar günü Venezuela'da gerçekleştirilen tek turlu başkanlık seçimi sonuçlarını instituDE üyesi ve Latin Amerika Uzmanı Dr. İmdat Öner ile instituDE Dış Politika Analisti Haşim Tekineş değerlendirdiler.

Orta Doğu uzmanı Mehmet Akif Koç ve instituDE Dış Politika Analisti Haşim Tekineş İran'ın yeni cumhurbaşkanı Mesud Pezişkiyân'ı, reformist olup olmadığını, nasıl bir profile sahip olduğunu, seçim sonuçlarına dair çeşitli detayları ve bir sonraki İran ruhani lideri dahil olmak üzere pek çok hususu ele aldılar.

ran ve Ortadoğu uzmanı Mehmet Akif Koç ve instituDE politika analisti Haşim Tekineş'in 19 Mayıs Pazar akşamı saat 20.00'den itibaren gerçekleştirdikleri, İran cumhurbaşkanı Reisi'nin helikopter kazası hakkındaki twitter Space yayınımızın kaydıdır.

18 Ekim Çarşamba günü Ömer Güler, Enes Esen, Servet Akman, Haşim Tekineş ve İmdat Öner İsrail-Hamas Savaşı'na dair hastane saldırısı dahil son gelişmeleri, Gazze'ye kara harekatını, Türkiye'nin gelişmelere dair tepkilerini ve savaşın küresel ve bölgesel sonuçlarını Twitter Space yayınında ele aldılar.

This perspective suggests that populist leaders undermine diplomatic services to pursue their unorthodox agendas. However, this study challenges this binary view, arguing that the interaction between populists and diplomats is more complex and multifaceted. By combining insights from populism literature with diplomacy studies, this study demonstrates how diplomats navigate and adapt to populist rule.

Regional backlash against Washington’s unilateral interventionist policies, viewing the region only through security lenses, lack of social, economic, and cultural policies, and U.S. support for authoritarian regimes has created the conditions for conspiracy theories such as BOP.

As the U.S. presidential elections loom later this year, current polls point to the possibility of another term for Donald Trump. Given the tumultuous impact of Trump’s previous presidency, this prospect raises significant concerns for the Middle East.

Two major earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.8 and 7.5, rocked southeast Turkey within 10 hours on February 6. They struck a large area including 10 provinces with 13 million people. Winter conditions posed a further challenge to recovering thousands of survivors trapped under debris and slowed down search and rescue operations. Thus, the earthquakes caused a devastating human tragedy. However, they also became a regime test that revealed the scale of misgovernment and the consequences of crony capitalism in Turkey – eliciting reactions from victims and citizens alike.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has established his authoritarian regime by eliminating his rivals one by one throughout the last two decades. In his battles with the Kemalist generals, Gulenists, and Kurds, Erdoğan has come out victorious at every turn. But although his rule is incontestable today, he still shares the fruits of his victories with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)—his only remaining ally for the past five years.

Atransactional relationship is increasingly seen as the only solution for the future of U.S.-Turkey relations. As the relationship has lost its values-based spirit and diplomatic crises have exhausted both sides, a business-like understanding has emerged as a last attempt to keep the relationship alive. Yet, as even transactional relations have significant shortcomings, Washington and Ankara should be prepared for a messy divorce.

Opposing authoritarian leaders is a formidable challenge, as they wield state resources to suppress dissent. Over two decades, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has methodically dismantled democratic institutions and consolidated authoritarian power. His power is unrivaled, yet not unchallenged.

Evolution of Erdoğan's Victory Speeches From 2002 to 2023

Rusya’nın Ukrayna’yı işgali büyük güçler arasında son yıllarda artan rekabetin nerelere varabileceğini çok açık bir şekilde herkese göstermiş oldu. Y kuşağının tarih kitaplarından okuduğu felaket senaryolarının günümüzde de pekâlâ yaşanabileceğini görmüş olduk.

This report analyzes Turkey’s vision for Syria following the fall of the Assad family and the rise of the HTS under the leadership of Ahmad al-Sharaa. In this regard, it focuses on the foreign actors that, alongside Turkey, now have the greatest ability to shape Syria’s future: namely the United States and Israel.

His electoral victory in May 2023 gave President Erdoğan five more years to further consolidate his power, eviscerate institutions, fill the bureaucracy with yes-men and expand his corruption network. This, of course, raises questions about the Turkish political system’s chances of recovery, the prospects for democratization after Erdogan and the regime’s tolerance for his demise.