ANALYSIS
Turkish Troops Likely to Remain in Syria After SDF Dissolution
Turkish troops are likely to remain in Syria despite the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announcing its dissolution on August 25, with their mission potentially shifting from countering the group to supporting President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government, according to InstituDE researcher Mustafa Enes Esen.
“Under US pressure, the SDF came to understand that the best future for the Kurds in Syria lay in political integration rather than armed conflict,” Esen said.
The SDF's dissolution weakens Turkey's original rationale for maintaining troops in Syria but is unlikely to bring an end to the deployment, Esen stated.
Turkish troops could serve as an insurance policy against groups seeking to destabilize the government in Damascus, he said. Ankara and Damascus could also establish additional military bases, although such moves could increase tensions with Israel over Turkey's expanding military role in Syria, according to Esen.
Turkey's military presence in northern Iraq could also face greater pressure if authorities confirm the dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the end of its armed presence there, Esen added.
"Why Turkey is showing restraint over Israeli strikes on Syria" by Ragip Soylu, Middle East Eye
Turkey is likely to maintain its restraint in responding to Israeli attacks on Syria until after Israel’s general election in October, as Ankara does not want to throw a lifeline to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s struggling election campaign.
Ankara believes Netanyahu is under intense pressure at home and is seeking a way out by escalating tensions with Turkey. “And he is a madman, definitely, for trying that,” the official added.
Many Ankara insiders expect the Israeli election to result in a change of government and bring more reasonable politicians to power.
"Turkey is defying Europe’s human-rights court — and Osman Kavala is paying the price" by Stefan Simanowitz, euobserver
In the face of such serious and continuous lack of compliance, the Council of Europe, including its parliamentary assembly and secretary general, need to take every necessary measure and use all appropriate tools available to secure the implementation of these judgments to ensure that Kavala and others who are detained for politically motivated reasons are finally released from prison.
The Council of Europe and its member states must recognise and address the implications of Turkey's failure to implement these judgments, which threatens to seriously undermine the convention system.
Kavala’s case is a litmus test for the European system of human rights protection. Populations and their governments and institutions must resist and help reverse the deteriorating rights situation in Turkey.
"Lebanon must get ready as Israel and Turkey battle for influence in the Levant" by Michael Young, The National
...but the country that does so more than any other is Turkey, which fears that religious-ethnic fragmentation in Syria and Lebanon could facilitate the fragmentation of Turkey itself, with its large Kurdish minority.
In Lebanon, the situation is more complex. It is increasingly apparent that the real Israeli aim is to ensure that bilateral negotiations fail, so that Israel can impose an outcome to its liking, without making any of the concessions that negotiations require. This would be based on imposing security conditions unilaterally on an increasingly divided Lebanon.
It’s not surprising, then, that Turkey is seeking to strengthen the Lebanese army’s capacities, a topic Lebanese President Joseph Aoun addressed in a meeting with Mr Erdogan recently in Ankara.
POLITICS
Ruling Party Drafts Proposals to Shift Presidential Powers and Strengthen Parliament
Officials from ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) have drafted proposals to transfer some presidential powers to the cabinet and give parliament a greater role in overseeing the government, the Ekonomi news website reported on August 27.
The proposals emerged as the AK Party pursues its stated goal of drafting a new constitution. The plan would redistribute some powers currently held solely by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, transferring some authority to the cabinet and requiring certain decisions to be approved by both the president and the cabinet.
The draft also calls for abolishing the deputy minister position. Some AK Party officials reportedly believe the post has failed to deliver the expected results. The plan would instead restore the ministry undersecretary position.
The proposals would also bring back oral questioning of ministers in parliament. Ministers would appear before lawmakers twice a month for one-hour oversight sessions held every other Tuesday. Two ministers would attend each month's session, and every cabinet member would be required to appear at least once each legislative year.
PKK Leader Says 25,922 Members Died Over Five Decades
Murat Karayilan, a senior leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), said 25,922 members from the group and affiliated Kurdish forces died between 1976 and 2026, providing what he described as the movement's first comprehensive tally.
Karayilan gave the figures in an interview published on August 28 by Firat News Agency (ANF), a news outlet close to the PKK.
He said 173 group members died between 1976 and 1983, while 13,778 died between 1984 and 2000 and another 7,949 died between 2001 and 2026.
The tally also includes 760 members of the Civil Protection Units (YPS) who died between 2015 and 2026, as well as 3,262 people killed in battles against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria and Iraq.
Karayilan said the PKK's records omitted around 1,000 additional deaths, most of them from the 1984-2000 period. Including those cases would bring the total to about 27,000, he said. He added that an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 civilians also died during the conflict.
Istanbul Court Acquits All Defendants of Alleged Criminal Organization Charges in Major Municipal Corruption Trial
An Istanbul court on August 24 rejected the central accusation in one of Turkey’s largest municipal corruption trials, acquitting all defendants charged with establishing, belonging to or aiding an alleged criminal organization. The court, however, convicted five opposition mayors on separate corruption-related charges.
The ruling cleared businessman Aziz Ihsan Aktas of establishing a criminal organization. However, it sentenced Aktas to two years, eight months and 15 days in prison for bid-rigging and imposed a two-year ban on participating in public tenders.
The verdict also cleared defendants accused of belonging to or aiding the alleged organization, including Riza Akpolat, the jailed and suspended mayor of Istanbul’s Besiktas district.
Despite the acquittal on the organization charge, the court handed Akpolat the heaviest sentence, ordering him to serve 23 years and three months for bid-rigging, two counts of bribery and laundering criminal proceeds. The court also ordered that he remain in custody pending an appeal.
Adana Mayor Zeydan Karalar received a six-year, three-month sentence for bribery.
The court acquitted Adiyaman Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere of bribery.
Ahmet Ozer, the suspended mayor of Istanbul’s Esenyurt district, received an eight-month sentence for negligent abuse of office, but the court suspended the sentence. It acquitted Ozer of bid-rigging and document forgery charges.
The ruling dealt a significant blow to prosecutors, who had accused Aktas of leading a network that secured public contracts through bribery, forged documents and rigged tenders at municipalities governed by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).
Authorities released Aktas after he provided information under Turkey’s “effective remorse” provisions that helped prosecutors build cases against opposition mayors and municipal officials.
Prosecutors Launch Investigation into Allegations Against Former Ankara Mayor Gokcek
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into allegations concerning former Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Ibrahim Melih Gokcek.
Several media outlets reported claims that Gokcek transferred undeclared funds to companies abroad. The prosecutor’s office said it launched the investigation following the reports to establish the facts and determine whether the allegations have any basis.
ECONOMY
Commerzbank: Turkish Central Bank ‘Following Reality from Behind’ on Inflation
German banking giant Commerzbank has criticized the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) for repeatedly raising its inflation forecasts, saying the central bank is “following reality from behind” rather than anchoring market expectations.
“We see a similar picture every year: The Central Bank of Turkey starts the year with an optimistic forecast, but as the target approaches and the initial figure loses credibility, it gradually revises the forecast upwards,” Commerzbank economist Tatha Ghose said.
Ghose said repeated upward revisions undermine monetary policy's credibility and predictability. He also warned that the CBRT’s delayed adjustments, which typically come during the release of its official reports, weaken its role as a market anchor.
Turkey’s Tourism Arrivals Decline as Rising Costs Weigh on European Demand
Tourist arrivals to Turkey fell 3.6% year over year in May, 4% in June and another 0.3% in July, according to Bloomberg, which cited data from Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Ministry. European visitors accounted for some of the largest declines.
The number of British tourists visiting Turkey fell 11% last month from the same month last year. UK visitors represent the country’s third-largest share of foreign tourists.
Holiday Extras, a UK-based travel company, said demand that previously went to Turkey had shifted toward more affordable destinations, including Slovenia, Montenegro and Tunisia.
Turkey’s exchange-rate policy has emerged as one factor weighing on demand. The lira has depreciated more slowly than inflation, a policy aimed at easing inflation and reducing the burden on Turkish consumers. But the resulting price increases make Turkey more expensive for visitors spending foreign currencies, Bloomberg reported. Tour operators and travel agencies said the currency dynamics, along with other factors including the proximity of the war in Iran, have reduced tourists’ appetite for Turkey.
Turkey Boosts Diesel Imports from U.S. and India as Russian Supplies Fall
Turkey has increased its diesel imports from the United States and India to record levels in August, Reuters reported, citing shipping data. Turkey has imported more than 120,000 barrels per day (bpd) of diesel from India so far this month, while imports from the United States have reached about 90,000 bpd, according to commodities data firm Kpler.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s imports of Russian diesel fell to around 100,000 bpd in July and 80,000 bpd in August, Kpler data showed. Russian supplies had remained above 200,000 bpd during the earlier months of the year, starting in January. The decline reduced Russia’s share of Turkey’s diesel imports to about 20% in August.
Russia has banned diesel exports until at least the end of August after Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries disrupted domestic fuel supplies. Supplies from the Middle East have also declined as war damage affected the region’s oil refineries and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz fell.
LC Waikiki Opens First Turkish Factory in Syria as Economic Ties Expand
Turkish clothing retailer LC Waikiki has opened the first Turkish factory in Syria at Al-Rai Industrial City in the Aleppo countryside, marking a new step in Turkey's expanding role in the country's post-war industrial recovery.
The factory has started production with 150 employees, while the company plans to increase its workforce to 1,000 within three years.
LC Waikiki also opened its first store in Syria since the end of the war at Damascino Mall in Damascus in May.
The factory initially targets the Syrian market but has also begun exporting products to European Union countries and the United Arab Emirates, Turkish media reported, citing Syria's Ministry of Economy and Industry. Other Turkish companies have also begun exploring opportunities to participate in Syria's industrial recovery, Turkish media reported.
Trade between Turkey and Syria rose 42% last year to $3.75 billion, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat said during a visit to Aleppo on August 27. Speaking at a business meeting in Aleppo, Bolat said Turkey had become Syria’s largest foreign trade partner and that commercial ties between the two countries continued to expand.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia Renewable Energy Deal Enters into Force
A renewable energy agreement between Turkey and Saudi Arabia entered into force on August 28 after Turkey published the accord, signed in Riyadh on February 3, in the Official Gazette.
Under the agreement, Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power will build two solar power plants with a combined capacity of 2,000 megawatts in the Turkish provinces of Sivas and Karaman.
Turkish Electricity Generation Company (EUAS) will purchase electricity from the plants for 30 years. The agreement sets purchase prices in euros and includes provisions to protect the investment's economic balance against legislative changes. After ratification, neither side can unilaterally change the tariff or existing commercial terms.
EUAS will retain ownership of the power plant sites and will have the right to take over the facilities free of charge when the 30-year purchase period ends.
HUMAN RIGHTS
European Court Orders Turkey Second Time to Release Osman Kavala
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on August 25 ordered Turkey to immediately release businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala, ruling that his conviction resulted from a “flagrant denial of justice” and must be regarded as null and void under the European Convention on Human Rights.
The court rejected the Turkish government's objection that Kavala had not exhausted domestic remedies. It said exceptional circumstances allowed it to examine the case on its merits without waiting for Turkey's Constitutional Court to issue a ruling, citing the need to prevent the continuation of the human rights violation.
In its final Grand Chamber judgment, the Strasbourg court found multiple violations of Kavala's rights and ordered Turkey to release him at the earliest possible date and eliminate the consequences of his conviction. Fifteen judges voted for the judgment and two voted against it.
The ECtHR first ordered Kavala's release in December 2019, ruling that authorities lacked reasonable grounds for his detention and that his imprisonment aimed to silence him.
The court awarded Kavala €70,000 ($81,600) in nonpecuniary damages and €43,342.57 in legal costs and expenses.
European Parliament rapporteur for Turkey Nacho Sánchez Amor described the judgment as a “crushing blow” to the credibility of Turkey's judiciary.
Presidential legal adviser Mehmet Uçum accused the ECtHR on August 26 of issuing a politically motivated ruling. He said the judgment could push Turkey to reconsider its status as a party to the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as its recognition of the right of individual petition to the Strasbourg court.
In a written statement on August 27, Kavala said Turkey's compliance with the ECtHR's order for his immediate release constituted a basic obligation of a state governed by the rule of law.
Kavala also said the latest judgment rejected the use of broad assessments and speculation about a defendant's intentions as grounds for a criminal conviction.
DEM Lawmaker Documents 73 Alleged Abductions and Disappearances Since 2015
Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, a lawmaker from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), has documented 73 alleged abductions and disappearances in Turkey since 2015, including cases involving people who remain missing years later and others who reappeared after months in police custody.
The report covers cases involving former public servants, teachers, journalists, political activists and students.
Some of those who resurfaced said authorities had held them at undisclosed locations and subjected them to torture.
According to the report, the whereabouts of several people remain unknown despite complaints from their families and evidence including surveillance footage and witness accounts. It said investigations often failed to identify those responsible or establish what happened to the missing individuals.
81 Jailed in Financial Crimes Probe Targeting Suleymancilar Religious Community
Turkish courts have jailed 81 people pending trial so far as part of a financial crimes investigation targeting members of the Suleymanlilar, or Suleymancilar, religious community, including its leader, Alihan Kuris.
Prosecutors said they had launched legal proceedings against 124 people in the investigation, while placing 10 others under judicial supervision.
In the latest phase of the operation, police detained 37 people on August 25. A court subsequently arrested 35 of them and released two under judicial supervision.
The first wave of raids took place across 17 provinces on August 13. Authorities then jailed Kuris and 31 others, while placing six people under house arrest.
Prosecutors accuse Kuris and others of allegedly operating a profit-driven network involved in financial crimes. Authorities seized control of 50 companies and four associations allegedly linked to the organization and appointed trustees to oversee the 50 companies.
Meanwhile, former Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin has been summoned to give a statement as part of the investigation. Prosecutors said a vehicle assigned to Sahin was used in an attempt to help Kuris's brother, Hilmi Tuna Kuris, leave Turkey before police detained him in the southwestern resort town of Marmaris.
Turkish Court Jails Islamic Cleric Alparslan Kuytul and 34 Others Pending Trial
A Turkish court on August 24 jailed Islamic cleric Alparslan Kuytul, his wife Semra and 33 others pending trial as part of a financial crimes investigation targeting the Furkan religious movement.
The arrests followed coordinated raids on 49 locations across six provinces last week as part of an investigation led by the Adana Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutors accuse the suspects of establishing or leading a criminal organization, belonging to the organization, laundering criminal proceeds, aggravated fraud, forging official documents and violating tax laws.
An account on X operating in Kuytul’s name said Kuytul gave his testimony without legal representation as authorities had also detained his lawyers.
Authorities referred 56 suspects to court. Prosecutors released three of them and sought the arrest of 44 others, while requesting judicial supervision for the remaining nine.
The court ordered the detention of 35 people, including Alparslan and Semra Kuytul, and released the other 18 under judicial supervision.
The operation came a day after Oktay Saral, a chief adviser to President Erdogan, publicly warned Kuytul over his criticism of an earlier police operation targeting the Suleymanlılar or Suleymancılar, another Islamic community.
Saral used a Turkish expression warning Kuytul that "the water had heated up" for him, signaling he could soon face serious consequences.
Court Orders Seizure of Imamoglu’s Book, Bans Distribution and Sale
A Turkish court has ordered the seizure of all printed and in-production copies of a book by jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and banned its distribution and sale. Imamoglu has described the book as the defense he was prevented from presenting during his trial over alleged corruption at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB).
The Istanbul 4th Criminal Court of Peace issued the order on August 27 at the request of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The ruling covers the entire book, titled Millet Sahidimdir (The Nation Is My Witness), including copies already printed and those still on the presses.
The notice served on the publisher did not specify the alleged offense or identify any passage that prompted the court's decision.
Imamoglu said police raided the printing house and confiscated copies of the book. “I will not give up, I will not be silent, and I will not surrender,” he said.
FOREIGN POLICY
Turkish Public Views Spain as Friend, Sees Western Powers Predominantly as Adversaries, Survey Shows
Metropoll's Turkey's Pulse July 2026 Survey shows sharply contrasting views among the Turkish public toward neighboring and other countries with historical or regional ties to Turkey.
The survey, conducted from July 18-23 among 1,236 people across 28 provinces, found that Spain received the most favorable assessment, with 55.2% of respondents describing the country as a friend.
By contrast, respondents predominantly viewed Israel, the United States, the United Kingdom and France as adversaries. Israel recorded the highest “enemy” rating at 84.7%, followed by the United States at 68.1%, the United Kingdom at 62.5% and France at 58.8%.
Russia, Iran and Ukraine occupied a more ambiguous position, with significant shares of respondents describing each country as both a friend and an enemy.
Ukraine received a slightly higher “friend” rating than Russia, at 41.1% compared with 37.9%. At the same time, 40.4% of respondents described Russia as an enemy, indicating that the Turkish public does not overwhelmingly view Moscow as a friendly country.
Iran also produced a mixed picture, with 40.5% of respondents describing it as a friend and 37.1% as an enemy.
Turkey Ranks Second Worldwide in Schengen Visa Applications in 2025
Turkey ranked second worldwide in Schengen visa applications in 2025, behind China, with 1,268,376 applications filed at Schengen consulates across the country.
Consulates issued more than 1.07 million visas to applicants in Turkey, while 183,196 applications were refused, resulting in an overall rejection rate of about 14.6%. Authorities issued around 736,556 multiple-entry visas during the year.
Greece received the most applications from Turkey, with 310,920 submissions, followed by Germany with 217,627. Germany recorded a relatively high rejection rate of 21.1% among applications submitted from Turkey.
Denmark rejected 19.19% of the 44,253 applications it received from Turkish applicants, while Hungary rejected 18.14% of its 35,605 applications.
Turkish Defense Ministry Hires Trump-Linked Lobbying Firm for $2.4 Million
The Turkish government has hired Ballard Partners, a Washington lobbying firm with close ties to US President Donald Trump, on a one-year contract worth $2.4 million, Middle East Eye reported, citing filings with the US Justice Department.
Ballard Partners disclosed Turkey’s Defense Ministry as a foreign principal in an August 21 filing under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The firm signed the agreement with Turkey’s Ministry of National Defence on August 8. The contract took effect on August 15 and runs through August 14, 2027. Ballard Partners will receive $200,000 per month under the agreement.
The firm will provide “government relations services, strategic consulting and advocacy services” before the US federal government, according to the filing. Ballard will also keep Turkey’s Defense Ministry informed about developments in Congress and changes in US policy.
Turkey Welcomes SDF Dissolution as Step Toward Syrian Unity
Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) on August 26 welcomed the dissolution of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), describing the move as an important step toward strengthening Syria's unity.
“An important threshold was passed in terms of strengthening Syria's internal unity with the dissolution of the SDF,” AK Party spokesman Omer Celik wrote on X.
SDF commander Mazloum Abdi announced on August 25 that the group would dissolve and integrate its forces into Syria's armed forces under an agreement reached with Damascus.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa appointed Abdi as a presidential adviser on August 28, according to a presidential decree. It was not clear whether the position would carry substantive responsibilities or remain largely ceremonial.
Turkey-Germany Meeting on Strait of Hormuz Crisis Postponed
A meeting of foreign ministers from Turkey and Germany, aimed at addressing the ongoing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, has been postponed indefinitely, German news agency dpa reported
The meeting, which Turkey and Germany planned as a joint initiative, had been scheduled to take place in Istanbul on Sunday, August 30. Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, France and the United Kingdom were also expected to attend.
Dpa cited scheduling problems involving one of the participants as the reason for the postponement.
Erdogan and Putin to Meet in Bishkek on September 1
Turkish President Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet on September 1 in Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov announced on August 28.
The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. “Putin will hold talks with President Erdogan to discuss Ukraine and the situation in the Black Sea,” Ushakov said.
Turkey Summons Ukrainian Ambassador Over Black Sea Attacks on Turkish Vessels
Turkey summoned Ukraine’s Ambassador Naryman Dzhelialo on August 29 over attacks this week on a Turkish vessel and a second ship sent to tow it in the Black Sea, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
The Turkish container ship Lider Bordo Mavi came under attack on August 26 off Russia’s Black Sea coast. The Lider Kocatepe, which authorities sent to tow the damaged vessel, was also attacked the following day.
“During the meeting, Turkey warned about the absolute need to ensure the safety of people, of assets, of navigation and of the environment in the Black Sea,” the ministry said.
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