"The Turkey Option: A Possible Exit for Maduro" by Imdat Oner, The Institute for Diplomacy and Economy
Turkey has emerged as the most realistic destination for Maduro if he is pushed to leave power. That idea is now being echoed publicly in Washington. On Saturday, Senator Lindsey Graham praised President Trump’s hard line on Venezuela, labeled Maduro’s regime a “narcoterrorist state,” and added a pointed suggestion: “I hear Türkiye and Iran are lovely this time of year…” And inside Trump’s circle, the goal is increasingly clear. Steve Bannon openly stated that the mission is to convince Maduro to “go to Turkey, leave the country.”
Turkey, unlike some other possible destinations, is not bound by the International Criminal Court. Erdoğan has already hosted leaders wanted by international courts before, brushing aside legal consequences. For Maduro, Turkey offers legal protection, personal comfort, and access to whatever wealth he has managed to move out of Venezuela.
"Talks stall between Turkey’s government and the Kurds", The Economist
The peace process is revealing fissures between Mr Erdogan and Devlet Bahceli, his main coalition partner. Mr Bahceli, chair of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), wants to push the talks forward and free Mr Demirtas and other Kurdish leaders. Mr Erdogan wants to be able to wash his hands of the process if it unravels. Mr Bahceli, aged 77, wants peace with the PKK as his legacy. For Mr Erdogan, it is a means to an end. He may seek to stay in power past the end of his current term in 2028, though this would require constitutional changes or an early election.
DEM Party Delegation Meets DEVA and MHP Leaders to Discuss Peace Process
A delegation from the DEM Party, comprising Pervin Buldan, Mithat Sancar, and Faik Ozgur Erol, had separate meetings with the leaders of the DEVA Party and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) on December 12.
The delegation first met DEVA Party leader Ali Babacan at his party headquarters. Speaking at a joint press conference after the talks, Babacan said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had not provided “sufficient communication and clarification” regarding the peace process.
The DEM Party delegation later met MHP leader Devlet Bahceli in parliament. After that meeting, Buldan said they had reviewed the current stage of the process and exchanged views on the steps that should follow. “It needs to be said that we have moved to the second stage. Legal regulations are necessary at this stage,” Buldan stated, adding: “This legal regulation should, of course, be a peace law.”
Bahceli also commented on the talks, saying, “Ms. Pervin expressed every point clearly. I endorse every sentence she said.”
In an interview published the same day by the Mesopotamia Agency, Mazlum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), reiterated that they should hold direct talks with Abdullah Ocalan regarding the new process in Turkey and that he could travel to Turkey to talk to Ocalan.
Abdi said they want to support the process, adding that “negotiations between Rojava and Imrali are necessary to resolve some issues.”
Istanbul Court Schedules First Hearing in Case Targeting Mayor Imamoglu
An Istanbul court has scheduled March 9, 2026, for the opening hearing in a major case that charges jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu with leading a criminal organization.
The court will hear the case in Silivri, a district on Istanbul’s western edge that houses the Marmara prison complex and a prison courtroom used for high-profile trials.
The indictment listed 402 defendants, including Imamoglu, senior municipal officials, contractors, and businesspeople linked to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
Court adjourns Imamoglu’s “fake diploma” and “expert witness” trials to next year
A Turkish court on December 8 postponed the “fake diploma” trial of jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu until February 16, 2026.
The hearing was held in a courtroom inside Marmara Prison in Silivri. The judicial panel announced that it would await a ruling from an administrative court on Istanbul University’s decision to cancel Imamoglu’s diploma, and then adjourned the criminal proceedings.
Prosecutors also opened an investigation into a leaked audio recording from the hearing that circulated on X. Shortly after the session, the Bakirkoy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said it had launched a probe into those who “unlawfully” recorded the hearing and shared the audio on the platform.
The third hearing in the case against Imamoglu, over his comments targeting an expert witness involved in lawsuits against his party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), took place on December 12.
The court sent the case file to the public prosecutor to prepare an opinion on the merits and scheduled the next hearing for March 30, 2026.
Amsterdam Court Freezes Assets of Turkstream Operator in Ukrainian Lawsuit
The Amsterdam District Court has frozen the assets of South Stream Transport B.V., the Gazprom-owned operator of the TurkStream gas pipeline, in connection with a lawsuit filed by DTEK Krymenergo, part of Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov's SCM Group, according to court documents.
DTEK Krymenergo’s assets were nationalized in 2015, after Crimea’s reunification with Russia. The Ukrainian company later launched international arbitration proceedings, invoking the bilateral investment protection treaty between Russia and Ukraine.
South Stream Transport B.V., registered in the Netherlands, operates the TurkStream offshore gas pipeline, which carries natural gas from Russia across the Black Sea to customers in Turkey and Europe.
Turkey’s Central Bank Cuts Key Interest Rate to 38 Percent
Turkey’s central bank announced on December 11 that it has lowered its benchmark interest rate to 38 percent, citing a slowdown in annual inflation.
Following its latest policy meeting, the bank said in a statement that it had “decided to reduce the policy rate from 39.5 percent to 38 percent.”
The central bank cautioned, however, that despite signs of improvement, inflation expectations and pricing behavior “continue to pose risks to the disinflation process.”
Turkey to Launch Pilot Income Top-Up Scheme for Low-Earning Families in 2026
Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz told parliament on December 9 that the government will launch a pilot income “top-up scheme” for low-earning families in 2026, with plans to expand it nationwide in 2027.
The program, officially named the Income Supplementary Family Support System, will set a minimum income threshold for each household and cover the gap when a family’s earnings fall below that level. Yilmaz said the government will consolidate all major social support programs under this single model.
Elderly Turkish Citizens Face Financial Hardship, Driving Up Job Seekers Over 60
In the first 11 months of 2025, the number of individuals aged 60 and above seeking employment in Turkey surged by 19 percent. This increase highlights the growing struggle of retirees to subsist on inadequate pensions.
Data released by the Turkish Employment Agency (ISKUR) shows a 17 percent rise in female job seekers in this age group, while the number of men rose by 19.6 percent between January and November.
Furthermore, some older individuals are unable to retire even after reaching the eligibility age due to insufficient Social Security contributions. ISKUR data indicate that 9,543 people aged 60 and over applied for unemployment benefits between January and October, of whom 55.4 percent met the qualification criteria.
TurkStat to Revise Inflation Methodology in 2026
TurkStat, Turkey’s official statistics agency, will introduce a new method for measuring inflation in January 2026, a change expected to lower the official rate by reducing the weight of rent increases in the index.
The agency announced that it will revise its Consumer Price Index (CPI) methodology for the 2025 base year to align with Eurostat standards.
Under European Commission rules, all EU member states must update their CPI base year to “2025=100” from January 2026, meaning price levels in 2025 will serve as the new reference point for tracking future price changes.
The most significant adjustment concerns rent. “Imputed rent” — the estimated rental value assigned to homeowners, people living in employer-provided accommodation, and those residing rent-free in relatives’ homes — will be removed from the CPI calculation.
Turkey Secures €350 million AIIB Loan to Modernize Rail Network
Turkey has obtained €350 million in external financing from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to modernize and maintain the country’s railway network, the Ministry of Treasury and Finance announced.
With this latest facility for the state rail operator TCDD, total financing secured from the AIIB this year has reached 800 million dollars, according to the ministry.
The new loan will support the State Railways of the Republic of Turkey (TCDD) under the “Railway Maintenance and Modernization Project,” which aims to expand the rail network, upgrade existing lines, and procure high-capacity equipment for inspection and maintenance.
Rights Groups Report Over 2,300 Deaths from Rights Violations in 2025
In a joint statement marking Human Rights Day on December 10, the Human Rights Association (IHD) and the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV) reported that at least 2,335 people died in Turkey in the first 11 months of 2025 due to right-to-life violations.
According to their report, 1,956 people were killed in workplace accidents, 271 women were murdered, 60 minors lost their lives, and 26 military conscripts died as a result of accidents, suicide, or suspicious circumstances.
The IHD said it also received 37 complaints related to abductions or attempted forced recruitment by actors linked to security structures.
Turkey’s prison population reached a record 433,543 inmates as of December 2, representing a sevenfold increase over the past two decades, the report noted. An additional 460,921 people were placed under judicial supervision.
At least 16 inmates died in custody due to illness, suicide, or other causes, the groups said. They reported that 321 prisoners were subjected to torture or ill-treatment and documented 1,412 sick inmates, including 335 in serious condition.
ECtHR to Rule on 2,420 Applications Linked to Gulen Movement Cases on December 16
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) will deliver its judgment on 2,420 applications grouped into three cases on December 16. The cases concern the applicants’ convictions for membership of an armed terrorist organization.
The 2,420 applications form part of thousands of similar cases pending before the Court that raise issues already examined in the Grand Chamber judgment in Yuksel Yalcinkaya v. Turkey.
Human rights lawyer Hakan Kaplankaya said a finding of a violation would pave the way for retrials for the 2,420 applicants. He argued that these violations, which have led to systematic and widespread detentions, strengthen the view that they amount to crimes against humanity, and he called on the Turkish judiciary to end such violations immediately.
Turkish Lawyer Who Lost Leg After Delayed Prison Treatment Dies Of Cancer
Suleyman Yildirim, a 59-year-old lawyer who lost his leg after what relatives described as months of delayed medical care in prison and was later diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer, died on the morning of December 8 at Izmir City Hospital.
Authorities released Yildirim from prison in late October only after his condition became life-threatening. He was intubated on December 1. His weight had fallen to around 40 kilograms, and his family said he had received inadequate treatment while in prison and later under intensive care in the hospital.
US, Turkey Hold Talks on Ankara’s Possible Return to F-35 Programme
The United States is in talks with Turkey about Ankara rejoining the F-35 fighter jet programme and hopes for a breakthrough in the coming months, Tom Barrack, US Ambassador to Turkey and Washington’s special envoy to Syria, said on X on December 10.
Barrack stated that, as set out in US law, “Turkiye must no longer operate or possess the S-400 system to return to the F-35 program.” He added that the relationship between US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Erdogan has created a new climate of cooperation, leading to “the most fruitful conversations we have had on this topic in nearly a decade.”
Responding to Barrack’s remarks at a press briefing, Turkey’s defence ministry said: “There have been no new developments regarding the S-400 air defence systems, which have been put on the agenda in recent days.” The ministry added that diplomatic talks with Washington continue “on lifting sanctions and obstacles to the F-35 procurement and re-admitting our country to the programme.”
Trump Calls Erdogan a "Tough Cookie," says NATO Leaders Ask Him to Mediate with Erdogan
US President Donald Trump described Turkish President Erdogan as a “tough cookie” and said NATO allies often ask him to call Erdogan when they face problems with Turkey.
Asked in a Politico video interview whether there are countries in NATO that should not be in the alliance, Trump replied that “there are countries that are difficult for NATO. Turkey’s an example.”
Speaking about Erdogan personally, Trump called the Turkish president “a friend of mine” and “a tough cookie.”
Trump added that he often acts as an intermediary when NATO members raise concerns about Ankara. “They asked me to call him, and I do call him, and I always work it out with him,” he said. “You know, he and I work it out like really quickly.”
Erdogan Urges Syria Deal Implementation, Fidan Links Israeli Actions to SDF Stalling
Speaking at an event in Ankara on December 9, President Erdogan called for the full implementation of a March 10 agreement with Syria’s new government that foresees integration into Syrian state institutions, saying it would help resolve key problems and safeguard the country’s unity.
"Implementing the agreement will resolve many issues. Syria must have territorial integrity,” Erdogan said.
He added that the conflict’s worst phase had passed and pledged continued Turkish support in the next stage. “There will be no return to the bad old days. We will rebuild and reconstruct Syria together,” he said.
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on December 11 that Israeli actions in Syria are encouraging the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to stall the March 10 agreement with Damascus.
In an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic, Fidan argued that Israel’s growing activity in Syria has coincided with what he described as a more reluctant stance from the SDF. He said the main Kurdish faction within the SDF, the People’s Protection Units (YPG), had “pulled back” from steps needed to implement the agreement after receiving “different signals from Israel.”
US Envoy Tom Barrack Sees Role For Turkey’s Military In Postwar Gaza
Speaking in an exclusive interview at The Jerusalem Post’s Washington Conference on December 10, Tom Barrack said the United States still sees a role for Turkey’s military on the ground, even though Israel has publicly opposed Turkish participation in a proposed multinational force in a postwar Gaza, citing Ankara’s close ties with Hamas.
Barrack said Turkey’s large, experienced ground force, combined with its established dialogue with multiple actors, “could help cool the temperature.”
He added that linking the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea through Turkey and Israel would transform regional commerce and reduce dependence on Iranian corridors. “There’s only one real obstacle, and that’s Iran,” he said.
Senior Israeli Official Accuses US Envoy Tom Barrack of Acting Like “Turkish Ambassador”
Speaking to Israeli media, a senior Israeli official accused the US envoy Tom Barrack of acting like a “Turkish ambassador” and exerting a negative influence on developments in the Middle East.
Israeli news website Walla reported that the official said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu views Barrack as hostile to Israel. “He is overly influenced by the Turkish interest in Syria; he acts as an ambassador and, to a significant extent, also represents Syrian interests,” the official claimed.
The remarks follow a series of contentious statements by Barrack in recent days, including his assertion that Israel “claims to be a democracy but in reality, only enlightened monarchies survive in the Middle East.”
Three Turkish-Owned Vessels Damaged in Russian Attack on Ukrainian Ports
Russia attacked two Ukrainian ports on December 12, damaging three Turkish-owned vessels, including a ship carrying food supplies, Ukrainian officials and one shipowner said.
Cenk Shipping, the owner of the cargo ship Cenk T, said the vessel came under attack but reported no casualties among the crew and only limited damage.
The strikes on December 12 occurred just hours after Turkish President Erdogan told Russian President Vladimir Putin that a limited ceasefire focusing on energy facilities and ports could be beneficial.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said Russia hit the ports with drones and ballistic missiles. A spokesperson for Ukraine’s navy said that three vessels were damaged in total, all of them Turkish-owned.
Turkey’s foreign ministry confirmed that damage occurred at the port of Chornomorsk and that there were no reports of injured Turkish citizens.
“We reiterate the need for an arrangement whereby, to prevent escalation in the Black Sea, attacks targeting navigational safety as well as the parties’ energy and port infrastructure are suspended,” the ministry said in its statement.
Erdogan Says Ukraine-Russia Peace “Not Far Away”
Speaking to reporters on his return flight from Turkmenistan, President Erdogan said he hopes to discuss a Ukraine-Russia peace plan with US President Donald Trump, expressing optimism that “peace is not far away,” following his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Erdogan met Putin in Turkmenistan on December 12, where the two leaders reviewed “comprehensive peace efforts” to end the war, according to a statement from the Turkish presidency. Ankara reiterated its readiness to support diplomatic initiatives aimed at a settlement.
Erdogan also told Putin that “implementing a limited ceasefire targeting energy facilities and ports in particular could be beneficial.” He added that “the Black Sea should not be seen as a battleground. Such a situation would only harm Russia and Ukraine.”
Orban Says Turkey to Guarantee Continued Flow Of Russian Gas to Hungary
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on December 8 that he and President Erdogan agreed that Turkey would guarantee the continued flow of Russian natural gas to Hungary. “Today I agreed with the president that you, Turkey, will guarantee the route so that we can transport gas from Russia to Hungary,” Orban told a press conference after meeting Erdogan in Istanbul.
For his part, Erdogan said they reviewed bilateral relations with Orban and confirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in areas such as energy, transportation, trade, defense, and culture.
He added that the two sides signed a range of agreements covering aviation, security, technology, culture, and education, and are considering projects, including joint production, to further advance their cooperation in the defense industry.
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