“Turkey Steps Up Africa Drive With Push Into Oil and Spaceports” by Selcan Hacaoglu and Mohamed Sheikh Nor, Bloomberg
Unlike China’s approach to the continent, which centered for years on massive infrastructure projects, or that of Russia, which trades security support for resource access, Turkey is pursuing a kind of middle course — combining military assistance with business agreements and diplomatic engagement to turn security ties into lasting influence.
At its core, Turkey’s engagement is a way of positioning itself to shape the balance of power — often in alignment with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar — along the Red Sea corridor, one of the world’s most strategic maritime trading routes.
"Turkiye and EU’s ‘Made in Europe’ plan" by Andrew Hammond, Arab News
According to a leak in December, the bloc’s largest economy, Germany, has lobbied for a “Made with Europe” rather than “Made in Europe” approach. This “Made with Europe” alternative, which is more favored by much of the global business community, including in Turkiye and potentially other Middle Eastern nations, would see EU preferences more limited in time, and defined broadly to include products made in countries with which Brussels has a trade and/or economic partnership deals, and/or are otherwise “likeminded partners.”
The package has too much momentum to be stopped in its tracks. The devil will be in the detail of the big announcement for Turkiye and other Middle Eastern nations as they finalize their EU lobbying campaigns.
Ocalan Statement Marks Anniversary of Call for PKK to Disband
PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan issued a new statement on the first anniversary of his call for the organization to convene a congress, dissolve itself, and lay down its arms. At a press conference in Ankara on February 27, DEM Party Van lawmaker Pervin Buldan and the deputy speaker of parliament read Ocalan's message aloud.
Ocalan said many of Turkey's problems stem from what he described as the absence of "democratic law." He argued that the language of the current period should not be authoritarian or domineering, and should instead rest on mutual listening and the ability to express oneself. He added that if the process reaches its conclusion, violence will end not only physically but also mentally.
Opening the press conference, DEM Party co-chair Tulay Hatimogullari said the PKK has met the requirements of the process and that responsibility now rests with the state and the government. "Decisions commensurate with the historical weight of the February 27 call must be taken, policies must be produced without delay, and concrete and reassuring steps must be taken," she said.
Bahceli Calls for Debate on Ocalan's Legal Status
Devlet Bahceli, leader of Turkey's far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), called for a public debate on the legal status of jailed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan, asking how authorities will address his status under Turkey's ongoing peace initiative.
"How will the status issue concerning Imrali [Ocalan], who serves the goal of a terrorism-free Turkey, be resolved?" Bahceli asked during his party's parliamentary group meeting on February 24.
Bahceli said the matter should be discussed openly and settled in line with reason and conscience.
Gendarmes Detain Bolu Mayor Tanju Ozcan in Extortion Probe
Turkish gendarmes detained Tanju Ozcan, the mayor of Turkey's northwestern Bolu province, from the main opposition party, on February 28, as part of an investigation into alleged extortion linked to dealings with supermarket chains.
The Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said the probe covers 13 suspects, including Ozcan and municipal officials. Prosecutors allege that between April and November 2024, the suspects used public authority to pressure private-sector managers for improper benefits. The supermarkets involved reportedly include SOK, A101, BIM, CarrefourSA, Avantaj, and Nuhmar.
Ozcan said on social media that the gendarmerie detained him and suggested the case relates to municipal scholarships for students in his hometown. "I was detained because thousands of students were given scholarships [by the municipality]," he wrote, adding that he considered it an honour.
His lawyer, Ferit Atalay, said complaints from a group of chain market operators triggered the detention. He said the allegations center on an "irregular cash inflow" tied to a foundation established to support students. Atalay said the accusations are baseless and intended to discredit the mayor.
Istanbul Court Rejects Bid to Merge CHP Congress Case With IBB Trial
A court in Ankara asked to merge a case over alleged irregularities at the Republican People's Party (CHP) 38th Ordinary Congress with a separate trial involving the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), citing legal and factual links between the proceedings. An Istanbul court later rejected the request, meaning the Ankara case will continue separately.
The Ankara 26th Criminal Court of First Instance is hearing a case against 12 defendants, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Besiktas Mayor Riza Akpolat and CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Ozgur Celik. Prosecutors accuse the defendants of violating the election law over alleged misconduct during the party congress.
After witness statements, defense lawyers argued that much of the testimony relied on hearsay rather than direct knowledge.
In an interim decision on February 23, the Ankara court asked the Istanbul 40th High Criminal Court whether it would agree to combine the case with the IBB-related trial, which is set to begin on March 9. The Ankara court postponed its next hearing to April 1.
The Istanbul 40th High Criminal Court later rejected the request, saying the two case files have no factual or legal connection. As a result, the CHP congress trial will continue at the Ankara 26th Criminal Court of First Instance.
Education Minister Sues 168 Signatories of Secularism Manifesto
Speaking to reporters ahead of a ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) parliamentary group meeting on February 25, Education Minister Yusuf Tekin said that he has filed a lawsuit against 168 public figures who signed a manifesto titled "We Defend Secularism Together."
The manifesto published on February 17 says Turkey is facing what it describes as a "reactionary, pro-sharia siege" and argues that recent policies undermine secular education, the secular legal order, and secular public life.
"I have filed a lawsuit," Tekin stated. "No one in Turkey has a monopoly on interpreting the constitution. No one has the right to say, 'You will interpret the constitution as we wish, and those who do not are reactionary or a radical minority.' This is an insult."
Turkey Trade Deficit Widens 11.6% in January
Turkey's foreign trade deficit widened by 11.6% in January as exports declined and imports edged higher, according to official data.
The Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) data showed that exports fell 4.0% year on year to $20.315 billion, while imports rose 0.1% to $28.695 billion under the general trade system. The trade gap widened to $8.38 billion from a year earlier, and the export-to-import coverage ratio slipped to 70.8% from 73.8%.
Manufacturing dominated exports, accounting for 92.7% of the total in January. Agriculture, forestry and fishing contributed 4.8%, while mining and quarrying made up 1.8%. High-tech goods accounted for 3.3% of manufacturing exports.
On the import side, intermediate goods accounted for 72.1% of total imports, underscoring Turkey's continued reliance on imported inputs for production.
Trade Union Data Shows Family of Four Needs 105,425 Lira a Month
A family of four in Turkey now needs 105,425 Turkish lira per month to cover basic expenses such as food, housing, transportation, education and healthcare, according to data released on February 27 by the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TURK-IS).
The confederation said the "hunger threshold", the minimum monthly cost of food required for a family to maintain a healthy and balanced diet, rose from 31,224 to 32,365 lira in February. The new figure exceeds the net monthly minimum wage of 28,075 lira by roughly 15%.
TURK-IS also said the monthly cost of living for a single worker climbed to 41,900 lira, well above the minimum wage.
Turkey Secures Preliminary $6.75 Billion Rail Financing Deal With Global Lenders
Turkey has reached a preliminary agreement with international lenders, including the World Bank, for $6.75 billion in financing for one of the country's largest rail projects.
The 125-kilometer (77.7-mile) Northern Ring Railway will carry passengers and freight between Halkali on Istanbul's European side and the industrial district of Gebze on the city's Asian side, the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry said in a statement on February 24.
The ministry said the route will link Istanbul's two main airports. It added that the project will require the construction of 44 tunnels and 42 bridges, and described it as the largest externally financed railway project in Turkey's history.
The lenders involved in the initial agreement include the World Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the OPEC Fund for International Development.
Turkey Wealth Fund in Talks on Potential $10 Billion Petrochemical Project
Turkey's sovereign wealth fund is holding talks with international partners on a potential $10 billion petrochemical project, CEO Arda Ermut said on February 25.
Speaking at a meeting of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry, Ermut said the fund plans to form joint vehicles with partners to help secure financing in their home markets and in third countries.
"We are in contact with international companies in petrochemicals. The project is worth a total of $10 billion," Ermut said. "It could advance through a partnership structure or as a cluster."
US Court Resets Status Hearing in Halkbank Criminal Case
The US criminal case against Turkish state lender Halk Bankasi AS has returned to the docket after a federal judge in New York abruptly cancelled a previously scheduled hearing last month.
The US Supreme Court in October declined to take up Halkbank's appeal, in which the bank sought to dismiss the charges on the grounds of sovereign immunity. The case then went back to the federal trial court in New York, which set a January 27 status conference to discuss next steps toward trial.
US District Judge Richard Berman cancelled that proceeding at the last minute and did not immediately set a new date. In an order dated February 24, Berman rescheduled the status conference for March 3.
Turkey Plans Identity Checks for Social Media
Turkey plans to introduce identity verification requirements for social media users and phase out anonymous accounts, Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said on February 25, arguing that online platforms "are not a space of unlimited freedom" and should be subject to stricter rules.
In a live interview, Gurlek said the government is preparing legal amendments requiring users to verify their identities when opening or maintaining social media accounts. "If a person opens an account, they must bear responsibility for it. Fake and anonymous accounts should not be allowed," he said.
Gurlek said the government would give users of anonymous accounts a transition period, such as four months, to switch to verified identities. Accounts that do not comply would be closed, he added.
Turkey Drafts Rules to Tighten Lawyer Access to Terror, Organized Crime Detainees
Turkey's Justice Ministry is drafting legislation that would impose time, location, and security restrictions on meetings between lawyers and detainees charged with terrorism and organised crime, the pro-government Turkiye newspaper reported, citing ministry sources.
Under the proposed model, lawyers would need to schedule visits in advance and would no longer be able to meet detainees without a prior appointment, the report said. Prison administrations would set the time and place of meetings. The draft would also introduce an appointment system alongside additional identity verification procedures and security checks.
Ministry sources said the plan aims to prevent prisons from becoming "coordination centers for organizational activities." Authorities have identified cases in which alleged group leaders continued to issue instructions from behind bars, the sources said.
Top Court President Says Court Cannot Enforce ECtHR Rulings
Turkey's Constitutional Court does not have the authority to enforce rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), the court's president said, amid ongoing controversy over high-profile cases, including former Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtas.
Chief Justice Kadir Ozkaya made the remarks during a fast-breaking gathering with journalists in Ankara on the evening of February 25, responding to questions about the execution of both domestic and European human rights rulings.
"We do not have the authority to ensure the fulfilment of violation judgments issued by the European Court of Human Rights," Ozkaya said, adding that responsibility for carrying out such decisions falls outside the Constitutional Court's mandate.
Ozkaya also rejected suggestions of a broader structural problem in enforcing ECtHR decisions. He said authorities have implemented many rulings, and that enforcement remains incomplete only in 83 violation judgments. He added that procedures in most of the remaining cases continue, or face delays due to what he described as technical reasons.
Erdogan Calls for Diplomacy as Iran Conflict Spreads Across Region
The confrontation began earlier on Feb. 28 with Israeli and US attacks on Iran and quickly spread as Tehran retaliated with strikes on targets in the Gulf and Israel.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was "deeply disturbed" by the Israeli and US strikes on Iran, but he also condemned Iran's retaliatory drone and missile attacks on Gulf states as "unacceptable." He urged regional actors to act quickly to stop the fighting.
"We are deeply disturbed over the US-Israel attacks on our neighbour Iran," Erdogan said in a televised address. He said Iran's attacks on Gulf countries were "unacceptable, regardless of the reason."
Erdogan said Turkey has long pushed for talks, but a lack of trust has stalled progress. "I spoke with Trump and the Iranian president by phone; the trust crisis between the parties could not be overcome," he said. "The desired outcome was not achieved because Israel's efforts to poison the process continue." He warned that if diplomacy does not gain room, the region could face the risk of being dragged into a "ring of fire."
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, and several other senior diplomats to discuss steps to end the attacks, media reports said.
In a written statement, the Foreign Ministry said the developments pose risks to the region's future and to global stability. It called on all sides to stop the attacks immediately and added that Turkey stands ready to support mediation efforts.
After Iran officially confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in Israeli and US strikes, President Erdogan issued a message of condolence to the Iranian people on March 1 and said he was saddened by Khamenei's death. Erdogan said Turkey will continue its efforts to end the conflict in the region and push for a return to diplomacy.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced late on March 1 that she had a "good" phone call with Turkish President Erdogan. In a post on X, von der Leyen stated that she welcomed Turkey's readiness to mediate and support a peaceful resolution. Von der Leyen also said she appreciated Erdogan's preparedness efforts to manage the potential migration impact of the crisis.
Turkish Airlines Suspends Flights to 10 Middle East Countries
Turkish Airlines suspended flights to 10 Middle Eastern countries amid ongoing developments affecting regional airspace. "Flights to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan have been cancelled until March 2," Turkish Airlines spokesman Yahya Ustun wrote on X. The carrier also suspended flights to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman for the day.
Ustun said the airline is monitoring airspace developments in real time and warned that additional cancellations may follow.
New US Sanctions on Iran's Oil Network Include Three Turkey-Registered Companies
The US Treasury Department on February 25 imposed sanctions on more than 30 people, companies and vessels that it said support Iran's petroleum sales and arms production.
The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said the designations also covered 12 vessels it described as part of an Iranian "shadow fleet" used to move petroleum and petroleum products to foreign markets.
The sanctions package included three companies registered in Turkey that US officials said were linked to Iran's Shahed drone program. The firms were UTUS Gumrukleme Gida Tekstil Ithalat Ihracat Dis Ticaret ve Sanayi Limited Sirketi, Arya Global Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, and Altis Tekstil Makina Ticaret Limited Sirketi.
Turkey Updates Contingency Plans for Possible Iran Conflict
NATO has shifted the focus of its air surveillance in Turkey from Russia to Iran as concerns grow over the risk of a US-led military campaign against Tehran, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The alliance has regularly deployed its advanced AWACS radar aircraft based in Turkey to monitor both Russia and Iran, the sources said.
According to the people, Turkey is preparing for the possibility of a US-led strike against Iran and has urged both sides to avoid steps that could escalate tensions.
They also said Turkey has updated contingency plans to handle the potential displacement of large numbers of people if a major conflict erupts. Options under review include setting up camps near the border or, in more extreme circumstances, moving into Iranian territory to prevent refugees from crossing into Turkey. The latter measure would be considered only if Iran faces a power vacuum, the sources said.
Turkey Agrees to Repatriate Citizens Among Islamic State Detainees
Iraq's foreign minister announced on February 23 that Turkey has agreed to take back Turkish citizens who are among thousands of Islamic State detainees transferred to Iraq from Syria after camps and prisons there were shut down in recent weeks.
During a meeting with US envoy Tom Barrack, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein stated that Iraq is holding talks with other countries on repatriating their nationals and that Baghdad has reached an agreement with Turkey.
Armenia in Talks with Turkish Airlines on Possible Yerevan-Los Angeles Flights
Armenia is negotiating with Turkish Airlines (THY) about launching direct flights between Yerevan and Los Angeles, the Armenian newspaper Agos reported, citing the head of the Armenian Tourism Committee.
Committee chair Lusine Gevorgyan said discussions are underway on a potential nonstop route linking the Armenian capital with Los Angeles, which hosts one of the largest Armenian diaspora communities in the United States.
"I cannot say what their response will be, but as the world's third-largest airline, they could create a direct connection between Yerevan and Los Angeles," Gevorgyan said.
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