Opinions

Sudan's army chief, General al-Burhan, paid an official visit to Turkey on September 13. The Sudanese delegation included Foreign Minister al-Sadiq, intelligence chief Lieutenant General Mufaddal, and most importantly, Director General of the Defense Industries Corporation, Lieutenant General Mirghani Idris Suleiman. This composition suggested that the head of the Sudanese army's visit to Ankara was not merely a charm offensive but also aimed at securing weapons purchases.

Since the Turkish presidential elections in May, a much friendlier atmosphere has prevailed in Turkish-American relations, as seen at the 2023 NATO Summit at Vilnius. Although this reconciliation hardly means a return to the strategic alliance concept, it is not fully transactional either. Hanging in the air between alliance and transactionalism, the future of Turkish-American relations depends on the course of the war in Ukraine and Turkish support for the Ukrainian cause.

Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan and his Greek counterpart Gerapetritis held their first bilateral meeting on Tuesday in Ankara to prepare for the meeting between Turkish President Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in New York on September 18. Last year, Erdogan said he would never talk to Mitsotakis again and threatened to attack Greece several times.

Turkish President Erdogan failed to convince the Russian President to revive the Grain Deal during his visit to Sochi. Nonetheless, Turkey's bilateral relations with Russia continue to flourish, even amid Turkey's renewed cooperation with its Western allies. However, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine could create tension in their relationship and make it more difficult for Turkey to maintain a delicate balance between NATO and Russia.

Kıtada art arda yaşanan darbeler gerek uluslararası konjonktürün, gerek yerel şartların darbe yapmaya uygun olduğunu gösteriyor. Bölgedeki eski sömürgeci devletler kendilerine dost kabul ettikleri rejimleri koruyamıyorlar. Darbelerin yerel şartlarını ise bölge ülkelerinin on yıllardan beri çözülemeyen sosyo-ekonomik problemleri, kurumların işlevsiz olması, yaygın yolsuzluk ve babadan oğula geçen saltanat usulü başkanlık sistemleri teşkil ediyor.

In March 2023, the international legal arena witnessed an unprecedented case as the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking the first time a sitting head of state from a non-state party faced such action without a Security Council referral. This pivotal development raised complex questions, especially when combined with President Putin's invitation to South Africa for the BRICS Summit in August 2023.

Turkey’s tightening censorship regime continues to challenge its relations with the western countries. The Turkish authorities, last week, gave 72 hours for Voice of America (VOA) Türkçe and Deutsche Welle (DW) Türkçe to register as an internet broadcaster. Otherwise, they will either stop their activities or their administrative boards will face imprisonment in Turkey. Washington and Ankara want to configure their relationship on a transactional basis, but as Turkey’s authoritarian practices deepen, Turkey’s authoritarian drift continue to be a challenge for Turkish-American relations.

Nijer’de 26 Temmuz’da gerçekleşen darbenin akıbeti halen meçhul. General Tchiani liderliğindeki cunta ülke içindeki egemenliğini büyük ölçüde pekiştirmiş durumda. Öte yandan Batı Afrika Devletleri Ekonomik Topluluğu (ECOWAS) da devrik lider Bazoum’un göreve iadesi edilmemesi halinde Nijer’e askeri müdahale etme tehditlerinden geri adım atmış değil. Bu tarz tehditlerin bölgede gerginliği artırdığı gerçeği yadsınamaz. Ancak, ECOWAS’ın askeri müdahale seçeneğini Nijer’deki cuntayla yürütülen diplomatik müzakereleri destekleyen bir unsur olarak kullandığını akılda tutmak gerekiyor.

The potential employment of military force by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore democracy and order in Niger marks a pivotal moment in the Sahel region's pursuit of democratic governance. ECOWAS faces the challenge of balancing its commitment to democratic norms with the principle of non-interference in sovereign affairs. The prohibition of the use of force is a fundamental principle enshrined in the United Nations Charter, and any deviation from this principle requires a robust legal basis to ensure compliance with international norms.

President al-Sisi has faced extensive criticism for leading his country toward an authoritarian path. One of his fiercest critics was Turkey’s President Erdoğan, who did not mince his words about al-Sisi, calling him a tyrant, an oppressor, and a murderer. After a decade of feuding, the two leaders have apparently mended the fences. President Sisi was scheduled to visit Turkey on July 27th, marking the beginning of a new era between Cairo and Ankara. However, at the eleventh hour, he chose to cancel his trip.

Nijer’de Cumhurbaşkanlığı Muhafız Alayı’nın 26 Temmuz’da gerçekleştirdiği darbeyle Devlet Başkanı Mohamed Bazoum koltuğundan indirildi ve General Abdourahmane Tchiani’nin yeni Başkan olduğu ilan edildi. Sahraaltı Afrika’da artarda yapılan darbeler serisinin son halkası olan Nijer’deki bu darbe de mutat olduğu üzere Afrika Birliği, bölge ülkeleri ve Batılı devletler tarafından kınandı. Bazoum’un tekrar göreve iade edilmesi çağrısında bulunuldu.

On 14 June 2023, the European Parliament agreed on their version of the AI Act, and negotiations began with the European Council on the final form of the legislation. The act is expected to be passed into law by the end of 2023, establishing the EU as a leader in creating laws and regulations to address AI-related concerns and challenges.