Opinions - Asia

When THAAD Leaves: The Risks to South Korea’s Missile Defense and What Washington, Tokyo, and Seoul Must Do Next

When THAAD Leaves: The Risks to South Korea’s Missile Defense and What Washington, Tokyo, and Seoul Must Do Next

by Ju Hyung Kim, published on 16 March 2026
The redeployment of U.S. missile defense assets, including Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries and Patriot systems from South Korea to the Middle East has triggered understandable concern in Seoul.
Diplomatik Çanta Nedir Ne Değildir?

Diplomatik Çanta Nedir Ne Değildir?

by Mehmet Bozkaya, published on 26 February 2026
İranlı yetkililerin Hollanda’nın Tahran Büyükelçiliği’nde görevli bir diplomatın çantasını zorla açması iki ülke arasında krize yola açtı. 28 Ocak 2026 tarihinde Hollandalı bir diplomat, havaalanından Tahran’a giriş yaparken durduruldu.
Rusya Ukrayna’yla Anlaşmazsa Ne Olur?

Rusya Ukrayna’yla Anlaşmazsa Ne Olur?

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 25 February 2026
Ukrayna’daki savaş 24 Şubat’ta beşinci yılına girdi. Halihazırda Ukrayna’da bin kilometrelik bir cephede milyonluk iki ordu ne zaman biteceği belli olmayan bir savaş veriyor. Rusya Devlet Başkanı Putin savaşın kısa sürede biteceğini varsayarak büyük bir hata yapmıştı. Bugün de Kremlin siyasi hedeflerine ulaşamadığı için Ukrayna’yla barışa tam yanaşmıyor.
Why Turkey Chooses Continuity Over Change in Iran

Why Turkey Chooses Continuity Over Change in Iran

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 6 February 2026
Ankara has repeatedly made clear that it opposes a military intervention against Iran. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated again on February 5: “We are doing everything to prevent these tensions between the United States and Iran from driving the region into a new conflict and chaos. We clearly expressed our opposition to a military intervention in Iran.” To this end, the Turkish government has also formed a sort of ad hoc alignment with regional countries to lobby the Trump administration against war.
Would Turks in Iran Pursue Independence Amid Turmoil? A Framework Analysis

Would Turks in Iran Pursue Independence Amid Turmoil? A Framework Analysis

by Mehmet Akif Koç, published on 21 January 2026
Iran built an extensive sphere of influence across the Middle East between 2003 and 2023. This influence has largely—at least for the time being—collapsed following the 2023 war in Gaza with Hamas, the 2024 conflict in Lebanon with Hezbollah, and the December 2024 fall of Syria’s Baath regime. Together, they formed the backbone of Iran’s regional influence.
An Iranian Collapse Would Pose Security Risks for Azerbaijan

An Iranian Collapse Would Pose Security Risks for Azerbaijan

by Rufat Ahmadzada, published on 14 January 2026
The protests in Iran are continuing to escalate. What started as a protest by traders against the fall in the value of the local currency, rising prices, economic mismanagement and worsening economic conditions in the country has quickly transformed into a growing movement for political change. This is evident from the chants of protestors and is threatening the legitimacy of the ruling clerical regime.

Reports - Asia

ABD'NİN ÇİN TEHDİDİ ALGISI VE PASİFİK'TE DEĞİŞEN DENGELER

ABD'NİN ÇİN TEHDİDİ ALGISI VE PASİFİK'TE DEĞİŞEN DENGELER

by Mehmet Demirbaş, Enes Esen and Tolga Güneş, published on 13 June 2024
Küresel güç dengelerinin yeniden şekillendiği bir dönemden geçmekteyiz. Asya ülkelerinin güçlü ekonomik performansı nedeniyle dünyanın ağırlık merkezi Batı’dan Doğu’ya doğru kaymaktadır. Özellikle Çin’in hızlı yükselişi yeniden çok kutuplu bir dünyanın oluşmaya başladığına işaret etmektedir.
EURASIANISTS IN TURKEY AND THEIR MEDIA ON THE WAR IN UKRAINE

EURASIANISTS IN TURKEY AND THEIR MEDIA ON THE WAR IN UKRAINE

by Enes Esen, Servet Akman, Ahmet Kalafat and Bahadır Gülle, published on 27 February 2023
Most of the Russian propaganda in Turkey is not overtly conducted by Russian state-affiliated media outlets. Eurasianists in Turkey carry out the Kremlin’s bidding to influence Turkish public opinion in favor of Russian war efforts. They blame the West, specifically NATO and the US, for instigating the war in Ukraine and causing regional instability. They also attack Turkey's political opposition for their milder views on NATO and the US and recommend that the Turkish government prioritize its relations with Russia.

Videos - Asia

İran ve İsrail Arasında Rusya

June 25, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş and Kerim Has, published on 25 June 2025
Bu hafta instituDE'nin konuğu Dr. Kerim Has, İran-İsrail krizinde Rusya'nın pozisyonunu analiz ediyor.

No-Limits Partnership! A China-Russia Alliance for the Post-American World?

June 12, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 12 June 2025
In this deep-dive, we explore how Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin are reshaping geopolitics through strategic alignment, economic cooperation, military gestures, and shared opposition to the West. From the war in Ukraine to the Taiwan Strait, their partnership is testing the limits of the global order.

India-Pakistan on the Brink: The Global Stakes of a Local War

May 8, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 8 April 2025
In the early hours of May 7, India launched airstrikes on multiple targets inside Pakistan—a dramatic escalation following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam. With tensions rising between two nuclear-armed neighbors, the world watches closely.

Trump and Iran: From War Talk to Deal-Making?

April 17, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 17 April 2025
In this video, we break down why Trump is suddenly open to diplomacy with Iran. With Iran’s economy in crisis, regional influence shaken, and military options looking risky, a quick deal might be his best shot at a foreign policy win.

Biden vs. Trump on Ukraine: Who’s Right?

March 23, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 23 March 2025
In this video, we break down Biden’s and Trump’s Ukraine policies, their different endgames, and how their choices shape US foreign policy, NATO, and the global balance of power. Is Biden’s cold-blooded strategy the best way to contain Russia, or is Trump’s push for a ceasefire actually the smarter move?

BRICS ZİRVESİ: ‘Öteki Dünya’ Rusya’da

October 23, 2024
instituDE'nin bu yayınında Dış Politika Analisti Haşim Tekineş, bu hafta Rusya'nın Kazan şehrinde düzenlenen BRICS zirvesinde, Xijinping ve Putin ikili görüşmesi, Kazakistan'ın neden BRICS'e katılmak istemediği, Erdoğan BRICS zirvesi temasları, Türkiye'nin BRICS adaylığı başvurusu konularını irdeledi.