Opinions - Turkey

From Drones to ICBMs: The Expansion of Turkey's Defense Industry

From Drones to ICBMs: The Expansion of Turkey's Defense Industry

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 12 May 2026
The expansion of Turkey's defense industry is a deliberate government policy, pursued through state-owned companies and private firms with direct ties to President Erdoğan and his inner circle. This growing arms export business also reinforces an expanding military footprint across multiple regions.
Changing Strategic Calculations in Ankara

Changing Strategic Calculations in Ankara

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 9 May 2026
Turkish foreign policy has undergone constant transformation under President Erdoğan’s rule since 2002. Zero problem with neighbors, trading state, neo-Ottomanism, and precious loneliness are some well-known terms coined to symbolize the periods of this transformation. President Erdoğan and his close circle lead this change in interaction with global developments and domestic politics.
Almanya’nın Yeni Askeri Stratejisi Ne Anlama Geliyor?

Almanya’nın Yeni Askeri Stratejisi Ne Anlama Geliyor?

by Yasir Gökçe, published on 29 April 2026
Almanya'nın Nisan 2026'da yayımlanan yeni askeri stratejisi ("Gesamtkonzeption militärische Verteidigung"), ülkenin savunma politikasında bir dönüm noktasını temsil etmektedir. Federal Cumhuriyet tarihinde bir ilk olan bu kapsamlı doküman, değişen küresel güvenlik mimarisine ve özellikle Rusya'dan kaynaklanan artan tehditlere karşı Berlin'in yanıtını oluşturmaktadır.
Uganda’da Generallikten Fenomenliğe: Kainerugaba’nın Türkiye Meselesi

Uganda’da Generallikten Fenomenliğe: Kainerugaba’nın Türkiye Meselesi

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 14 April 2026
“Türkiye’den 1 milyar doların yanı sıra, en güzel kadınını da kendime eş olarak istiyorum.” diye sosyal medyadan tehditler savuran Uganda Genelkurmay Başkanı Muhoozi Kainerugaba’nın sözleri Türkiye’de alay konusu oldu.
İstanbul'da Deniz Unsuru, Adana'da NATO: Yeni Karargahlar Ne Anlama Geliyor?

İstanbul'da Deniz Unsuru, Adana'da NATO: Yeni Karargahlar Ne Anlama Geliyor?

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 1 April 2026
İstanbul’da Ukrayna operasyonları kapsamında Deniz Unsur Komutanlığı ve Adana’da Çok Uluslu NATO Karargahı kurulacağı yönündeki haberler kamuoyunda tartışmaya neden oldu. Türk halkı doğal olarak bölgede biri bitip öbürü başlayan savaşlara ülkenin sürüklenmesinden endişe ediyor.
Turkey’s Expanding Security Role in the Horn of Africa

Turkey’s Expanding Security Role in the Horn of Africa

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 16 March 2026
Turkey’s expanding role in the Horn of Africa is no longer limited to diplomacy or development assistance. It has become a security actor in the region’s civil wars. The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Israel are also taking more active positions in these conflicts.

Reports - Turkey

Turkey's Vision For a New Syria

Turkey's Vision For a New Syria

by Mustafa Enes Esen, Haşim Tekineş, Mehmet Demirbaş and Servet Akman, published on 14 February 2026
This report analyzes Turkey’s vision for Syria following the fall of the Assad family and the rise of the HTS under the leadership of Ahmad al-Sharaa. In this regard, it focuses on the foreign actors that, alongside Turkey, now have the greatest ability to shape Syria’s future: namely the United States and Israel.
Electrifying Turkey's Roads: EV Adoption Scenarios & Their Impact on Oil Imports

Electrifying Turkey's Roads: EV Adoption Scenarios & Their Impact on Oil Imports

by Baki Kaya, Ömer Güler, Harun Güngör, and Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 10 September 2025
This study evaluates, through long-term projections to 2053, the potential impact of increased EV penetration on Turkey’s energy landscape. It provides a comparative assessment of how changes in the share of EVs within the total vehicle fleet, across several scenario frameworks, could influence fuel demand and petroleum import volumes. A second, closely related objective is to measure the scale of Turkey’s oil dependency in order to establish a basis for examining its policy implications.
Geopolitical Constraints of Turkey's Energy Hub Ambitions

Geopolitical Constraints of Turkey's Energy Hub Ambitions

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 8 July 2025
This study focuses on the geopolitical dimensions and constraints shaping Turkey’s ambition to become a natural gas hub. The emphasis is on Turkey’s diplomatic relations with key supplier countries, the political instability across the wider Middle East, and the limited capacity of neighboring states to produce and export gas reliably—factors that collectively can make or undermine Turkey’s hub ambitions.
MODERNIZING THE TURKEY–EU CUSTOMS UNION: ISSUES AND PROSPECTS

MODERNIZING THE TURKEY–EU CUSTOMS UNION: ISSUES AND PROSPECTS

by instituDE, published in March 2025
The Turkey–EU Customs Union, established in 1995, has been a defining feature of trade relations between Turkey and the European Union. Over the past three decades, the global economic landscape has evolved significantly, necessitating a modernization of the agreement to address new trade realities, regulatory developments, and emerging geopolitical challenges.
TURKEY‘S MASS PURGE AS VIOLATIONS OF THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC SERVICE IN ICCPR

TURKEY‘S MASS PURGE AS VIOLATIONS OF THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC SERVICE IN ICCPR

by instituDE, published on 23 October 2024
'A gift from God' was one of Erdoğan's first descriptions related to coup attempt in July 15. At first no one realized that God's gift meant a chaotic environment in which he needed to declare a national emergency with no checks and balances and then transform Türkiye’s parliamentary democracy into an executive presidency.
JUDICIAL CORRUPTION IN TÜRKİYE

JUDICIAL CORRUPTION IN TÜRKİYE

by instituDE and Arrested Lawyers, published on October 2024
This submission to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) highlights severe issues undermining the integrity of Türkiye's judiciary, particularly focusing on rampant judicial corruption and impunity as well as human rights abuses which they facilitate. Based on the most recent incidents of corruption concerning members of the judiciary who serve in courts in Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara, this report seeks to examine the high-level corruption within the judiciary and the Turkish government’s failure or even willful ignorance in addressing it.

Videos - Turkey

İran Füzeleri ve Türkiye'nin Cevabı

March 10, 2026
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 10 March 2026
İkinci bir İran füzesi Türkiye'yi hedef aldı. Peki Ankara'nın opsiyonları ne?

Trump İran'da Çıkış Arıyor

March 3, 2026
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 3 March 2026
ABD ve İran arasında yaşanan gerilim kendisini Ankara'da giderek daha fazla hissettiriyor.

Trump'ın Nihai Hedefi Ne?

March 2, 2026
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 2 March 2026
Orta Doğu'da gerilim son hız devam ediyor. Peki Trump'ın hedefi ne? Körfez ülkeleri Amerika'ya katılır mı?

İran - Amerika Hesaplaşmasında İkinci Tur mu?

February 28, 2026
by Mehmet Akif Koç and Haşim Tekineş, published on 28 February 2026
İran ve bölgenin geleceği nasıl olacak? Büyük resimde Türkiye'nin rolü ne?

Türkiye Hiçbir Masada Yok!

February 15, 2026
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 15 February 2026
Münih Güvenlik Konferansı'na Neden Hakan Fidan değil de İbrahim Kalın Katıldı? Türkiye'nin azalan diplomatik nüfuzu... Dış politikada model ülkeden İHA satıcısına... Marco Rubio'dan Avrupa'ya sıcak mesajlar

Davos'ta Transatlantik Kopuş ve Suriye

January 25, 2026
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 25 January 2026
Davos'ta Kanada Başbakanı Amerika'yla kopuşu ilan etti. Yeni Dünya düzeninde Türkiye ve bölgesel nüfuzu