Opinions - Turkey

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.
What the SDF’s Miscalculations Meant for Turkey and Syria

What the SDF’s Miscalculations Meant for Turkey and Syria

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 19 January 2026
The ceasefire signed on January 18 between Damascus and the SDF was not the product of prolonged bargaining or mutual compromise. It was imposed by developments on the ground that had already stripped the SDF of its bargaining power. As such, the ceasefire agreement formalizes the collapse of the March 10 deal and largely marks the end of the SDF’s ability to shape outcomes in Syria.
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.
The Role of Ideas in Turkey's Syria Policy: Disillusionment with Ideology or Transformation?

The Role of Ideas in Turkey's Syria Policy: Disillusionment with Ideology or Transformation?

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 7 January 2026
Turkey’s Syria policy is often portrayed as a case of foreign policy failure driven by ideology. According to this view, Ankara abandoned realism in favor of Islamist enthusiasm during the Arab Spring and later returned to pragmatism after paying significant political and strategic costs. While this narrative highlights an important shift, it relies on a simplified understanding of the relationship between ideas and foreign policy.
Turkey’s Security Approach in Northern Syria

Turkey’s Security Approach in Northern Syria

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 19 December 2025
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) emerged as a dominant military and territorial actor in eastern Syria following the U.S.-led campaign against ISIS. Their control of large areas has created sustained tension with Turkey, which views the SDF as an extension of the PKK. Turkey’s opposition to an independent SDF military structure, alongside Damascus’s efforts to reassert authority in eastern Syria, has made the status of the YPG, the SDF’s armed wing, a central issue in the negotiations, including the most recent talks in December.
The Turkey Option: A Possible Exit for Maduro

The Turkey Option: A Possible Exit for Maduro

by İmdat Öner, published on 10 December 2025
The current negotiations and phone diplomacy have essentially boiled down to one key question: where Maduro will end up when he finally leaves power. Turkey has emerged as the most realistic destination for Maduro if he is pushed to leave power.

Reports - Turkey

TURKEY'S GROWING ROLE IN GLOBAL COCAINE TRAFFICKING

TURKEY'S GROWING ROLE IN GLOBAL COCAINE TRAFFICKING

by Dr. İmdat Öner, Halil Çavuş, Ömer Güler and Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 17 September 2024
This report focuses on Turkey's prominence as an emerging market for cocaine trafficking and organized crime in the last decade. Cocaine production in Latin America has dramatically increased since 2013, and Turkey’s status as an emerging market has attracted the attention of Latin American government officials on the front lines of the cocaine trade.
WEAPONIZING FINANCIAL SYSTEMS: ERDOĞAN'S TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION TO MUZZLE DISSIDENTS ABROAD

WEAPONIZING FINANCIAL SYSTEMS: ERDOĞAN'S TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION TO MUZZLE DISSIDENTS ABROAD

by Dr. Yasir Gökçe, Mayra Russo and Sara Kezia Heinonen, published on 29 August 2024
This report sets out to provide a comprehensive analysis of the tactics employed by the Erdoğan administration to achieve repressive goals abroad and the vulnerabilities and how they are enabled by the AML and CFT regulation in place.
ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES BY THE ERDOGAN GOVERNMENT

ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES BY THE ERDOGAN GOVERNMENT

by instituDE, published in June 2024
This submission highlights the ongoing systematic actions and omissions by Turkish authorities against the so-called members of the Gulen Group, framed as crimes against humanity. It demonstrates the violations of recommendations that even Türkiye has supported.
UNVEILING THE BRUTAL REALITY: SYSTEMATIC TORTURE OF FORMER DIPLOMATS

UNVEILING THE BRUTAL REALITY: SYSTEMATIC TORTURE OF FORMER DIPLOMATS

by instituDE, published on May 2024
This report offers an update to the United Nations Committee against Torture (the Committee) regarding the obstacles to implementing the Convention against Torture (the Convention) in Turkey. As a coalition formed by a collective of former Turkish diplomats, our focus is on the systematic torture faced by former diplomats detained at Ankara Police Headquarters. We delve into the Turkish context and present insights from our organization.
SUCCESSION: THE QUESTION OF POWER TRANSITION IN ERDOGAN’S TURKEY

SUCCESSION: THE QUESTION OF POWER TRANSITION IN ERDOGAN’S TURKEY

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 6 December 2023
His electoral victory in May 2023 gave President Erdoğan five more years to further consolidate his power, eviscerate institutions, fill the bureaucracy with yes-men and expand his corruption network. This, of course, raises questions about the Turkish political system’s chances of recovery, the prospects for democratization after Erdogan and the regime’s tolerance for his demise.
PERSECUTORY CONFISCATION AMOUNTING TO CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY: CASE OF THE GÜLEN GROUP

PERSECUTORY CONFISCATION AMOUNTING TO CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY: CASE OF THE GÜLEN GROUP

by Yasir Gökçe, Hakan Kaplankaya, Harun Reşit Halisoğlu and Mehmet Bozkaya, published on 6 November 2023
This report aims to reveal and analyze the criminal acts and/or omissions of the Turkish authorities against individuals alleged to be affiliated with, connected to, or members of the Gülen Group in the context of violations of the right to property as crimes against humanity.

Videos - Turkey

Ankara'nın HAMAS kararı neyin işareti?

October 24, 2023
Haşim Tekineş and Servet Akman, published on 24 October 2023
instituDE üyesi Servet Akman ve Haşim Tekineş, katıldıkları yayında küresel ve bölgesel boyutlarıyla İsrail-Hamas savaşında gelinen aşamayı, İsrail'in Gazze'ye kara harekatı planını ve İsrail'in bu harekattaki hedeflerini

ABD Türk SİHA'sını Düşürdü

October 7, 2023
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 7 October 2023
Dış Gündem'de bu hafta Haşim Tekineş Türkiye'nin Suriye'deki PKK/YPG hedeflerine yönelik operasyonları esnasında bir Türk SİHA'sının NATO müttefiki ABD tarafından vurularak düşürülmesini çeşitli boyutlarıyla ele aldı.

Erdoğan'ın Tunus'ta Unuttuğu Dostları

October 5, 2023
by Haşim Tekineş and Mehmet Çelik, published on 5 October 2023
Dışı İçi Bir'de bu hafta Haşim Tekineş ve Tunus'ta görev yapmış eski diplomat Mehmet Çelik Tunus'un demokratikleşme serüvenini, ülkenin otoriterleşmeye savrulmasını ve Tunus'ta yaşanan son gelişmeleri ele aldılar.

Tarihi Erdoğan - Netanyahu Görüşmesi

September 29, 2023
by Haşim Tekineş and Servet Akman, published on 29 September 2023
Dışı İçi Bir'de Haşim Tekineş ve Servet Akman BM Zirvesi çeçevesinde Erdoğan'ın New York'ta gerçekleştirdiği temasları, Netanyahu ile 20 Eylül'de gerçekleştirdiği görüşmeyi, Türkiye-İsrail ilişkilerini ve İsrail'de yaşanan hukuk reformu çerçevesinde yaşanan son gelişmeleri ele aldılar.

Yalçınkaya Kararı: AİHM'den Uyarı

September 27, 2023
by Haşim Tekineş and Hakan Kaplankaya
Dış Gündem'in bu yayınında Haşim Tekineş ve Hakan Kaplankaya AİHM'in 26 Eylül'de açıkladığı Yalçınkaya davasını tüm yönleriyle ele aldılar.

AİHM'den tarihi Bylock ve BankAsya kararı: Kimler için emsal olacak?

September 27, 2023
by Hakan Kaplankaya, published on 27 September 2023
instituDE üyesi ve insan hakları uzmanı Hakan Kaplankaya katıldığı programda AİHM'in dün açıkladığı Yalçınkaya kararını ve olası sonuçlarını değerlendirdi.