Opinions - Turkey

Turkish–Egyptian Cooperation With Boundaries

Turkish–Egyptian Cooperation With Boundaries

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 15 November 2025
The foreign ministers of Turkey and Egypt met in Ankara on Wednesday for the first session of the Joint Planning Group. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty was also received by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Such routine meetings, which Turkey holds with many countries, provide a useful moment to review where relations stand and how current dynamics may shape future cooperation.
Orta Asya’nın Yeni Ortak Arayışları

Orta Asya’nın Yeni Ortak Arayışları

by Mehmet Demirbaş, published on 8 November 2025
1990’ların başında Sovyetlerin dağılmasıyla birlikte, Türki cumhuriyetler bağımsızlıklarını kazandı ve Orta Asya yeniden jeopolitik bir hareketliliğe sahne oldu. Bu bölge artık yalnızca Rusya’nın değil, Çin’in, Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nin ve hatta Türkiye’nin de ilgi alanında bulunuyor.
The Cost of Deteriorating Turkey–Israel Relations

The Cost of Deteriorating Turkey–Israel Relations

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 8 November 2025
The bilateral relationship between Turkey and Israel have experienced its ebbs and flows, but since the war in Gaza, the trajectory has remained mostly downward. The Trump administration has so far exerted pressure on Israel and Turkey to settle their differences. Yet this does not mean that the worsening of relations with Israel comes without costs for Turkey.
Ahmet Davutoğlu’nun Üç Günü

Ahmet Davutoğlu’nun Üç Günü

by Ömer Güler, published on 31 October 2025
Ahmet Davutoğlu AKP döneminin en fazla tartışılan ve Türk Dış Politikasına en çok etki eden dışişleri bakanlarından biridir. Bunu olumlu veya olumsuz anlam yüklemekten ziyade bir durum tespiti olarak ifade ediyorum. Bugün bile Türkiye’nin Suriye politikasının getirdiği mülteci sorunundan dolayı Ahmet Davutoğlu kimi haklı kimi haksız gerekçelerle ağır bir şekilde eleştiriliyor.
Why Turkey May Not Let Hamas Wither Away

Why Turkey May Not Let Hamas Wither Away

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 23 October 2025
Under the terms of Trump's 20-point Gaza peace plan, Hamas is expected to transfer control of Gaza first to an international body and eventually to the Palestinian Authority (PA). The Trump administration anticipates that Hamas will eventually wither away as this process unfolds. Ankara, however, may be reluctant to go along with this process.
Will Turkey Acquire Nuclear Weapons?

Will Turkey Acquire Nuclear Weapons?

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 9 October 2025
For decades, Turkey has relied on NATO’s nuclear deterrence, with U.S. warheads stationed at Incirlik Air Base. But shifting regional dynamics have begun to test this arrangement. Israel’s military operations in Syria, its regional overreach, and uncertainty over NATO’s willingness to defend Turkey raise a troubling question: could Ankara rethink its nuclear stance?

Reports - Turkey

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.
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.

Videos - Turkey

Türkiye ve İsrail Donanmalar Karşı Karşıya Gelebilir!

May 5, 2026
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 5 May 2026
"Türkiye ve İsrail Donanmalar Karşı Karşıya Gelebilir!"

AİHM'den Yeni İhlal Kararı

May 5, 2026
by Hakan Kaplankaya and Haşim Tekineş, published on 5 May 2026
Bu videoda Avrupa İnsan Hakları Mahkemesi’nin (AİHM) Büyük Daire’den çıkan Yasak kararını ve bu kararın Türkiye’deki davalar açısından ne anlama geldiğini ele alıyoruz.

Türkiye'ye karşı Fransa-Yunanistan askeri ittifakı mı?

May 2, 2026
by Haşim tekineş, published on 2 May 2026
Avrupa Komisyonu Başkanı Von der Leyen'in Türkiye'yi "dış rakip" olarak tanımlaması ve Macron'un Yunanistan'a destek sözü Ankara'yı karşı karşıya getirdi. Türkiye-AB ilişkilerinde son kriz ne anlama geliyor?

Avrupa'nın Türkiye Endişesi!

April 21, 2026
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 21 April 2026
AB Komisyonu Başkanı #ursulavonderleyen #Rusya, #Çin ve #Türk nüfuzu konusunda uyardı.

Çok Uluslu NATO Karargahı Ne Anlama Geliyor?

April 1, 2026
by Mustafa Enes Esen and Haşim Tekineş, published on 1 April 2026
NATO Adana'da Çok Uluslu Kolordu kuruyor? Peki bunun anlamı ne?

Türkiye Kaosun Dışında Kalabilecek mi?

March 18, 2026
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 18 March 2026
Orta Doğu'daki hesaplaşma devam ediyor. Trump Hürmüz boğazının kontrolünü ele geçirmeyi planlıyor. Savaşın süresi uzadıkça taraflar üzerindeki baskısı daha da artıyor.