Opinions - Turkey

Ankara's Potemkin City

Ankara's Potemkin City

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 28 June 2026
The NATO Summit will be attended by the heads of government, among them U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, along with other guests such as Syrian President Ahmad al-Shaara. These are the busiest days for Western diplomats posted in Turkey, who are scrambling to prepare for their leaders' arrivals.
Turkey's Stake in the U.S.–Iran Deal

Turkey's Stake in the U.S.–Iran Deal

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 18 June 2026
The agreement provides Iran with substantial gains, including sanctions relief, an end to hostilities extending to Lebanon, and tacit acceptance of its ballistic missile program. The two sides also retain a 60-day window to negotiate a final settlement on the nuclear file. From Ankara's perspective, a settlement preserving the Iranian state was always more likely than the regime change pursued by Washington and Israel.
Avrupa Kalesinin Yeni Duvarları: Göç ve İlticaya Dair Yeni Pakt ile Kişinev Bildirisi

Avrupa Kalesinin Yeni Duvarları: Göç ve İlticaya Dair Yeni Pakt ile Kişinev Bildirisi

by Dr. Yasir Gökçe and Mehmet Bozkaya, published on 12 June 2026
12 Haziran 2026 tarihinde yürürlüğe girecek Avrupa Birliği (AB) Göç ve İlticaya Dair Yeni Pakt, AB hukukundaki sığınma ve sınır yönetimi mevzuatını köklü biçimde reforme etmektedir. Söz konusu pakt salt teknik bir mevzuat güncellemesi olarak değerlendirilemez. Bilakis, göçle ilgili yürürlüğe giren bu düzenlemeler Avrupa’da son on yılda siyasi konjonktürü belirleyen göçmen karşıtı dalganın ve aşırı sağın yükselişinin hukuki düzleme yansımasıdır.
How Regional Conflicts Are Reshaping Energy Routes Around Turkey

How Regional Conflicts Are Reshaping Energy Routes Around Turkey

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 4 June 2026
The conflicts erupting across Turkey's neighborhood are doing more than reshaping political maps. They are quietly redrawing the region's energy geography, forcing countries to reroute pipelines, seek alternative corridors, and settle for less efficient solutions.
NATO’s Drone Dilemma: Why Article 5 Needs a Grey-Zone Strategy

NATO’s Drone Dilemma: Why Article 5 Needs a Grey-Zone Strategy

by Aleksandra Domalewska, published on 22 May 2026
NATO emphasizes that hybrid activities may indeed reach the level of an armed attack, but at the same time many such activities remain below, or on the edge of, the escalation threshold. The key question is therefore how the Alliance should respond to the growing wave of grey-zone attacks. This article analyses that challenge and proposes the development of a doctrine of collective resilience, combining deterrence, active defence, and enhanced civil-defence readiness as a complement to Article 5.
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.

Reports - Turkey

INSTITUDE ARTICLE SERIES ON THE JULY 15 COUP ATTEMPT

INSTITUDE ARTICLE SERIES ON THE JULY 15 COUP ATTEMPT

by instituDE, published on the July 15th, 2021
It has been five years since the failed coup attempt in Turkey and no one has any clear idea yet what actually happened that night. While the complete narrative and evidence about the failed coup have yet to be clarified, the scope of the reaction by the Turkish government to the coup attempt was quite horrifying.
ACTIVITY REPORT (MAY 2021)

ACTIVITY REPORT (MAY 2021)

by instituDE, published on the May 15th, 2021
In the past year, through our various publications, analyses and podcasts, instituDE has strived to shed light on Turkey; its domestic politics, economy, foreign policy and human rights situation. We have worked to provide valuable information and comments on Turkey for the foreign observers as well as the Turkish public. We put effort into raising awareness on the human rights violations and authoritarian practices in Turkey.

Videos - Turkey

Erdoğan'a Mesaj mı? Amerika'da Tanıdıklarım Var Benim!

November 11, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 11 November 2025
Hakan Fidan'ın sürpriz Amerika ziyareti Ankara'daki dengeler açısından ne anlama geliyor? Erdoğan bu ziyarete nasıl bakıyor?

Şarm el-Şeyh'te Bir Fırsat mı Kaçırıldı?

October 14, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 14 October 2025
Mısır'da ABD başkanı Donald Trump, Erdoğan ve 20 ülke başkanının katılımıyla büyük bir Gazze barış zirvesi gerçekleştirildi. Peki Zirve bekleneni verebildi mi? Türkiye Gazze'ye asker gönderecek mi? Riskler neler? Asker göndermeye niyetli başka ülkeler hangisi?

Erdoğan'ın Amerika'da Mutlu Günü

September 25, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 25 September 2025
Erdoğan'ın Beyaz Saray ziyareti ve Türk-Amerikan ilişkileri. Peki sonuç ne? Yaptırımlar, S-400, F-35ler...; 'Erdoğan hileli seçimler iyi bilir'; Gazetecilerin performansı; Erdoğan'a yeşil ışık; Gazze.

Amerika'nın Katar ve Polonya Sınavları

September 11, 2025
İsrail Katar'ı vurdu. Rus İHA'ları ise Polonya hava sahasını işgal etti. Amerika'nın tepkisi ne olacak?
by Mehmet Demirbaş and Haşim Tekineş, published on 11 September 2025

Çin Merkezli Dünyada Türkiye

September 5, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 5 September 2025
Çin Şanghay Zirvesi'nde hangi mesajları verdi? Trump'ın politikalarının bu mesajlar üzerinde etkisi ne? Türkiye Çin ile olan ilişkilerınde nasıl bir denge takip ediyor?

Ankara Suriye'de Vites mi Yükseltiyor?

August 28, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 28 August 2025
Türkiye Suriye'deki açmazdan nasıl kurtulacak. Alternatif politika arayışları neler? Türkiye İsrail'e karşı daha cesur politikalar izleyebilir mi? İsrail bir NATO ülkesini vurmaya cesaret edebilir mi?