Under the leadership of Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is seeing a noteworthy shift, with a growing number of senior positions now occupied by National Intelligence Organization (MIT) officers and political appointees. This transformation is reshaping the ministry’s traditional role, aligning it more closely with intelligence and security functions than with conventional diplomatic practices.

In September 2022, Turkey opened the Turkish House (Turkevi) in New York City, right across from the United Nations Headquarters. This impressive 35-story building was meant to enhance Turkey's diplomatic efforts and serve as a hub for international dialogue during major global events, particularly the UN General Assembly, typically hold in September. However, the question remains: has Turkevi somehow transformed Turkey's diplomatic engagement, or has it simply become just another skyscraper on New York City's skyline?

Washington and Baghdad have reportedly agreed on the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, aligning with the U.S.'s broader tendency of disengaging from the Middle East. Under the proposed plan, the US troops are expected to leave Iraq by the end of 2026, with phased withdrawals that will likely have ripple effects beyond Iraq's borders. Turkey is likely to welcome the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, viewing it as a gain that could expedite the U.S.'s exit from Syria.

Gazze’deki şiddetin yoğunluğu göreceli olarak azalırken Orta Doğu Lübnan-İsrail sınırında yeni bir savaşın eşiğine geldi. Aslında geçen sene 7 Ekim’de Hamas’ın gerçekleştirdiği terör saldırısının ardından Hizbullah ve İsrail arasında da yeni bir çatışma başlamıştı.

On September 4, 2024, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi made an official visit to Turkey, signaling a deepening of relations between Egypt and Turkey. During the first meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, Turkish President Erdogan referred to el-Sisi as "my dear brother," and the leaders displayed a level of cordiality that marked a significant departure from past tensions.

The internal balance of power in the security bureaucracy directly influences Turkish politics. A perception of change in that balance can immediately escalate the tensions or affect alignments. So indeed, the graduation ceremony of new cadets from the war college on August 30 has once more polarized the politics in Turkey.

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.

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.