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 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

AİHM İhlal Musluğunu Tamamen Açtı

December 17, 2023
by Hakan Kaplankaya, published on 17 December 2023
İnsan hakları uzmanı Hakan Kaplankaya katıldığı programda Yalçınkaya kararının iç hukuktaki yansımalarını ve alınan yeni ihlal kararlarını değerlendirdi

ABD-Çin Rekabeti, Orta Doğu ve Yalpalayan Türkiye

November 27, 2023
By Ömer Murat and Haşim Tekineş, published on 27 November 2023
#DışGündem'in yeni bölümünde Haşim Tekineş'in konuğu dış politika ve siyaset uzmanı ve eski diplomat Ömer Murat oldu. Büyük güçler ve yükselen güçler arası rekabeti, mevcut küresel şartlar ile 1. ve 2. dünya savaşları öncesindeki koşullara benzerliklerini, Çin ve Hindistan'ın küresel konumunu, Orta Doğu ülkeleri ve sorunlarının bu mücadeledeki yerini Türkiye'nin dış politika yalpalamalarını ele aldılar.

Ajans: Dışa Dönük 20 Kasım 2023

November 20, 2023
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 20 November 2023
instituDE üyesi Hasim Tekineş katıldığı programda Erdoğan'ın Almanya ziyaretine, İsrail-Gazze savaşına, küresel boyutta aşırı sağ siyasetin yükselişine ve Hakan Fidan'ın dışişlerindeki performansına ilişkin Mehmet Şahin'in sorularını yanıtladı

Blinken Neden Ankara'daydı?

November 6, 2023
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 6 November 2023
#DışGündem'in yeni bölümünde Haşim Tekineş ABD Dışişleri Bakanı Anthony Blinken'ın dün (6 Kasım) Ankara'ya gerçekleştirdiği ziyareti çeşitli yönleriyle ele aldı.

Humeyni'nin Bursa Sürgünü ve Devrim'e Giden Yol (3. Bölüm)

October 28, 2023
by Haşim Tekineş and Mehmet Akif Koç, published on 28 October 2023
1979 İran Devrimi ve Güncel Yansımaları programımızın 3. bölümünde Mehmet Akif Koç ve Haşim Tekineş Humeyni'nin Türkiye ve diğer ülkelerdeki sürgün yaşamı ile devrime giden süreci konuştular.

Türkiye-Hamas İlişkileri

October 26, 2023
by Servet Akman and Haşim Tekineş, published on 26 October 2023
Haşim Tekineş ve Servet Akman Türkiye Hamas ilişkilerini değerlendirdiler.