Opinions - Turkey

Don’t Get Your Hopes Up About Ankara and Athens

Don’t Get Your Hopes Up About Ankara and Athens

by Enes Esen, published on 9 September 2023
Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan and his Greek counterpart Gerapetritis held their first bilateral meeting on Tuesday in Ankara to prepare for the meeting between Turkish President Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in New York on September 18. Last year, Erdogan said he would never talk to Mitsotakis again and threatened to attack Greece several times.
Grain Deal and Turkey’s Balancing Policy

Grain Deal and Turkey’s Balancing Policy

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 7 September 2023
Turkish President Erdogan failed to convince the Russian President to revive the Grain Deal during his visit to Sochi. Nonetheless, Turkey's bilateral relations with Russia continue to flourish, even amid Turkey's renewed cooperation with its Western allies. However, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine could create tension in their relationship and make it more difficult for Turkey to maintain a delicate balance between NATO and Russia.
A New Episode in Turkey’s Censorship Regime

A New Episode in Turkey’s Censorship Regime

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 28 August 2023
Turkey’s tightening censorship regime continues to challenge its relations with the western countries. The Turkish authorities, last week, gave 72 hours for Voice of America (VOA) Türkçe and Deutsche Welle (DW) Türkçe to register as an internet broadcaster. Otherwise, they will either stop their activities or their administrative boards will face imprisonment in Turkey. Washington and Ankara want to configure their relationship on a transactional basis, but as Turkey’s authoritarian practices deepen, Turkey’s authoritarian drift continue to be a challenge for Turkish-American relations.
The Rapprochement between Turkey and Egypt, Not So Fast

The Rapprochement between Turkey and Egypt, Not So Fast

by Enes Esen, published on 7 August 2023
President al-Sisi has faced extensive criticism for leading his country toward an authoritarian path. One of his fiercest critics was Turkey’s President Erdoğan, who did not mince his words about al-Sisi, calling him a tyrant, an oppressor, and a murderer. After a decade of feuding, the two leaders have apparently mended the fences. President Sisi was scheduled to visit Turkey on July 27th, marking the beginning of a new era between Cairo and Ankara. However, at the eleventh hour, he chose to cancel his trip.
Ukrayna Savaşı Gölgesinde NATO Vilnius Zirvesi ve İsveç’in NATO Üyeliği

Ukrayna Savaşı Gölgesinde NATO Vilnius Zirvesi ve İsveç’in NATO Üyeliği

by Enes Esen, published on 11 July 2023
Ukrayna savaşı ana gündemiyle toplanacak NATO Zirvesi 11-12 Temmuz tarihleri arasında Litvanya'nın başkenti Vilnius’ta düzenlenecek. Zirvede NATO’nun açıkça bir tehdit olarak adlandırdığı Rusya’ya karşı yeni savunma planları onaylanacak. Türkiye’nin İsveç’in NATO üyeliğine ilişkin vetosunu kaldırmasıyla Rusya’ya karşı daha güçlü bir birlik mesajı verilecek. Kısacası sonu tehlikeli vadilere giden yeni bir silahlanma yarışının yaşandığı dünyamızda, NATO liderleri bölgesel ve küresel güvenlik politikalarını ve savaş planlarını gözden geçirecek.
The Cracks in CHP: The Breaking of the Fellowship?

The Cracks in CHP: The Breaking of the Fellowship?

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 5 July 2023
Turkey’s main opposition party, CHP, has not yet recovered from the trauma of its recent election defeat. Despite the challenges posed by President Erdogan's extensive access to public resources for campaigning, his complete control over the media, and various election manipulations, it was a notable achievement for Kilicdaroglu to secure 48% of the votes. However, a segment of the opposition holds the view that Kilicdaroglu, who has been leading the party for 13 years, cannot fully realize the CHP’s potential. This discrepancy between expectations and reality is causing instability within the CHP's leadership.

Reports - Turkey

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.
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.

Videos - Turkey

Israel vs. Iran: What It Means for Turkey

June 26, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 26 June 2025
In this in-depth analysis, we explore how Turkey is responding to the Israel–Iran war and what it means for Ankara’s security, its role in the Middle East, and its delicate balance between its alliances and rivalries. From Turkey’s historical neutrality in regional conflicts to its growing tensions with both Israel and Iran, this video takes a closer look at the biggest geopolitical shift in the Middle East — and how it could redefine Turkey’s future.

How Turkey Is Expanding Its Power in Africa!

May 22, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 22 May 2025
In this video, we uncover the dramatic transformation of Turkey’s Africa policy — from humanitarian aid to drone diplomacy, arms sales, and military bases. As Western powers pull back, Turkey is stepping in to fill the vacuum, building influence from the Horn of Africa to the Sahel.

Erdoğan'ın Dış Politikada İkinci Baharı!

May 14, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 14 May 2025
Son dönemde Türk dış politikasında gözle görülür bir olumlu ivme yaşanıyor! Esad'ın düşmesi, Avrupa güvenlik mimarisindeki değişimler, Trump'ın etkisi ve Ukrayna krizi gibi küresel gelişmeler, Türkiye'nin dış politikada yeni bir sayfa açtığını gösteriyor.

Meloni's Deal with Erdoğan: Energy, Migration, and Silence

May 1, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 1 May 2025
This video breaks down the real reason behind Italy's silence: gas, migration, and Libya. With Russia out of the picture, Italy is turning to North Africa for energy and is desperate to control migration flows from Libya. But in Libya, Turkey calls the shots.

Energy, Power, and Politics: Turkey’s $350 Billion Oil Question

April 23, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 23 April 2025
Turkey is drilling deep—literally and politically. With potential reserves in the Diyarbakır and Thrace Basins, and rising production in the Black Sea Sakarya Gas Field, this could be a turning point for the country’s energy future. But is this an economic breakthrough—or just another political power play?

Is a Turkey-Israel Clash Coming?

April 9, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 9 April 2025
In this video, we break down the rising tensions between Turkey and Israel following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. As Ankara emerges as the dominant power in post-war Syria, Israel grows increasingly concerned about Turkish influence spreading across the region.