Opinions - Turkey

Diplomaside İstenmeyen Kişi İlan Etme ve Buna Bağlı Sonuçlar: Osman Kavala Duruşması Sonrasında Yaşananlar

Diplomaside İstenmeyen Kişi İlan Etme ve Buna Bağlı Sonuçlar: Osman Kavala Duruşması Sonrasında Yaşananlar

by Harun Reşit Halisoğlu, published on October 24, 2021
Aralarında ABD, Almanya, Fransa ve Hollanda Büyükelçilerinin de bulunduğu Türkiye’de görevli 10 Büyükelçi ulusal ve uluslararası hukuka riayet edilerek 4 yıldır tutuklu olan Osman Kavala’nın serbest bırakılmasını talep etti. Bu ortak açıklamanın ardından Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan, açıklamaya imza atan Büyükelçilerin istenmeyen kişi (persona non grata) ilan edilmeleri için Dışişlerine talimat verdiğini duyurdu.
Turkey Tribunal: A Citizens’ Tribunal Presided by Judge Tulkens, the Former Vice-President of ECtHR, Adjudicates the Gross Human Rights Violations of Turkey

Turkey Tribunal: A Citizens’ Tribunal Presided by Judge Tulkens, the Former Vice-President of ECtHR, Adjudicates the Gross Human Rights Violations of Turkey

by Mehmet Bozkaya, published on October 19, 2021
Turkey Tribunal (Tribunal), a Belgium-based independent civil society organization established by academics, former international judges and lawyers, held a series of hearings in Geneva between 20-24 September 2021. The Tribunal is a citizens’ tribunal designed to serve as a forum to assess the grave human rights violations taking place in Turkey, similar to the Russell Tribunal and the World Tribunal on Iraq.
The EU-Turkey Statement and the Evaluation of the Refugee “Deal”

The EU-Turkey Statement and the Evaluation of the Refugee “Deal”

by Muhammed Sevim, published on September 9, 2021
Along with the “Arab Spring” that broke out at the end of 2010 and the escalation of the civil war in Syria after 2011, the countries in the region, notably Turkey, and Europe faced an unprecedented influx of migration, resulting in a refugee crisis in the EU in 2015.
The Rapprochement Between Turkey and Egypt: The Reasons and Possible Outcomes

The Rapprochement Between Turkey and Egypt: The Reasons and Possible Outcomes

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 25 April, 2021
The rapprochement efforts between Turkey and Egypt are not just important for these two countries. They have also imminent consequences for Libya and the Brotherhood. An agreement between Turkey and Egypt would boost the chances of the viability of Libya’s unity government.
US-EU Forge a New Strategy to Deal with Turkey's Democratic Backsliding

US-EU Forge a New Strategy to Deal with Turkey's Democratic Backsliding

by Erkan Yıldız, published on 1 April 2021
Meetings of the European Council and the NATO foreign affairs ministers gave hints of the US-EU strategy on their relations with Turkey and NATO’s increasing role as a platform where Turkey’s democratic backsliding will be discussed in line with US President Joe Biden’s transatlantic partnership vision.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN TURKEY

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN TURKEY

by Mehmet Bozkaya, published on 8 March 2021
While the celebration of women’s day dates back to the first decade of the 20th century, more action is still to be taken by all countries to eradicate all forms of discrimination against women and to materialize the equality of men and women.

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

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.

Erdogan’s Biggest Blunder: Is This the Beginning of the End?

March 26, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 26 March 2025
In this video, we break down why Imamoglu’s arrest is backfiring on Erdogan, the growing resistance in Turkey, and what might come next. Will Erdogan tighten his grip with more force, or is he facing an unstoppable wave of change?