Opinions - Turkey

Bir Diplomatın Kazası Niye Haber Olur?

Bir Diplomatın Kazası Niye Haber Olur?

by Enes Esen, published on 23 December 2022
Geçtiğimiz hafta 15 Aralık günü İstanbul Şişli’de bir trafik kazası yaşandı. Haberlerde konsolosluk aracını ABD İstanbul Başkonsolosu Julie A. Eadeh'in eşi Mounir Elkhamri'nin kullandığı, yapılan ölçümde 240 promil alkollü çıkan Elkhamri’nin konsolosluk aracını bırakarak olay yerinden ayrıldığı, yaralı vatandaşın hastanede tedavisinin devam ettiği ve kazayla ilgili inceleme başlatıldığı belirtiliyordu. Basit bir trafik kazasına ilişkin basında birçok haber çıkması ve alakası bulunmadığı halde ısrarla kazaya ABD İstanbul Başkonsolosu Julie Eadeh’in dahil edilmesi üzerine ABD Ankara Büyükelçiliği bir açıklama yapma gereği duydu.
Would Turkmen Gas Make Turkey an Energy Hub?

Would Turkmen Gas Make Turkey an Energy Hub?

by Enes Esen, published on 19 December 2022
The interruption of the flow of Russian gas to Europe within the context of the invasion of Ukraine has affected the Central Asian Republics such as Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan which were heavily counting on the Russian infrastructure to transport their hydrocarbon resources. Central Asian states have now to be more assertive in diversifying their export routes to Europe and China, the two main power-hungry regions of the world. Turkey, in its turn, wants to take advantage of its geographical proximity to the natural resources-rich countries to become an energy hub.
Why is Turkey so insistent on an incursion into Syria?

Why is Turkey so insistent on an incursion into Syria?

by Enes Esen, published on 24 November 2022
Turkey has already carried out four large-scale military operations in Syria in the last six years. And yet it wants to launch another large-scale military campaign. There are some reasons why Turkey is concerned with northern Syria nowadays.
İsrail-Lübnan Anlaşması ve Türkiye’nin Alacağı Dersler

İsrail-Lübnan Anlaşması ve Türkiye’nin Alacağı Dersler

by Enes Esen, published on 7 November 2022
ABD’nin arabuluculuğuyla İsrail ve Lübnan arasında yürütülen müzakereler sonucunda iki ülke 27 Ekim’de tarihi bir deniz yetki anlaşması imzaladı. Lübnan devletinin, varlığını resmi olarak tanımadığı İsrail’le uzlaşıya varmasında ülkede yıllardır devam eden ağır ekonomik kriz büyük rol oynadı. İsrail bakımından ise doğalgaz kaynaklarının güvenliğinin ve meşruiyetinin sağlanması için Lübnan’la anlaşmaya varılması gerekiyordu. Bu uzlaşıda, Akdeniz ve Ege’deki komşularıyla problem yaşayan Türkiye için çıkarılacak bazı mühim dersler bulunuyor.
AB Genişleme Raporu ve Türkiye’yi Bekleyen Bazı Tehlikeler

AB Genişleme Raporu ve Türkiye’yi Bekleyen Bazı Tehlikeler

by Enes Esen, published on 15 October 2022
Avrupa Birliği Komisyonu’nun aday ülkeleri değerlendirdiği 2022 Genişleme Raporu 12 Ekim’de açıklandı. Raporun Türkiye’ye ilişkin kısmında özellikle siyasi kriterler ile hukukun üstünlüğü ve temel haklar fasıllarında çok ağır eleştirilerin yer alması Ankara’daki yetkililerin sert tepki vermesine neden oldu.
Will Turkey Ever Ratify Finnish and Swedish accession to NATO?

Will Turkey Ever Ratify Finnish and Swedish accession to NATO?

by Enes Esen, published on 3 October 2022
In June, the NATO member countries signed the Accession Protocol for Finland and Sweden to join the alliance, which has to be ratified by each NATO member country before they become official members. This process has been swiftly completed in all NATO member countries but Hungary and Turkey.

Reports - Turkey

TURKEY'S RARE ELEMENTS: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES - THE BEYLİKOVA CASE

TURKEY'S RARE ELEMENTS: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES - THE BEYLİKOVA CASE

by Mustafa Enes Esen, Ömer Güler, Harun Güngör and Dr. İmdat Öner, published on 21 May 2026
This report is addressed to two audiences simultaneously: Turkish policymakers weighing how to develop the Beylikova deposit, and Western governments and companies assessing whether Turkey is a credible partner in their supply chain diversification strategies. It examines both the opportunities Turkey’s entry into the rare earth sector could realistically generate and the structural obstacles that stand between the current situation and those outcomes.
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.

Videos - Turkey

Türkiye'nin Rejimi ve Uluslararası Dengeler

July 6, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 6 July 2025
Türkiye'de rejim mi değişiyor? İmamoğlu'nun tutukluluğu ve CHP'li belediyeler üzerinde artan baskı ne anlama geliyor? Uluslararası dengeler Erdoğan'a içeride baskıyı artırma imkanı veriyor.

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?