Opinions - Turkey

Turkey and Israel: Diplomacy Under the Shadow of Gaza

Turkey and Israel: Diplomacy Under the Shadow of Gaza

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 20 October 2023
In this current crisis, Turkey has pursued a diplomatic approach aimed at de-escalation, facilitating humanitarian aid access for Palestinian civilians. Nevertheless, the mounting tension, especially if Israel were to launch a ground operation in Gaza, could once again imperil the ongoing normalization efforts between the two countries.
The Downing of a Drone in Syria: Unlikely to Worsen Turkish-US Relations

The Downing of a Drone in Syria: Unlikely to Worsen Turkish-US Relations

by Enes Esen, published on 14 October 2023
The typical pattern for the Turkish government, whenever there is a high-profile terrorist attack on its soil, is as follows: issuing a firm condemnation of terrorism, conducting numerous arrests of individuals allegedly linked to the organization blamed for the attack, and launching airstrikes against facilities of terrorist organizations in Syria or Iraq.
How Turkey Reacted to Hamas Attacks

How Turkey Reacted to Hamas Attacks

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 9 October 2023
Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7 has mostly received a welcoming reaction in Turkey. While President Erdogan has called on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides to exercise restraint, other Turkish political leaders have mostly supported the Palestinians. They deliberately avoided criticizing Hamas militants for violence against Israeli civilians.
Dağlık Karabağ’da Ermenilerin Varlığı Neden Önemli?

Dağlık Karabağ’da Ermenilerin Varlığı Neden Önemli?

by Enes Esen, published on 29 September 2023
Azerbaycan’ın Dağlık Karabağ’daki son askeri operasyonu sonrasında bölgedeki Ermeniler neredeyse kayıtsız şartsız denebilecek şekilde teslim olmuştu. 28 Eylül günü açıklama yapan Dağlık Karabağ’ın Başkanı Samvel Şahramanyan da 1 Ocak 2024 itibariyle bölge yönetiminin tamamen feshedileceğini açıkladı. Azerbaycan’ın Karabağ’ı devralmasından önce Ermeniler kitlesel olarak bölgeyi terk ediyor.
Loneliness Kills

Loneliness Kills

by Ömer Güler, published on 22 September 2023
I am writing this article because reading "The Lonely Century" made me better understand the persecution that I and millions of others have been suffering in Turkey after the failed, or as many argue, staged or controlled, 15 July coup attempt in 2016.
African Civil Wars and Turkey’s Involvement in Sudan

African Civil Wars and Turkey’s Involvement in Sudan

by Enes Esen, published on 17 September 2023
Sudan's army chief, General al-Burhan, paid an official visit to Turkey on September 13. The Sudanese delegation included Foreign Minister al-Sadiq, intelligence chief Lieutenant General Mufaddal, and most importantly, Director General of the Defense Industries Corporation, Lieutenant General Mirghani Idris Suleiman. This composition suggested that the head of the Sudanese army's visit to Ankara was not merely a charm offensive but also aimed at securing weapons purchases.

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

Trump Turkiye'ye Ne Yapar?

July 18, 2024
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 18 July 2024
ABD Başkanlık Seçimlerini kazanacağı tahmin edilen Trump'ın 2. dönemi beraberinde neler getirecek? instituDE dış politika analisti Haşim Tekineş yanıtladı.

Hakan Fidan'dan Çin'in Uygur Politikasına Destek

June 18, 2024
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 17 June 2024
#DışGündem'de instituDE Dış Politika Analisti Haşim Tekineş, #HakanFidan'ın 3-5 Haziran tarihlerinde #Çin ve #Uygur bölgesine yaptığı ziyareti çeşitli boyutlarıyle ele aldı.

AİHM ve Yalçınkaya Kararından Şüphelenmeli Miyiz?

April 26, 2024
by Hakan Kaplankaya and Mehmet Bozkaya, published on 26 April 2024
Hukuk Günlüğü'nün yeni bölümünde Hakan Kaplankaya ve Mehmet Bozkaya AİHM ve Yalçınkaya kararı hakkındaki şüphe ve tereddütleri ele aldılar.

Erdoğan ve Biden Arasında Soğuk Rüzgarlar Mı Esiyor?

April 22, 2024
by Haşim Tekineş and Ömer Murat, published on 22 April 2024
instituDE DışGündem'de Dış Politika Uzmanı Ömer Murat, Erdoğan ve Biden arasındaki soğukluğa, Erdoğan'ın Vaşington ziyaretinin iptaline, Rasmussen planının detaylarına ve İran ile İsrail arasındaki savaş tiyatrosuna ilişkin Haşim Tekineş'in sorularını yanıtladı.

Avrupa'ya İltica Etmek Zorlaşıyor Mu?

April 22, 2024
by Haşim Tekineş and Mehmet Bozkaya, published on 22 April 2024
Haşim Tekineş ve Mehmet Bozkaya Avrupa Birliği'nin yeni iltica ve göç paktını ele aldılar. Yeni mevzuat hangi değişiklikleri beraberinde getirecek? Mevzuat ne zaman yürürlüğe girecek? Mevzuata ilişkin eleştiriler neler? Türkiye'den gelen başvurucular için yeni mevzuatın etkileri neler olacak? Bu soruların yanıtları ve daha fazlası yayınımızda.

Ortadoğu Isınırken 3. Dünya Savaşına Ne Kadar Yakınız?

April 20, 2024
Ramazan F. Güzel'in hazırladığı Tv FOCUS GÜNDEM KONUĞU: Dış Politika Uzmanı/ Institute for Diplomacy Economy'den Dış Politika Uzmanı Haşim Tekineş @hasimtekines : İran İsrail geriliminin perde arkasında yaşananlar, - Yaşananlar bir tiyatro muydu, yoksa başka dinamikler mi var? - Gerilimin İran, İsrail, Netanyahu, Molla Rejimi için kazanımları ve Filistin'in konumu. - Gerilim bölgeye sıçrayıp bir 3. Dünya Savaşına yol açar mı, bunu isteyenler var mı? - Böyle bir savaştan Türkiye nasıl etkilenir ve neler yapmalı...?