Opinions - Turkey

NATO’nun Son Genişleme Süreci ve Türkiye’nin Tutumu

NATO’nun Son Genişleme Süreci ve Türkiye’nin Tutumu

by Enes Esen, published on 14 May 2022
AKP Genel Başkanı ve Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan, "Biz şu anda İsveç ve Finlandiya'yla ilgili gelişmeleri takip ediyoruz ama olumlu bir düşünce içerisinde değiliz… İskandinav ülkeleri ne yazık ki terör örgütlerinin adeta misafirhanesi gibi. PKK'sı, DHKP-C'si İsveç'te, Hollanda'da yuvalanmış durumdalar. Oraların hatta daha da ileri gidiyorum parlamentolarında da yer alıyorlar. Bu noktada bizim olumlu bakmamız mümkün değil" şeklinde konuştu.
Can the Normalization Process Between Turkey and Armenia Yield Results?

Can the Normalization Process Between Turkey and Armenia Yield Results?

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 6 May 2022
To begin with, Ankara’s current efforts to normalize its relations with its neighbors primarily rely on Turkey’s desire to boost its economy by expanding its export markets and attracting investments. But unlike other wealthy countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, the normalization with Armenia does not present a similar prospect in terms of commercial activities.
Will Turkey and Saudi Arabia turn the page?

Will Turkey and Saudi Arabia turn the page?

by Enes Esen, published on 1 May 2022
Turkish-Saudi relations soured following the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood supported by Turkey in 2013 in Egypt, while Saudi Arabia has been one of the main sponsors of General Sisi. The bilateral relations went from bad to worse with Ankara’s unwavering support to Doha during the conflict between Qatar and its neighbors led by Saudi Arabia in 2017. The murder of columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018 and the subsequent developments were the last straw that totally broke the political relations.
Turkey’s Ambitious Overture to Latin America

Turkey’s Ambitious Overture to Latin America

by İmdat Öner, published on 30 April 2022
With thisthis outstanding diplomatic activism, Ankara is increasingly shoring up ties with new partners in the region. Yet, what is striking is that the Turkish government keeps pushing to expand its footprint further in distant geographies at a time when the Turkish economy is crumbling.
Türkiye-Mısır Müzakereleri Ne Aşamada?

Türkiye-Mısır Müzakereleri Ne Aşamada?

by Enes Esen, published on 15 April 2022
Mısır’da ordunun yönetime el koyması üzerine 2013 yılında kopan Türkiye-Mısır ilişkilerinin normalleştirilmesini teminen iki ülke arasında Dışişleri Bakanlıkları nezdinde yürütülen istişarelerin ilk turu 2021 Mayıs ayında Kahire’de, ikincisi ise Eylül ayında Ankara´da gerçekleşmişti.
How Do Russians Benefit from Turkey’s Refusal to Impose Sanctions?

How Do Russians Benefit from Turkey’s Refusal to Impose Sanctions?

by Enes Esen, published on 8 April 2022
Turkey has economically benefited so far from its neutral status on the invasion of Ukraine, while every other NATO country and several other nations severely cut down their relations with Russia. Given that Turkey has shied away from taking a stand against Russia and imposing sanctions, many Russians ponder Turkey as a way to circumvent Western sanctions.

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

Türkiye-Venezuela Benzeşmasi

January 15, 2024
by İmdat Öner, published 15 January 2024
Türkiye ve Venezuela ne kadar benzeşiyor?

Türkiye'de mülkiyet hakkının ihlali insanlığa karşı işlenen suç kapsamında

January 15, 2024
by Hakan Kaplankaya, published on 15 January 2024
İnsan hakları uzmanı Hakan Kaplankaya katıldığı programda Türkiye'de Gülen Hareketi'ne yönelik işlenen mülkiyet hakkı ihlallerini ve bunların insanlığa karşı suçlar düzeyine ulaştığını konuya ilişkin raporumuz çerçevesinde anlattı.

PERSECUTORY CONFISCATION AMOUNTING TO CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IN TURKEY

December 24, 2023
by Yasir Gökçe, published on 24 December 2023
instituDE Director Dr. Yasir Gokce eloborated on the widespread and systematic nature of property rights violations in Turkey as a part of CrimesAgainstHumanity targeting Gülen Movement, with reference to the recent instituDE report thereon.

Ne Af Ne Zaman Aşımı

December 23, 2023
by Hakan Kaplankaya, published on 23 December 2023
instituDE üyesi ve insan hakları uzmanı Hakan Kaplankaya katıldığı programda Yalçınkaya kararının yansımalarını, AİHM'in bu hafta 1000 başvuruyu daha komünike etmesini ve AİHM kararlarını uygulamamanın yargıçlar için sonuçlarını anlattı.

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.