Opinions - Turkey

A Snapshot of the Turkish-American Relations: Neither Alliance nor Transactional

A Snapshot of the Turkish-American Relations: Neither Alliance nor Transactional

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 15 September 2023
Since the Turkish presidential elections in May, a much friendlier atmosphere has prevailed in Turkish-American relations, as seen at the 2023 NATO Summit at Vilnius. Although this reconciliation hardly means a return to the strategic alliance concept, it is not fully transactional either. Hanging in the air between alliance and transactionalism, the future of Turkish-American relations depends on the course of the war in Ukraine and Turkish support for the Ukrainian cause.
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.

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

Ajans: Dışa Dönük 20 Kasım 2023

November 20, 2023
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 20 November 2023
instituDE üyesi Hasim Tekineş katıldığı programda Erdoğan'ın Almanya ziyaretine, İsrail-Gazze savaşına, küresel boyutta aşırı sağ siyasetin yükselişine ve Hakan Fidan'ın dışişlerindeki performansına ilişkin Mehmet Şahin'in sorularını yanıtladı

Blinken Neden Ankara'daydı?

November 6, 2023
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 6 November 2023
#DışGündem'in yeni bölümünde Haşim Tekineş ABD Dışişleri Bakanı Anthony Blinken'ın dün (6 Kasım) Ankara'ya gerçekleştirdiği ziyareti çeşitli yönleriyle ele aldı.

Humeyni'nin Bursa Sürgünü ve Devrim'e Giden Yol (3. Bölüm)

October 28, 2023
by Haşim Tekineş and Mehmet Akif Koç, published on 28 October 2023
1979 İran Devrimi ve Güncel Yansımaları programımızın 3. bölümünde Mehmet Akif Koç ve Haşim Tekineş Humeyni'nin Türkiye ve diğer ülkelerdeki sürgün yaşamı ile devrime giden süreci konuştular.

Türkiye-Hamas İlişkileri

October 26, 2023
by Servet Akman and Haşim Tekineş, published on 26 October 2023
Haşim Tekineş ve Servet Akman Türkiye Hamas ilişkilerini değerlendirdiler.

Ankara'nın HAMAS kararı neyin işareti?

October 24, 2023
Haşim Tekineş and Servet Akman, published on 24 October 2023
instituDE üyesi Servet Akman ve Haşim Tekineş, katıldıkları yayında küresel ve bölgesel boyutlarıyla İsrail-Hamas savaşında gelinen aşamayı, İsrail'in Gazze'ye kara harekatı planını ve İsrail'in bu harekattaki hedeflerini

ABD Türk SİHA'sını Düşürdü

October 7, 2023
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 7 October 2023
Dış Gündem'de bu hafta Haşim Tekineş Türkiye'nin Suriye'deki PKK/YPG hedeflerine yönelik operasyonları esnasında bir Türk SİHA'sının NATO müttefiki ABD tarafından vurularak düşürülmesini çeşitli boyutlarıyla ele aldı.