Opinions - Turkey

High Expectations, Low Results in Turkey’s Diplomatic Overture

High Expectations, Low Results in Turkey’s Diplomatic Overture

by Enes Esen, published on 25 June 2022
It was a busy week in Ankara in terms of high-level diplomatic visits. President Erdoğan received Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Turkey on Wednesday. This was for the first time in years when a high-level Saudi leader paid a visit to Turkey. US Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo also arrived on Wednesday in Ankara to meet Turkish officials in order to warn them about the dire consequences of helping Russia to get around the Western sanctions. On Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu met his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid, who is about to become Israel's Prime Minister in the upcoming days with the collapse of the Israeli government.
İran Neden İsrail’e Misilleme İçin Türkiye’yi Tercih Ediyor?

İran Neden İsrail’e Misilleme İçin Türkiye’yi Tercih Ediyor?

by Enes Esen, published on 19 June 2022
Onlarca ülkede İsrail diplomatik misyonu bulunmasına ve İsraillilerin turist olarak dünyanın birçok ülkesine gidiyor olmasına rağmen, İran’ın bu suikastlere misilleme yapmak için Türkiye’yi tercih etmesinin çeşitli nedenleri bulunuyor.
Turkey's Plans for a New Offensive in Syria

Turkey's Plans for a New Offensive in Syria

By Enes Esen, published on 29 May 2022
The military operations carried out by the Turkish armed forces in Syria and Iraq play an important role in securing not only the country’s borders but also shaping Turkey’s domestic politics. On the one hand, Turkish generals want to extend the buffer zone between Turkey and YPG, an entity with a close relationship with the PKK, whenever an opportunity arises.
How to Make Sense of Turkey’s Objection to Finland and Sweden?

How to Make Sense of Turkey’s Objection to Finland and Sweden?

by Enes Esen, published on 21 May 2022
NATO member countries are seeking clarity on Turkey's view of the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO. If it is taken at face value, accusing Sweden and Finland of being a nest of terrorist organizations may not make much sense. It is more likely that their bid to join NATO is collateral for Erdoğan’s long demands from the US government.
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.

Reports - Turkey

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.
WEAPONIZING FINANCIAL SYSTEMS: ERDOĞAN'S TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION TO MUZZLE DISSIDENTS ABROAD

WEAPONIZING FINANCIAL SYSTEMS: ERDOĞAN'S TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION TO MUZZLE DISSIDENTS ABROAD

by Dr. Yasir Gökçe, Mayra Russo and Sara Kezia Heinonen, published on 29 August 2024
This report sets out to provide a comprehensive analysis of the tactics employed by the Erdoğan administration to achieve repressive goals abroad and the vulnerabilities and how they are enabled by the AML and CFT regulation in place.
ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES BY THE ERDOGAN GOVERNMENT

ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES BY THE ERDOGAN GOVERNMENT

by instituDE, published in June 2024
This submission highlights the ongoing systematic actions and omissions by Turkish authorities against the so-called members of the Gulen Group, framed as crimes against humanity. It demonstrates the violations of recommendations that even Türkiye has supported.
UNVEILING THE BRUTAL REALITY: SYSTEMATIC TORTURE OF FORMER DIPLOMATS

UNVEILING THE BRUTAL REALITY: SYSTEMATIC TORTURE OF FORMER DIPLOMATS

by instituDE, published on May 2024
This report offers an update to the United Nations Committee against Torture (the Committee) regarding the obstacles to implementing the Convention against Torture (the Convention) in Turkey. As a coalition formed by a collective of former Turkish diplomats, our focus is on the systematic torture faced by former diplomats detained at Ankara Police Headquarters. We delve into the Turkish context and present insights from our organization.
SUCCESSION: THE QUESTION OF POWER TRANSITION IN ERDOGAN’S TURKEY

SUCCESSION: THE QUESTION OF POWER TRANSITION IN ERDOGAN’S TURKEY

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 6 December 2023
His electoral victory in May 2023 gave President Erdoğan five more years to further consolidate his power, eviscerate institutions, fill the bureaucracy with yes-men and expand his corruption network. This, of course, raises questions about the Turkish political system’s chances of recovery, the prospects for democratization after Erdogan and the regime’s tolerance for his demise.
PERSECUTORY CONFISCATION AMOUNTING TO CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY: CASE OF THE GÜLEN GROUP

PERSECUTORY CONFISCATION AMOUNTING TO CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY: CASE OF THE GÜLEN GROUP

by Yasir Gökçe, Hakan Kaplankaya, Harun Reşit Halisoğlu and Mehmet Bozkaya, published on 6 November 2023
This report aims to reveal and analyze the criminal acts and/or omissions of the Turkish authorities against individuals alleged to be affiliated with, connected to, or members of the Gülen Group in the context of violations of the right to property as crimes against humanity.

Videos - Turkey

Türkiye ve İsrail Donanmalar Karşı Karşıya Gelebilir!

May 5, 2026
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 5 May 2026
"Türkiye ve İsrail Donanmalar Karşı Karşıya Gelebilir!"

AİHM'den Yeni İhlal Kararı

May 5, 2026
by Hakan Kaplankaya and Haşim Tekineş, published on 5 May 2026
Bu videoda Avrupa İnsan Hakları Mahkemesi’nin (AİHM) Büyük Daire’den çıkan Yasak kararını ve bu kararın Türkiye’deki davalar açısından ne anlama geldiğini ele alıyoruz.

Türkiye'ye karşı Fransa-Yunanistan askeri ittifakı mı?

May 2, 2026
by Haşim tekineş, published on 2 May 2026
Avrupa Komisyonu Başkanı Von der Leyen'in Türkiye'yi "dış rakip" olarak tanımlaması ve Macron'un Yunanistan'a destek sözü Ankara'yı karşı karşıya getirdi. Türkiye-AB ilişkilerinde son kriz ne anlama geliyor?

Avrupa'nın Türkiye Endişesi!

April 21, 2026
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 21 April 2026
AB Komisyonu Başkanı #ursulavonderleyen #Rusya, #Çin ve #Türk nüfuzu konusunda uyardı.

Çok Uluslu NATO Karargahı Ne Anlama Geliyor?

April 1, 2026
by Mustafa Enes Esen and Haşim Tekineş, published on 1 April 2026
NATO Adana'da Çok Uluslu Kolordu kuruyor? Peki bunun anlamı ne?

Türkiye Kaosun Dışında Kalabilecek mi?

March 18, 2026
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 18 March 2026
Orta Doğu'daki hesaplaşma devam ediyor. Trump Hürmüz boğazının kontrolünü ele geçirmeyi planlıyor. Savaşın süresi uzadıkça taraflar üzerindeki baskısı daha da artıyor.