Opinions - Turkey

Shifting Geopolitics of Turkey-Israel Relations After Assad

Shifting Geopolitics of Turkey-Israel Relations After Assad

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 20 December 2024
The fall of the Assad regime marks a critical juncture in regional geopolitics, fundamentally altering the dynamics between Turkey and Israel. Historically, their relationship has oscillated between pragmatic alliances and ideological rifts. Yet, with their common enemy removed, the regional balance of power has shifted, creating new challenges and testing the resilience of their already fragile ties.
Turkey’s Prospects in Syria Depend on Peace

Turkey’s Prospects in Syria Depend on Peace

by Enes Esen, published on 12 December 2024
Both Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the YPG are classified as terrorist organizations by Turkey, yet these two groups have consolidated power across the Syrian landscape in the last couple of weeks. Nonetheless, the joy has been palpable both among Turkey's decision-makers and within the broader public, following the triumph of the HTS.
Ankara Eyes Opportunities Amid Syria’s Turmoil

Ankara Eyes Opportunities Amid Syria’s Turmoil

by Enes Esen, published on 1 December 2024
Syrian rebel forces launched their largest offensive against the Assad government in years on Wednesday, capturing Aleppo and advancing south toward Hama. While it is clear that Ankara had prior knowledge of the Syrian opposition’s offensive, dubbed "Stopping the Aggression," it appears to have underestimated the scale and rapidity of the regime’s collapse in Aleppo.
Turkish-American Relations in the Biden Era: A Pragmatic Stability

Turkish-American Relations in the Biden Era: A Pragmatic Stability

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 28 November 2024
The Biden administration marked in a period of relative stability for Turkish-American relations, despite limited personal engagement between President Biden and Turkish President Erdoğan. While the absence of direct presidential rapport marked a significant departure from the Trump era’s personal diplomacy, institutional ties under Biden remained resilient and productive.
The Intelligence Community’s Growing Hold on Turkey’s Foreign Ministry

The Intelligence Community’s Growing Hold on Turkey’s Foreign Ministry

by Mustafa Enes Esen, published on 16 November 2024
Under the leadership of Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is seeing a noteworthy shift, with a growing number of senior positions now occupied by National Intelligence Organization (MIT) officers and political appointees. This transformation is reshaping the ministry’s traditional role, aligning it more closely with intelligence and security functions than with conventional diplomatic practices.
The Turkish House: Buildings Don’t Make Diplomacy

The Turkish House: Buildings Don’t Make Diplomacy

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 28 October 2024
In September 2022, Turkey opened the Turkish House (Turkevi) in New York City, right across from the United Nations Headquarters. This impressive 35-story building was meant to enhance Turkey's diplomatic efforts and serve as a hub for international dialogue during major global events, particularly the UN General Assembly, typically hold in September. However, the question remains: has Turkevi somehow transformed Turkey's diplomatic engagement, or has it simply become just another skyscraper on New York City's skyline?

Reports - Turkey

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.
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.

Videos - Turkey

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.

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.