News in grid
Greece blasts Berlin for shunning plea for Turkey arms embargo – Politico
ATHENS — Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias accused Germany of failing to live up to its leadership role in the EU by rejecting pleas from Athens to impose an arms embargo on Turkey. “I really…
Turkey blasts ‘unauthorised’ German search on Libya-bound ship – Daily Mail
Turkey accused the German navy on Monday of conducting an “unauthorised” search on a Turkish-flagged cargo vessel in a bid to enforce a United Nations arms embargo on Libya. But the European Union’s Operation Irini…
Turkey Needs Radical New Direction to Save the Economy – Chatham House
Although Ankara has witnessed what appears to be an abrupt change of its top economic team with two fresh appointments to key positions – Naci Ağbal as head of the presidential budget and strategy directorate…
Germany ‘concerned’ after Turkey orders halt to ship search off Libyan coast – POLITICO
The German government voiced concern after Turkey stopped the inspection of a suspicious vessel off the Libyan coast, which German forces had boarded as part of an EU-led arms control mission. On Sunday, the German…
We can’t allow Turkey and Russia to fill America’s Middle East vacuum | TheHill
President TrumpDonald John TrumpBiden to nominate Linda Thomas-Greenfield for UN ambassador: reports Scranton dedicates ‘Joe Biden Way’ to honor president-elect Kasich: Republicans ‘either in complete lockstep’ or ‘afraid’ of Trump MORE appears determined to…
Turkey faces Storm December as Erdoğan eyes applause – Yetkin Report
Turkish President Erdoğan deiivers his online G20 speech as some of the other leaders listen on. (Photo: Turkish Presidency) President Tayyip Erdoğan reproaches the party members at his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) provincial…
Turkish minister says UNESCO “not bothered” by Hagia Sophia mosque conversion
The Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism has reportedly said that the UN body that protects significant cultural and religious sites was “not bothered” by the controversial conversion of a former Byzantine-era church into a…
Erdoğan’s U-turn on EU because of failing economy, says Babacan – Bianet
The government’s recent change in discourse about Europe is related to the “sinking economy,” according to Ali Babacan, the chair of the Democracy and Progress (DEVA) Party, who was also in charge of the country’s…
Turkey’s Jews are feeling the heat of Erdogan’s extremism – The National
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sought to signal a softening in his foreign policy stance this past weekend. First, he called Saudi Arabia’s King Salman to discuss bilateral ties following several months of tension,…
Will Erdoğan’s yo-yo game with the EU succeed in deluding the West again? | Ahval
He is back at it again. Full of his customary surprises at each and every turn, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan displayed a sharp swing on Saturday, refreshing his long-lost love for his favourite punching…
Caught between a rock and a hard place, Erdogan seeks a way out
Nov 21, 2020 Developments at home and abroad are forcing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to seek a fresh course aimed at delivering Turkey from its current economic morass and debilitating political isolation in the West.…
EU Officials Watch in Awe Greek Turkish Air Fights Live – GreekReporter.com
European Union officials had the opportunity to watch a Greek Air Force aircraft chasing away Turkish F-16 fighter jets that had violated Greek airspace live. The presentation took place during the European Security and Defence…
Fragile peace in Nagorno-Karabakh leaves Russia and Turkey in charge – Business Insider
Armenia and Azerbaijan signed an agreement last week to end six weeks of bloody fighting over the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. The agreement is widely seen as a win for Russia, which has regained substantial…
Why Biden must not fall for Erdogan’s promised reforms – The National
Just a month ago the leading think tank, European Council on Foreign Relations, was bemoaning the lack of cards in the bloc’s hand to play against the Turkish leader. The Europeans stand frustrated and apparently…
Turkey extends seismic survey work in disputed Mediterranean area to 29 November – Ahram Online
Turkey said it was extending the seismic survey work of its Oruc Reis ship in a disputed area of the eastern Mediterranean until Nov. 29, in a move that could add to tensions in the…
Lockheed Martin: MMSC to benefit Greek Economy and Hellenic Navy – Naval News
Lockheed Martin image According to Lockheed Martin there are two main opportunities arising from the selection of the MMSC ships from Greece. The first is the industrial work that will be carried out…
Grey Wolves ban shows Europe waking up to Turkish influence networks – Ahval
Acting against the Grey Wolves has served as something of symbolic act against this threat. Beyond France, Austria banned the salute associated with the group and after Paris outlawed it, politicians across party lines all expressed interest in following…
“Turkey today is to radical Islamism what Saudi Arabia was in the 20th century” – American Enterprise Institute
“Every dictator wakes upwondering if today could be his last” states Michael Rubin for TurkishPresident Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an interview with Evangelos D. Kokkinos forpentapostagma.gr. The respected analyst of AmericanEnterprise Institute (AEI) and former…
Ankara sanctions loom ahead of EU summit – Arab News
Brussels is unlikely to step back from its threat to impose curbs following Turkey’s insistence on carrying out drilling in disputed zones During a visit earlier this week condemned as “provocative and illegal” by the…
Pompeo’s unusual visit and the dire state of Turkey-US relations – Arab News
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was in Turkey this week as part of his seven-nation tour of Europe and the Middle East. The nature of the visit and his remarks ahead of it had…
The Case for a Strategic Pivot to Greece and Cyprus – The National Interest
U.S. officials should explore options to strengthen security cooperation with Cyprus. Like Crete, this strategically located island presents an ideal platform for power projection, and stronger U.S. ties could enable Greece to focus more concertedly…
Bicommunal group denounces partial opening of Varosha – Cyprus Mail
An informal bicommunal group, ‘Imaginary Famagusta’, on Friday denounced the opening of part of the fenced area of Varosha as a violation of UN resolutions and of European Court of Human Rights decisions on property…
Is Turkey Really Building a New Tank? – The National Interest
Despite being trumpeted as an all-Turkish design, the Altay tank leans heavily on a number of foreign components. In particular, the Altay program would like to have copied the engine and transmission that South Korea’s…
How key is Turkey? – New Europe
The customs union has been key to Turkey’s economic successes and the country’s modernization. The EU is Turkey’s largest import and export partner. However, the country has been facing a severe currency crisis, soaring inflation…
Turkey’s Crisis with the West: How a New Low in Relations Risks Paralyzing NATO – War on the Rocks
NATO’s most important challenge today may not come from Russia, but from within. With the number of disputes between Turkey and several European allies yet again on the rise, the two parties’ souring relations have…
Merkel: A decision will be made at EU summit about Turkey’s Eastern Mediterranean activities – Bianet
European Union (EU) leaders will discuss the future of the bloc’s relations with Turkey at their summit next month, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel said yesterday (November 19). Speaking at a press conference following a video…
What did Erdoğan say in Cyprus, what is he trying to do? – Yetkin Report
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s remarks during a Nov. 15 visit to Northern Cyprus provided clues to Turkey’s shifting strategies about the divided island. The failure of the last reunification talks in 2017 in Crans…
Turkey is on the verge of an explosion – American Enterprise Institute
It has now been 18 years since Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party shocked Turkey’s secular establishment and swept to power. That Islamists won a supermajority in Turkey’s parliament reflected less the religious orientation…