All posts tagged: Erdoğan

Erdogan Ally Wants Jailed Kurdish Militant Leader to Have Official Status

Erdogan Ally Wants Jailed Kurdish Militant Leader to Have Official Status

Published by Sam Flores

By Ece Toksabay and Huseyin Hayatsever ANKARA, May 5 (Reuters) – ⁠Turkish ⁠nationalist party leader Devlet Bahceli said ⁠on Tuesday the jailed head of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) ​should be given an official role to help advance a peace process aimed at ending a decades-long ‌conflict. Bahceli, a close ally of President ‌Tayyip Erdogan who in 2024 effectively initiated the process with a call for peace, made ⁠the proposal ⁠a week after pro-Kurdish lawmakers accused the government of moving too slowly.  “If ​there is a lack of status for Abdullah Ocalan, this should be addressed in a way that clearly benefits the Republic of Turkey and serves the goal of a terror-free Turkey,” Bahceli said in ​a parliamentary speech.  “To end these discussions, I propose that it be called the ‘Peace Process and ⁠Politicisation ⁠Coordination Office’,” Bahceli said, adding ⁠that the “founding ​leader of the PKK should serve under a defined role.” Gulistan Kilic Kocyigit, a senior lawmaker ​from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, ⁠welcomed Bahceli’s proposals in comments to Reuters. “Both his assessment …

Turkey Trying to Revive Russia-Ukraine Negotiations, Erdogan Tells NATO Chief

Turkey Trying to Revive Russia-Ukraine Negotiations, Erdogan Tells NATO Chief

Published by Sam Flores

ANKARA, April 22 (Reuters) – Turkey is making ⁠efforts ⁠to revive negotiations between ⁠Russia and Ukraine and bring together the leaders of ​the warring sides, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told NATO Secretary General Mark ‌Rutte in a meeting in ‌Ankara, the Turkish presidency said on Wednesday. Earlier on Wednesday, Kyiv ⁠said it ⁠had asked Turkey, a NATO member, to host a leaders’ ​level meeting with Russia. Ankara has maintained good ties with both Ukraine and Russia since Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022. “Erdogan said we were engaged, ​as Turkey, for the Ukraine-Russia war to end with peace, and ⁠that we ⁠are working to revive ⁠negotiations ​and start talks at leaders’ level,” the presidency said in a readout ​of the meeting. The ⁠Turkish president also told Rutte that maintaining transatlantic ties was “indispensable”, but that Ankara expected European NATO allies to take more responsibility for transatlantic security, the presidency said. Erdogan later held a call with German Chancellor ⁠Friedrich Merz, the presidency said, adding that he told the German ⁠leader the U.S.-Iran war was “starting to …

Turkey brands Netanyahu ‘Hitler’ as Erdogan threatens Israel invasion | World | News

Turkey brands Netanyahu ‘Hitler’ as Erdogan threatens Israel invasion | World | News

Published by Sam Flores

Turkey’s president has launched a scathing attack on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, declaring he is “blinded by blood and hate,” while one of his ministers branded him a “Hitler of our time”. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also issued threats to invade Israel over its assault on Lebanon. In a speech delivered after indictments were issued against 35 senior Israeli officials, Mr Erdoğan said: “Had Pakistan not been mediating in the war between the US and Iran, we would have shown Israel its place. Just as we entered Libya and Karabakh, we can enter Israel. “There is no reason not to do it.” The officials, including Netanyahu, face charges of crimes against humanity, prompting the Israeli prime minister to hit back in a social media post, accusing Mr Erdoğan of having “massacred his own Kurdish citizens”. Israeli defence minister Israel Katz, who was also named in the Turkish indictments, branded the Turkish premier a “Muslim Brotherhood man”. The latest friction between the nations emerges as Mr Erdoğan cautioned Donald Trump about potential “provocations and sabotage” in …

At least 15 killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine as Zelenskyy meets Erdogan | Russia-Ukraine war News

At least 15 killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine as Zelenskyy meets Erdogan | Russia-Ukraine war News

Published by Sam Flores

At least one person is killed in a Ukrainian attack on southern Russia’s Rostov region. Published On 4 Apr 20264 Apr 2026 Russian attacks across Ukraine have killed at least 15 people and injured dozens over 24 hours, according to Ukrainian officials, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held talks with Turkiye’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul. At least four people were killed and 11 injured in Russian attacks targeting the city of Kharkiv and 11 towns and villages in northeastern Ukraine, Oleh Syniehubov, the Kharkiv region’s governor, said on Saturday. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list Also in northeastern Ukraine, at least 11 people, including a child, were injured when a Russian drone struck a building in the region of Sumy during an overnight attack. In the southeastern Ukrainian city of Nikopol, a Russian drone hit a covered market, killing five people and wounding 25, according to Dnipropetrovsk Governor Oleksandr Ganja. Donetsk Governor Vadym Filashkin said on Telegram that six people were killed and 10 injured in the eastern region over 24 hours. …

Turkish Crowds Protest in Support of Jailed Erdogan Rival One Year After Arrest

Turkish Crowds Protest in Support of Jailed Erdogan Rival One Year After Arrest

Published by Sam Flores

ISTANBUL, March 18 (Reuters) – Thousands of Turks gathered ⁠in ⁠central Istanbul on Wednesday in ⁠support of jailed mayor Ekrem Imamoglu at an opposition rally, one year after ​President Tayyip Erdogan’s main rival was arrested on corruption charges. Supporters waving red party banners and Turkish flags gathered ‌at city hall for the rally by ‌Imamoglu’s party, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), which has been the target of an unprecedented ⁠judicial crackdown ⁠since late 2024. “Rights, law, justice,” the crowd chanted as Imamoglu’s wife spoke ​at the rally. The crackdown on the party is overshadowing Turkish politics ahead of elections expected by many to be held late next year. Imamoglu, the CHP’s presidential candidate, is now on trial in a corruption case that ​could extinguish his ambition of succeeding Erdogan as president.  CHP leader Ozgur Ozel told Reuters he believed ⁠Erdogan ⁠wanted the CHP to withdraw ⁠Imamoglu’s candidacy, but ​that it would not, saying that 15 million people had expressed their support for him as ​a candidate. “Erdogan is using ⁠the courts to get rid …

Turkey’s Erdogan offers to try to revive a truce as Pakistan-Afghan border clashes enter sixth day

Turkey’s Erdogan offers to try to revive a truce as Pakistan-Afghan border clashes enter sixth day

Published by Sam Flores

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday offered to mediate for a new ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan as border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan entered their sixth day. Pakistan’s army chief said lasting peace depends on Kabul cutting ties with militants targeting his country. The conflict erupted last week with Afghanistan launching attacks on Thursday in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes the previous weekend. Since then, Pakistan has carried out operations along the border and declared it was in an “open war” with Afghanistan, alarming the international community. The ongoing clashes ended an earlier ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey in October, when the two neighbors had again come close to a war. The truce, signed in Qatar at the time, was followed by six days of talks in Istanbul, which resulted in an agreement to extend the truce and hold a third round of negotiations in November. Those talks, held on Nov. 6 and Nov. 7 failed to produce any breakthrough and the process stalled. According to a statement from the …

Turkey’s Erdogan Says Israel’s Recognition of Somaliland Benefits Nobody

Turkey’s Erdogan Says Israel’s Recognition of Somaliland Benefits Nobody

Published by Sam Flores

ANKARA, Feb 17 (Reuters) – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan ⁠said ⁠on Tuesday that Israel’s ⁠recognition of the breakaway Republic of Somaliland would not ​benefit Somaliland or the region. In December, Erdogan had said Israel’s decision to formally ‌recognise Somaliland, a northern region ‌that declared itself independent in 1991, was illegal and unacceptable, and ⁠he ⁠accused Israel of trying to destabilise the Horn of Africa. “I would ​like to especially underline our stance of valuing the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states in the area where Ethiopia is located,” Erdogan told a press ​conference during a visit to Addis Ababa, adding Turkey did not ⁠want to ⁠see new conflicts in ⁠the ​region. “We believe regional countries need to find solutions to the problems of the ​region and for ⁠the Horn of Africa not to become a competition field for foreign forces. In that regard, I would like to emphasise that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland does not benefit Somaliland or the Horn of Africa,” he ⁠added. NATO member Turkey has increased its influence in Africa in recent …

Turkey Is Doing Its Best to Prevent US-Iran Conflict, Erdogan Says

Turkey Is Doing Its Best to Prevent US-Iran Conflict, Erdogan Says

Published by Sam Flores

By Tuvan Gumrukcu and Parisa Hafezi ISTANBUL/ DUBAI, Feb 5 (Reuters) – President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey is working hard ‌to ​prevent U.S.-Iran tensions from tipping the Middle East into a new ‌conflict, as the two adversaries signal that disagreement over Tehran’s missile arsenal threatens to torpedo a deal. Speaking to reporters on a return flight ​from a visit to Egypt, Erdogan added that talks at the level of the U.S. and Iranian leadership would be helpful after lower-level nuclear negotiations due in Oman on Friday, according to a transcript of his comments ‍shared by his office on Thursday. Turkey was doing its ​best to prevent an escalation, said Erdogan, who has spent years cultivating a close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump while expanding Ankara’s diplomatic influence across the Middle East and beyond. Iran and the U.S. remain ​at odds over Washington’s insistence ⁠that negotiations include Tehran’s missile arsenal and Iran’s vow to discuss only its nuclear program, in a standoff that has led to mutual threats of airstrikes. The differences over the talks’ …

Main challenger to Turkey’s Erdoğan vows to defeat him from a jail cell – POLITICO

Main challenger to Turkey’s Erdoğan vows to defeat him from a jail cell – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

“Even though İmamoğlu can declare his candidacy virtually from a jail cell, there is no way this will be legally allowed — because for Erdoğan this would be a mortal political threat if this were a free and fairly contested race,” he said. Foreign policy flop In his responses, İmamoğlu took aim at Erdoğan’s “aggressive” foreign policy and his close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, linking both to the erosion of rights at home. İmamoğlu took aim at Erdoğan’s close relationship with Donald Trump. | Pool photo by Evan Vucci via Getty Images “It is clear that President Trump’s presidency has opened a turbulent era … Diplomacy has increasingly shifted from institutions to leader-to-leader dealings, squeezed between rapid bargains and gestures that rarely lead anywhere,” he wrote. He argued Erdoğan was seeking the legitimacy he had lost domestically in Washington, but questioned whether Ankara was really getting what it wanted. “We must ask what the concrete gains of this alleged success are. Despite claims that relations with Washington are improving, Türkiye still has not …