Turkey

Politics

Turkish authorities formally charged imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is also the 2028 presidential candidate for the main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, with "political espionage," Reuters reported on Oct. 27. 

Turkey: Authorities Charge Key Opposition Official With 'Political Espionage'

Iraq

Military & Security

The militant Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, announced that it was withdrawing from Turkey to northern Iraq as part of the ongoing Turkish-Kurdish peace process "to avoid clashes or provocations," Reuters reported on Oct. 26. 

Turkey, Iraq: PKK Announces Withdrawal From Turkey to Northern Iraq

A Turkish court threw out a contentious court case that alleged there were procedural irregularities during the 2023 party congress of the main opposition party, the Republican People's Party, or CHP, during which the party's leader Ozgur Ozel was elected, Reuters reported on Oct. 24. 

Turkey: Turkish Court Throws Out Case To Oust Opposition Leader

Cyprus

Devlet Bahceli, a key ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, warned the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus against resuming talks on establishing a two-state federation on the divided island, saying annexation by Turkey was "inevitable" and calling for Northern Cyprus' parliament to declare the recent presidential election results invalid, Bianet reported on Oct. 21.

Turkey, Cyprus: Erdogan Advisor Pressures Northern Cyprus After Presidential Election

United States

Egypt

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Qatar

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Around 200 U.S. troops will oversee the implementation of the Hamas-Israel ceasefire, although reports conflict over whether these troops will be stationed in Egypt or Israel, the BBC reported Oct. 10.

US, Israel, Palestinian Territories: 200 U.S. Troops To Monitor Gaza Ceasefire

Uzbekistan

Azerbaijan

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Economics

At the 12th summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Gabala, Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev called for joint military exercises in 2026, framing the bloc as a rising geopolitical force linking Central Asia and Europe, Azerbaijan State News Agency reported on Oct. 7.

Azerbaijan: Aliyev Calls for Joint Military Drills Under the Organization of Turkic States

Niger

A Nigerien military airstrike reportedly hit the village of Kourfeye in the Tillaberi region, killing at least 40 civilians at a weekly market, RFI reported on Sept. 25.

Niger: Army Kills 40 Civilians Amid Reports of Turkish Forces Set To Train Nigerien Troops

Turkey removed its 2018-era retaliatory tariffs on the United States, which included products like cars and whiskey, ahead of a scheduled meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump on Sept. 25, Bloomberg reported on Sept. 22.

Turkey: Ankara Scraps Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S.

Snapshots

A massive flag of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of North Cyprus is seen on Dec. 28, 2023, in Nicosia, Cyprus.

Attempts by Turkey to coerce Northern Cyprus economically could inadvertently strengthen President Tufan Erhurman's support and his drive for federalization with the internationally recognized south.

Turkey Will Pressure New Northern Cypriot President To Abandon Federalization Talks

Assessments

Syria

Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa (right) meets with U.S. envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, at the presidential palace in Damascus on July 9, 2025. 

The U.S. will leverage permanent sanctions relief to pressure Syria to finalize a security pact with Israel, but the Kurds will resist integrating with President Ahmad al-Sharaa's government. 

U.S. Engagement With Syria Will Promote Stability, but Kurdish Integration Will Continue To Lag

Iran

Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, hold a meeting at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow on Oct.15, 2025. 

Syria's outreach to Russia could lead to diversified economic and security ties, help de-escalate tensions between Russia and Turkey, and eventually facilitate small steps toward Syria's rapprochement with Iran.

Syria-Russia Reapproachment Reinforces Damascus's Non-Confrontationalism

People react at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv on Oct. 9, 2025, following news of a new Gaza ceasefire deal.

Violence in Gaza will almost certainly decrease as both Israel and Hamas are pressured to comply with the first phase of the ceasefire, keeping the truce intact in the coming days and possibly weeks.

After Two Years of War, a Permanent Gaza Ceasefire?

Japan

France

Tajikistan

Georgia

The assembly hall of the Syrian parliament Oct. 1 in Damascus. An Oct. 5 indirect election for parliament will mark the first time Syrians have had an electoral say in their government since the 1960s.

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Japan's Election, Syria's Political Transition

Israeli military vehicles drive along a border fence, near the town of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, on July 17, 2025. 

Syria and Israel will likely ink a security pact to ease border tensions before the end of the year, but the deal's likely narrow scope and other unresolved disputes will keep it fragile.

The Implications of a Syria-Israel De-Escalation Agreement

This aerial photograph shows dry areas near the Alacati Kutlu Aktas Dam in Izmir, Turkey, on July 30, 2025. 

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

The absence of a national water strategy leaves local authorities and businesses exposed to the mounting pressures of climate change, inefficient agricultural practices and population growth.

Water Scarcity Likely to Worsen With Climate Change, Deepening Turkey's Economic Challenges

Columns

On Geopolitics

Jordan

Lebanon

Morocco

A mosque in March 2025 in Herat, Afghanistan. Whether Islamism revives as in the Levant, evolves pragmatically through parties with Islamic values as in Turkey, or changes beyond all recognition remains up in the air.

Whether Islamism revives as in the Levant, evolves pragmatically through parties with Islamic values as in Turkey, or changes beyond all recognition remains up in the air.

The Future of Islamism in the Middle East

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

A picture taken from a distance shows the damaged building (L) in the Qatari compound housing members of Hamas' political bureau on Sept. 10, 2025. Israel targeted the building the previous day in a strike in Qatar's capital, Doha. 

Israel's Sept. 9 airstrikes in Qatar will likely harden the stances of Iranian-backed groups, keep normalization with Saudi Arabia off the table and drive more assertive postures from other regional states.

The Regional Implications of Israel's Strikes in Qatar

A vehicle in a U.S. military convoy drives in Arbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.

The U.S. drawdown from Iraq will weaken Washington's direct influence while creating more space for Turkey to expand economically and Iran to gradually reassert itself through political and militia networks. 

Iraq's Shifting Power Dynamics After U.S. Withdrawal

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks after the Presidential Cabinet meeting on May 12, 2025, in Istanbul, Turkey.

The process remains fragile amid the risk of stalled progress on the PKK's disarmament, the lingering threat of Kurdish militant attacks, and the potential for empty government promises.

Threats to the Turkish-Kurdish Peace Process

A tank is seen during Turkey's International Defense Industry Fair on July 22, 2024, in Istanbul.

Turkey's push to improve its air defenses in Syria amid Israel's ongoing aerial campaign raises the risk of tactical incidents and a brief crisis, although a larger conflict remains unlikely.

In Syria, Turkey and Israel's Parallel Deployments Heighten Flashpoint Risks

<p>The Republic of Turkey straddles Europe and Asia, forming a land bridge that links the Levant, Iran and the Caucasus with Southeastern Europe. In stark contrast to its predecessor, the Ottoman Empire, modern Turkey is confined largely to the semi-arid, mountainous terrain of the Anatolian Peninsula and the capital-rich lands surrounding the Sea of Marmara. This low-lying region contains the large cities of Istanbul and Izmir and the two chokepoints linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean &mdash; the Bosporus and the Dardanelles. This area is the core of Turkey&#39;s population and economy. Turkey&rsquo;s geographic challenge is expanding the economic stability and development of this core into the eastern region of the country. Anatolia&rsquo;s rugged geography and mountainous terrain make economic and infrastructure development difficult, but has historically helped to prevent land invasions from the east and south. Modern Turkey is working to integrate this largely rural, poorer hinterland into the political and economic mainstream in an attempt to link its current Islamist government to its neighbors in the broader Middle East. However, significant challenges remain. Turkey has fought a decades-long Kurdish insurgency in its southeastern regions, where the Taurus Mountains and the Eastern Anatolian plateau give sanctuary to Kurdish separatist militants. Turkey&rsquo;s position at the crossroads between East and West provides the country with several geopolitical possibilities. The country is working to serve as a transit state linking the exports of its energy-rich eastern neighbors to consumer markets in Europe. Its location also invites a series of constraints, as reflected by Turkey&rsquo;s position surrounded by Europe&rsquo;s economic decline, Iranian ambitions in Syria and Iraq, and Russian interests in the Caucasus.</p>

SITUATION REPORTS

Turkey: Authorities Charge Key Opposition Official With 'Political Espionage'

Turkey, Iraq: PKK Announces Withdrawal From Turkey to Northern Iraq

Turkey: Turkish Court Throws Out Case To Oust Opposition Leader

Turkey, Cyprus: Erdogan Advisor Pressures Northern Cyprus After Presidential Election

US, Israel, Palestinian Territories: 200 U.S. Troops To Monitor Gaza Ceasefire

Azerbaijan: Aliyev Calls for Joint Military Drills Under the Organization of Turkic States

Niger: Army Kills 40 Civilians Amid Reports of Turkish Forces Set To Train Nigerien Troops

Turkey: Ankara Scraps Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S.

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