Author: Leyla Egeli

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President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan walk past the honor guards during an official welcoming ceremony at Al Watan Palace in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (image: TUR Presidency/Murat Cetinmuhurdar/AA/picture alliance)

Turkey's realpolitik in the Gulf

Dropping long-held convictions to seek deeper ties

Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to the Gulf states in July was his most productive so far, signing defence cooperation and other deals worth billions of dollars. But is a strategic partnership really possible while Turkey and the UAE continue to back conflicting sides in various regional crises? By Leyla EgeliMore

Turkey: Erdogan's search for partners in the Middle EastGrowing Arab dissatisfaction with the West: The Arab world tilts eastwardsNot-so-splendid isolation: Erdogan's geopolitical nightmare
Redacted newspaper with only the words "Tayyip Erdogan" visible (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

Turkey’s new media law

Censorship by any other name

According to Turkey’s revised media legislation, spreading "fake news" now carries a prison sentence. The definition of what this entails has been kept intentionally vague. Opposition leaders, journalists and human rights observers call foul. Leyla Egeli reportsMore

Freedom of the press in Turkey: Recep Tayyip Erdogan tightens the media thumbscrewsPress freedom in Turkey: President Erdogan tightens the noose around social mediaArtists in Turkey: Artists against Erdogan's censorship
Turkish and Armenian flags (photo: Zoonar/picture-alliance)

Turkey-Armenia relations

Normalisation after 31 years of tension?

Turkish-Armenian rapprochement kicked off in Moscow in January, after a break of 13 years. This time, focusing on relatively easy fixes such as trade and transportation, both countries are emphasising a lack of pre-conditions. Turkey is nevertheless reluctant to let third countries, such as Russia, to play a role in the process. By Leyla EgeliMore

Georgian historian Beka Kobakhidze: Europe risks being outmanoeuvred in the CaucasusRecep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin: Sunni Islam meets Russian orthodoxyRelations between Armenia and Turkey: Uncertainty until the endThe Armenian genocide: The search for truth and the historical context
Turkey's Nation Alliance opposition leaders: Republican People's Party (CHP) chair Kemal Kilicdaroglu (left) and populist Good Party (IYI) chair Meral Aksener (photo: DHA)

Turkey

Joint Kurdish plan? Turkish opposition hope for election boost

For the first time in 19 years, polls suggest Turkey's opposition could be on track to defeat President Erdogan at the next election. To boost their appeal to Kurdish voters, politicians are now talking openly about solving the Kurdish issue. But how sincere are they and how realistic their chances of success? Leyla Egeli reportsMore

How much longer till Turkey's elections? President under pressure – Erdogan's popularity nosediveAnkara on the defensive: Pro-Kurdish faction in Recep Tayyip Erdogan's crosshairsThe Turkish-Kurdish conflict: Friend and foe