Tourism skyrockets as Turkey’s financial crisis worsens

The Turkish lira has collapsed — this, in turn, has caused serious problems for Turkish importation capabilities. Despite this, deal-hunting tourists have been pouring into the country to cash in on Turkey’s economic misfortune. The majority of tourists come from Asia and Saudi Arabia. With long lines outside luxury brand stores in Istanbul, capitalizing on […]

Turkey and Iraq discuss water, security, and economic issues

Last week Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met to discuss the exportation of Iraq’s oil from Kirkuk to Turkey as well as establishing future trade routes. In addition to the talk of trade, the two leaders spoke about Turkey’s currency crisis, and it’s border security situation. Iraq and Turkey have […]

Iraq working on oil exportation deal with Turkey

Recently the Prime Minister of Iraq Haider al-Abadi traveled to the Turkish capital of Ankara to hold a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss Turkish national hardships. The two leaders spoke about the current water crisis, oil trade, the drop in the Turkish lira’s value, and the re-opening of Turkish consulates in both […]

US-Turkish relations strained following economic and political disagreements

The United States has found itself at odds with Turkey because, despite its sanctions strictly aiming to target Iran, they’re impacting Turkey. President Donald Trump announced last week that new tariffs would be put into effect that would specifically target Turkish aluminum and steel. In turn, this has caused the Turkish lira to drop dramatically. […]

Kurdish militant groups call for unification against Turkish-Iranian alliance

The Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) has released a statement calling for a unified front against the Turkish and Iranian border elements. PJAK is a militant group that maintains a close relationship with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Prior to the announcement, Turkish and Iranian border officials made their intentions and “determination” to combat the two groups […]

Turkey intends to reopen consulates in Iraqi-Kurdistan

On Friday last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed that his nation planned to reopen their consulates located in two of Iraq’s largest cities. The Mosul and Basra consulates have had their doors shut for quite some time now (approximately four years) but the move by Turkey may be in an effort to strengthen trade […]

Turkey’s ban on flights to and from Sulaymaniyah airport in Iraqi-Kurdistan continues

The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority has recognized the need to confront the flight ban by the Turkish government into the Iraqi-Kurdistan Sulaymaniyah International Airport. Sulaymaniyah provincial governor Haval Abubakr met with Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority over the weekend to discuss the issue and seek assistance. Iraqi officials have agreed to bring up the issue with the Turkish […]

Turkish political parties meet in private to discuss imprisoned Ministers of Parliament

The Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) sent a delegation to meet with Turkish parliament speaker (and former prime minister) Binali Yildirim this week to discuss the imprisonment of two Ministers of Parliament that represent the HDP. The two ministers, Leyla Guven and Enis Berberoglu, were jailed for terrorism-related charges despite having parliamentary immunity. The HDP released a post-meeting statement […]

US — Turkey relations strained as imprisoned pastor is moved to house arrest

On Monday the imprisoned Pastor Andrew Brunson, a U.S. citizen, made an appeal to the Turkish high court regarding his case. Brunson ran a Protestant church in Izmir and was arrested on terrorism-related charges in October 2016. Brunson, having spent almost two years in prison, was relocated from jail to house arrest last week. An appeal was submitted […]

Turkey and Netherlands resume diplomatic relations

The Netherlands and Turkish governments have reached an agreement to continue a diplomatic relationship that previously deteriorated in 2017. Minister’s of Foreign Affairs from both nations had “agreed to reinstate ambassadors in Ankara and The Hague shortly. The ministers also agreed that the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs will pay an official visit to Turkey in […]

United States and Turkish officials meet to discuss Iranian sanctions

Turkish and U.S. diplomats convened on Friday and held a meeting to discuss the upcoming sanctions to be imposed on Iran. The situation has the potential to put a serious strain on U.S.-Turkey relations, given Turkey’s economic ties to the Islamic Republic. Officials from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Ministry […]

Ukraine and Turkey collaborate to arrest blogger in Kiev with alleged ties to 2016 coup

A Turkish blogger was arrested by Security Services of Ukrainian (SBU) agents this week in Kiev. The man identified as Yusuf Inan was detained at Turkey’s request for being involved with the failed 2016 military coup in Turkey against the recently re-elected President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Turkish state-sponsored media reported that Yusuf Inan was extradited from Ukraine via […]