All articles tagged with #turkey
Ilker Catak’s Yellow Letters won the Golden Bear at the Berlinale, a stark political drama about repression in contemporary Turkey filmed in Germany with Berlin standing in for Ankara; the festival also honored Salvation with the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize and highlighted other prize winners.
Turkish authorities formally arrested Alican Uludag of Deutsche Welle for allegedly insulting President Erdogan in X posts, later transferring him to Istanbul where prosecutors charged him with insult and disseminating misleading information and threaten up to four years in prison; DW and press-freedom advocates condemned the move as intimidation and part of a broader pattern of journalist repression in Turkey.
Divers descended 560 steps into Gilindire Cave's submerged chamber in Mersin, Turkey, for a 90-minute dive that captured preserved Ice Age formations—stalactites, stalagmites, travertines and cave pearls—highlighting the site’s geology and potential for diving tourism.
Turkey dispatched its deep-sea drilling vessel Cagri Bey to Somalia for Ankara’s first offshore exploration mission outside its maritime zone, with drilling set to begin at Curad-1 in April off the Somali coast. The ship, recently added to Turkey’s fleet, will be escorted by three Turkish warships and is expected to reach Somalia in about 45 days. Energy officials described the move as historic and said Turkey aims to raise oil output to about 500,000 barrels per day by 2028, with potential gains from discoveries and international production-sharing agreements abroad.
A Daily Sabah report says Turkey and Saudi Arabia may jointly invest in Turkey’s Kaan stealth fighter, following Erdogan’s meetings in Saudi Arabia, as Ankara pursues 5th-generation capabilities after being sidelined from the F-35 program due to the S-400. Production of Kaan is eyed for 2028, with talks of Saudi collaboration reflecting broader regional defense deals, though Israel and Western concerns about such a partnership linger.
Turkey has forward-deployed three F-16 fighters to Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport, accompanied by two helicopters, marking the first time manned Turkish combat jets have operated in Somalia and signaling an expanded security footprint to deter al-Shabab and protect Ankara’s interests in the Horn of Africa, with a long-term presence and base-building underway.
Iran’s foreign minister heads to Ankara to avert a U.S. strike through Turkish mediation, with Turkey pressing Iran to offer concessions on its nuclear program while Washington signals extensive military options despite diplomacy efforts.
Mediating countries led by Turkey, Oman and Qatar are trying to avert a U.S.–Iran war by delivering messages to Iran to act rationally and pursue negotiations, starting with renewing talks on the nuclear issue; Iran says it remains in contact with mediators and no deal has been reached, while Trump hints at a deal and warns of force.
Turkey's foreign minister urged the U.S. to resolve its disputes with Iran one by one, starting with the nuclear issue, to avoid humiliating Tehran; Iran said it is ready for nuclear talks as tensions with the United States persist amid regional instability and domestic protests.
Turkish officials reportedly discussed establishing a buffer zone on Iran’s side to prevent another refugee surge if Iran’s government collapses, signaling readiness to go beyond normal measures; Ankara has already strengthened its border with towers, a wall, and ditches, while Iran’s protests and regional tensions continue to affect security and migration dynamics.
Swiss-Kurdish groups told The Jerusalem Post that Israel’s own security depends on protecting Kurds and other minorities in Rojava (northeast Syria). In a letter to Israeli Ambassador Tibor Schlosser and President Isaac Herzog, the Kurdish-Jewish Alliance and three other associations urged Jerusalem to back minority communities attacked by the Syrian regime, defend regional airspace, and condemn Turkey’s incursions. They argue the regime’s assaults, the humanitarian crisis around the SDF’s territories, and the U.S. withdrawal have left Kurdish groups exposed, and that safeguarding Kurdish communities aligns with Israel’s strategic interests against extremism; the letter also highlights historic Jewish-Kurdish ties.
A Turkey-brokered deal between Damascus and the US-backed SDF would dissolve the group’s autonomous status by integrating its fighters into Syria’s defense and interior ministries after vetting, return control of eastern oil and gas fields to Damascus, move Hasakah’s institutions under central authority, hand border crossings to the Syrian army, and require expulsion of non-Syrian PKK members. If fully implemented, the accord would satisfy Ankara’s security demands, curb the SDF’s autonomy, and potentially unlock progress in Turkey’s peace talks with the PKK, while shifting regional dynamics and reducing Israeli influence over the SDF.
A Chinese-owned crude oil tanker, Elbus, reported being attacked by a suspected drone in the Black Sea while sailing near Turkey. The vessel arrived at Inebolu port under its own power, with no injuries or pollution reported. The incident is part of a series of drone attacks on tankers in the region, with Ukraine initially claiming responsibility for previous attacks, though it denies involvement in this case. Authorities are inspecting the vessel to assess damage and determine the attack's source.
A Russian-bound oil tanker, Elbus, was hit by a drone in the Black Sea, prompting it to seek assistance from Turkish coastguards and divert to Turkey, with no injuries or pollution reported. The incident follows recent attacks on ships in the region, raising concerns over maritime security and geopolitical tensions.
Ekrem İmamoğlu, Turkey's main opposition challenger to Erdoğan, remains defiant from prison, claiming he is the legitimate candidate and criticizing the political motives behind his detention, which he believes aims to eliminate his candidacy and weaken opposition support ahead of the 2028 elections. Despite legal and institutional hurdles, he continues campaigning online and maintains support from a broad segment of Turkish society, emphasizing the importance of justice and democratic principles.