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Recep Tayyip Erdogan

The latest news and top stories on Recep Tayyip Erdogan, known for his extensive political career, he has served as Turkey’s President since 2014, following an impactful tenure as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2014. Previously, he was Mayor of Istanbul (1994-1998), addressing urban challenges. His work has involved significant economic development and a shift to a presidential system, expanding executive powers. He actively engages in international diplomacy, mediating conflicts and asserting Turkey’s global influence, including recent steps towards normalising relations with Armenia. Areas of expertise include political strategy, economic policy, and foreign affairs, though his leadership has faced criticism.

Middle East

Turkey to hand over military base to Iraq

Ankara established the facility in Bashiqa in 2015 and deployed up to 600 soldiers there, sparking tensions with Baghdad.

24 Sep 2026 - 6:59AM

Vladimir Putin

Opinion | Why the Global South keeps its doors wide open to Russia

19 Sep 2026 - 12:00PM

Turkey

Surrounded by war, Turkey more than triples defence spending

11 Sep 2026 - 5:00PM

Cyprus

At least 8 dead, 17 missing after ferry capsizes off Northern Cyprus

Captain and crew arrested after survivors report explosion on bow before vessel sank into deep waters.

31 Aug 2026 - 9:20AM

A passenger being rescued off the ferry that capsized off the coast of Northern Cyprus. Photo: Reuters TV

Israel-Gaza war

Syria holds talks with Israel addressing de-escalation, Israel-Turkey tensions

A Syrian government source said Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani met the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, Roman Gofman.

24 Aug 2026 - 3:13PM

United States

Israel and Turkey edge towards a dangerous miscalculation over Syria

Unannounced Israeli jets near the Turkish border could easily have triggered a clash, in a high-stakes ‘warning’ to Ankara.

22 Aug 2026 - 6:00PM

Israel-Gaza war

Turkey issues ‘genocide’ warrant for Israel’s Netanyahu over Gaza flotilla

Israel’s interception of the flotilla carrying some 430 activists in May sparked an international outcry.

22 Aug 2026 - 3:12AMvideocam

Israel

Netanyahu casts Turkey as Israel’s new villain amid tough re-election fight

The Israeli PM has escalated tensions with Turkish President Erdogan over Syria in a bid to ‘unify’ his voter base around him.

20 Aug 2026 - 9:36AM

Saudi Arabia

Erdogan wants Turkey-Saudi Arabia-Pakistan defence pact to draw more countries

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said Istanbul expects Egypt to join the pact ‘in the next stage’.

13 Aug 2026 - 12:02AM

China-Middle East relations

‘Islamic Nato’ may create China opening in Middle East

A new military alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey creates a potential gap with the US and the possibility of greater China influence in the region.

10 Aug 2026 - 5:07PM

Pakistan

Pakistan says ‘purely defensive’ Mecca accord is open to others

Egypt is likely to join the defence deal, signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey amid rising tensions between the US and Iran.

10 Aug 2026 - 9:56AM

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shakes hands with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after signing a joint defence agreement in Mecca on Friday. Photo: Handout/Reuters

Saudi Arabia

How Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan pact acts as ‘insurance’ over US disengagement

The Mecca deal may emerge as a third geopolitical ‘centre of gravity’ in the Middle East, with more members joining, analysts say.

9 Aug 2026 - 4:00PMvideocam

Middle East

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan sign joint defence deal

The nations are particularly concerned by the increasingly aggressive military stances of both Israel and revolutionary Shiite Iran.

7 Aug 2026 - 10:53PMvideocam

Middle East

Erdogan pushes for ‘natural’ births amid Turkey’s high C-section rate

Turkish medical professionals say C-sections are more time-efficient for medical staff – 30 minutes compared to 12 hours for a traditional delivery.

11 Jul 2026 - 5:03PM

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a media conference at the Nato summit in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday. Photo: AP

United States

US plan to allow Turkey back into F-35 jet scheme faces Israeli opposition

Turkey was ejected from the American F-35 programme in 2019 after it bought Russian air-defence systems.

10 Jul 2026 - 6:33PMvideocam

A US military F-35 fighter jet flies overhead during Independence Day celebrations in Washington on July 4. Photo: AFP

Nato

1 revolver, 6 bullets: Turkish president’s ‘unusual’ gift to Nato leaders

Bring it home? Leave it in Turkey? Their delegations puzzled over what to do with the gun and live ammunition from Erdogan.

10 Jul 2026 - 9:46AM

United States

Trump surprises Nato allies with arms deals and praise as summit ends positively

After promises of advanced air defence systems to Europe and Ukraine, US president says ‘unification’ was dominant theme of key meeting.

9 Jul 2026 - 5:27AMvideocam

United States

Trump still ‘disappointed’ with Nato, says US should control Greenland at summit

US president says he has ‘very good relationship’ with ‘loyal’ Turkey and is weighing up selling F-35 fighter jets to them.

8 Jul 2026 - 4:01AMvideocam

US President Donald Trump meets with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the start of the Nato summit in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday. Photo: AP

Ukraine war

Trump to meet leaders of Ukraine and Syria at Turkey Nato summit

US president seeks to make headway in addressing two key conflicts as Ankara hosts two-day Nato gathering.

6 Jul 2026 - 11:58AM

Nato

First money, now ‘loyalty’: Trump’s demands test Nato chief’s flattery tactics

Mark Rutte has long fawned over Trump to keep the US inside the alliance, but that strategy faces new challenges at a summit in Turkey.

5 Jul 2026 - 3:55PMvideocam

US-China relations

Which Trump will show up at Nato summit? Odds are it will be the fuming one

US president’s impatience and distrust of multilateral groupings has Nato’s 31 other members walking on eggshells before next week’s key meeting.

6 Jul 2026 - 11:02PMvideocam

Turkey

Turkish police detain dozens at Istanbul Gay Pride event held despite ban

Since 2015, the annual Pride march has been almost systematically banned and suppressed.

29 Jun 2026 - 2:57PM

People being detained in Istanbul on Sunday. Photo: AP

US, Israel war on Iran

How ‘strategic ambiguity’ made Turkey a winner in the Iran war

However, experts caution that the country’s economic instability and enduring regional rivalries have capped its gains.

1 Jun 2026 - 6:08PMvideocam

Turkey

Turkish riot police storm opposition party HQ to evict ousted leadership

Security forces unleash tear gas and rubber bullets inside CHP offices following a highly controversial court ruling.

25 May 2026 - 11:44AM

Turkey

Court rules to oust leadership of Turkey’s main opposition party

The abrupt judicial annulment of Ozgur Ozel’s 2023 election deals a serious blow to the nation’s oldest political faction.

22 May 2026 - 11:24AM

Ozgur Ozel addresses supporters outside the CHP headquarters in Ankara on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Israel-Gaza war

Israel intercepts Gaza aid flotilla, denies using live ammunition

Israeli forces halt vessels in Mediterranean operation, detaining hundreds of international activists.

20 May 2026 - 10:49AM

Israeli forces intercepting activists at sea on Monday. Photo: Global Sumud Flotilla via AP

US, Israel war on Iran

Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt: the Middle East’s new power brokers?

‘Fear of US abandonment’ is helping forge a new Middle East – but don’t expect an Islamic Nato just yet.

25 Apr 2026 - 1:30PM

Social media

Turkey passes bill to restrict social media access for under-15s

It comes a week after a 14-year-old boy killed nine students and a teacher at a middle school in southern Turkey, in a gun attack.

23 Apr 2026 - 4:59PM

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Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Turkey to hand over military base to Iraq

Ankara established the facility in Bashiqa in 2015 and deployed up to 600 soldiers there, sparking tensions with Baghdad.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Why the Global South keeps its doors wide open to Russia

Surrounded by war, Turkey more than triples defence spending

At least 8 dead, 17 missing after ferry capsizes off Northern Cyprus

Captain and crew arrested after survivors report explosion on bow before vessel sank into deep waters.

Syria holds talks with Israel addressing de-escalation, Israel-Turkey tensions

A Syrian government source said Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani met the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, Roman Gofman.

Israel and Turkey edge towards a dangerous miscalculation over Syria

Unannounced Israeli jets near the Turkish border could easily have triggered a clash, in a high-stakes ‘warning’ to Ankara.

Turkey issues ‘genocide’ warrant for Israel’s Netanyahu over Gaza flotilla

Israel’s interception of the flotilla carrying some 430 activists in May sparked an international outcry.

Netanyahu casts Turkey as Israel’s new villain amid tough re-election fight

The Israeli PM has escalated tensions with Turkish President Erdogan over Syria in a bid to ‘unify’ his voter base around him.

Erdogan wants Turkey-Saudi Arabia-Pakistan defence pact to draw more countries

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said Istanbul expects Egypt to join the pact ‘in the next stage’.

‘Islamic Nato’ may create China opening in Middle East

A new military alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey creates a potential gap with the US and the possibility of greater China influence in the region.

Pakistan says ‘purely defensive’ Mecca accord is open to others

Egypt is likely to join the defence deal, signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey amid rising tensions between the US and Iran.

How Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan pact acts as ‘insurance’ over US disengagement

The Mecca deal may emerge as a third geopolitical ‘centre of gravity’ in the Middle East, with more members joining, analysts say.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan sign joint defence deal

The nations are particularly concerned by the increasingly aggressive military stances of both Israel and revolutionary Shiite Iran.

Erdogan pushes for ‘natural’ births amid Turkey’s high C-section rate

Turkish medical professionals say C-sections are more time-efficient for medical staff – 30 minutes compared to 12 hours for a traditional delivery.

US plan to allow Turkey back into F-35 jet scheme faces Israeli opposition

Turkey was ejected from the American F-35 programme in 2019 after it bought Russian air-defence systems.

1 revolver, 6 bullets: Turkish president’s ‘unusual’ gift to Nato leaders

Bring it home? Leave it in Turkey? Their delegations puzzled over what to do with the gun and live ammunition from Erdogan.

Trump surprises Nato allies with arms deals and praise as summit ends positively

After promises of advanced air defence systems to Europe and Ukraine, US president says ‘unification’ was dominant theme of key meeting.

Trump still ‘disappointed’ with Nato, says US should control Greenland at summit

US president says he has ‘very good relationship’ with ‘loyal’ Turkey and is weighing up selling F-35 fighter jets to them.

Trump to meet leaders of Ukraine and Syria at Turkey Nato summit

US president seeks to make headway in addressing two key conflicts as Ankara hosts two-day Nato gathering.

First money, now ‘loyalty’: Trump’s demands test Nato chief’s flattery tactics

Mark Rutte has long fawned over Trump to keep the US inside the alliance, but that strategy faces new challenges at a summit in Turkey.

Which Trump will show up at Nato summit? Odds are it will be the fuming one

US president’s impatience and distrust of multilateral groupings has Nato’s 31 other members walking on eggshells before next week’s key meeting.

Turkish police detain dozens at Istanbul Gay Pride event held despite ban

Since 2015, the annual Pride march has been almost systematically banned and suppressed.

How ‘strategic ambiguity’ made Turkey a winner in the Iran war

However, experts caution that the country’s economic instability and enduring regional rivalries have capped its gains.

Turkish riot police storm opposition party HQ to evict ousted leadership

Security forces unleash tear gas and rubber bullets inside CHP offices following a highly controversial court ruling.

Court rules to oust leadership of Turkey’s main opposition party

The abrupt judicial annulment of Ozgur Ozel’s 2023 election deals a serious blow to the nation’s oldest political faction.

Israel intercepts Gaza aid flotilla, denies using live ammunition

Israeli forces halt vessels in Mediterranean operation, detaining hundreds of international activists.

Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt: the Middle East’s new power brokers?

‘Fear of US abandonment’ is helping forge a new Middle East – but don’t expect an Islamic Nato just yet.

Turkey passes bill to restrict social media access for under-15s

It comes a week after a 14-year-old boy killed nine students and a teacher at a middle school in southern Turkey, in a gun attack.

Opinion | Why the Global South keeps its doors wide open to Russia