Orhan Gafarli
Orhan Gafarli holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from Ankara University and specializes in Russian-Turkish relation and the wider Eurasian region. A former doctoral fellow at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Center, Harvard University (2017-2018), Dr. Gafarli currently works with the Ankara Policy Center in Turkey. Previously, he cooperated with several analytical centers, including the Foreign Policy Center in Moscow, BILGESAM in Ankara, and the Future for Advanced Research & Studies think tank in Abu Dhabi. He speaks English, Russian, Turkish and Azerbaijani.
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Articles by Orhan Gafarli
Are Turkish-Russian Relations Again Undergoing a Transformation?
On the night of November 9–10, following 45 days of fierce fighting, the second Karabakh war ended with the signing of a five-point declaration between Azerbaijan and Armenia, under mediation
Turkey Gives Symbolic Political, Military Support to Ukraine
Turkey and Ukraine are boosting their strategic cooperation in the military sphere. Last week (January 12), Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko stated that he signed an agreement on the purchase of
Turkey, Russia Resurrect a ‘Concert of Europe’ to Resolve Syrian Crisis
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted a summit in Istanbul, on October 27, which brought together President Vladimir Putin of Russia, President Emmanuel Macron of France and Germany’s Chancellor Angela
S-400 Dispute Highlights Ongoing Difficulties in Turkey’s Rapprochement With Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin made an unexpected visit to Ankara, on September 28 (Kremlin.ru, September 28). The reason for Putin’s trip was to discuss with Turkish authorities a host of
Growing Military and Regional Cooperation Inaugurates New Era in Russian-Turkish Relations
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin, at the G20 summit, held in Hamburg, Germany, on July 8. Their conversation during the meeting encompassed
Does the Kurdish Issue Undermine Turkish-Russian Relations?
A technical round of the so-called “Joint Task Force” on the crisis in Syria, launched on the initiative of Turkey and Russia, was held in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana, on February
Are Russia and Turkey Mending Fences?
Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim paid a visit to Russia on December 6 and 7. Within the framework of the visit, Yildirim held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and
Turkey and Russia Work on Normalizing Relations, Sign Agreement on Scaled-Back Turkish Stream Pipeline
Earlier this month, Turkey hosted the 23rd World Energy Congress in Istanbul. The theme of the Congress, held on October 9–13, was “Embracing New Frontiers.” The participants—who included 3 presidents,
Importance of Syrian Turkmen to Turkey
War-torn Syria is days away from the start of a negotiated partial ceasefire, which is supposed to temporarily end fighting between rebel groups and government forces supported by Russian supplies
Russia and Turkey: Two Friends Become Enemies
On November 28, the Kremlin announced the implementation of a series of economic sanctions against Turkey in response to the latter’s shooting down of a Russian Su-24 military jet that
Turkey and Russia Strive to Mend Strained Relations During G20 Summit
This past week (November 15–16), in the Mediterranean coastal city of Antalya, Turkey hosted the G20 summit for the first time. Though normally devoted to high-level political discussions of global
Could Russia Have Had a Role in Recent PKK Attacks on Turkish Pipelines?
On August 25, an explosion occurred on a Turkish natural gas pipeline that connects to the South Caucasus Pipeline, which transports gas from Azerbaijan, through Georgia, and into Turkey (Anadolu
Russia Distorts News of Turkish Investment in Crimea
In early July 2015, news emerged that a group of Turkish businessmen had come to Crimea to discuss capital investment on the annexed peninsula. According to Russian and Turkish press
Erdogan and Putin Meet in Baku: Will the Balance of Power Change in the South Caucasus?
After years of preparations, Azerbaijan is hosting the first ever European Games, which kicked off on June 12 and will end on June 28. Besides being a high-profile international sporting
Turkish-Iranian Competition in the Middle East
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid a formal visit to Iran on April 7, 2015. The trip was designed to try to repair bilateral relations after their severe breakdown linked
Will Turkey Choose the European or Eurasian Energy Union?
The sixth meeting of the World Forum on Energy Regulation is scheduled to be held on May 25–28, in Istanbul, and is being organized by the office of the prime
Turkish Stream: A Bluff or Not?
During his visit to Ankara in December 2014, Vladimir Putin announced that South Stream—a large pipeline that would have carried Europe-bound Russian gas under the Black Sea and across Southeastern
Turkey’s Tactical Rapprochement With Iraq and Iran
Turkey has been steadily diversifying its energy transit policy and pursuing its goal of becoming a hub country for the rest of the region. In particular, Turkey reached an agreement
Dilemma in Turkey’s Armenian Foreign Policy
Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs held its Annual Ambassadors Conference on January 5–6, where the overall vision and various aspects of Turkey’s foreign policy were reviewed and discussed (Turkish Ministry
Turkey-Azerbaijan Relations: From Romance to Pragmatism
By the end of 2014, Azerbaijan and Georgia had already completed the construction of their own sections of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway (BTK), which will connect the South Caucasus with Europe
Russian Energy Proposals for Turkey Could Undermine Southern Gas Corridor
As 2014 draws to a close, energy developments in the Eurasian region have been gaining new prominence. Notably, on December 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a state visit to
Azerbaijan Seeks Warmer Ties With Iran
Ongoing tensions between Azerbaijan and Iran have filled the press in both countries for the past five years. However, these bilateral frictions have begun to deescalate since Azerbaijani President Ilham
Iranian-Turkish Relations Vis-à-Vis Turkey’s Energy Transit Policy
Despite Western economic sanctions, Iranian-Turkish relations have been developing in many different directions in recent years. Illustratively, on October 24–25, the Eastern Anatolia Development Agency (DAKA), Iran’s Foreign Ministry Institution