Turkey’s Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul visited Israel on October 29 and 30 to expedite the Turkish Armed Forces’ (TAF) purchase of 10 Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) from Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI). He was accompanied by a large delegation that included Undersecretary for Defense Industries... MORE

On October 30 both the Washington Post and the Financial Times mentioned in reports about the global economic crisis that the Turkish economy was one of those that may have some difficulties during the crisis. The Financial Times reported that: "…moves by the Federal Reserve... MORE

In contrast to its normal routine, in which the Turkish General Staff briefs cabinet members at the National Security Council (MGK) meetings, Turkish Chief of General Staff General Ilker Basbug and his commanders attended a cabinet meeting for the first time ever on October 27... MORE

If there is one constant of Turkish foreign policy, it is that Ankara puts the nation’s interests first and foremost, which occasionally discomfits neighboring countries and allies, who believe that their perceptions and interests should have more impact on policy formation than is often the... MORE

In recent months the visibility of military generals in the public sphere has increased, creating the impression that Turkey has two legislative and two executive bodies, one elected civilian and one military. Former minister Hasan Celal Guzel claims that the civilian Prime Minister Erdogan is,... MORE

In February the Justice and Development Party (AKP) teamed up with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and amended Articles 10 and 42 of the Constitution to lift the ban on headscarves on university campuses. The Republican Peoples Party CHP appealed to the Constitutional Court to... MORE

On October 17 lawyers for imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan claimed that prison personnel had physically attacked Ocalan and threatened him by saying that when the time came he would be killed (Firat News Agency, October 17). Immediately after the statement was released, the Kurdistan... MORE

In the aftermath of the Georgian-Russian confrontation, Ankara sees an opportunity to expand its trade relations with Central Asia, particularly the rising petro-states of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Seeking to capitalize on the changing geostrategic environment for Caspian energy exports, Turkish Parliamentary Speaker Koksal Toptan, accompanied... MORE

On October 17, Turkey was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2009-2010, securing 151 votes in the first round of voting. Turkey finished comfortably ahead of its two rivals: Austria, which took the second seat allocated to countries from the... MORE

Recent opinion polls suggest that a string of corruption scandals and the slowdown in the pace of economic growth in Turkey are eroding popular support for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). An opinion poll conducted from October 8 to 12 by the Metropoll... MORE