The Latest Breaking News from Ankara

Turkey's Erdogam Says Not Waiting Permission to Carry out Syria Operation

Turkey’s president told journalists that Ankara remains committed to rooting out a Syrian Kurdish groups from northern Syria. "Like I always say, we’ll come down on them suddenly one night.

Asharq Al-Awsat · May 30, 2022

Erdogan Says Won’t Let ‘Terrorism-Supporting’ Countries Enter NATO

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said talks with Finland and Sweden about their joining NATO were not at the "expected level" and Ankara cannot say yes to "terrorism-supporting" countries, state broadcaster TRT Haber reported on Sunday. Turkey has objected to Sweden and Finland joining the Western defense alliance, holding up a…

Asharq Al-Awsat · May 29, 2022

Erdogan: Turkey's Syria operation could happen 'suddenly'

Turkey’s president says Ankara remains committed to rooting out a Syrian Kurdish militia from northern Syria

The Independent UK · May 29, 2022

Turkey Keeps Up Pressure on Sweden, Finland

Turkey’s foreign minister says Sweden and Finland must now take “concrete steps” to alleviate his country’s security concerns to overcome Ankara’s objections to their NATO membership bid. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Friday that delegations from the two Nordic countries have returned home with Turkey’s demands after a visit this…

Asharq Al-Awsat · May 27, 2022

Turkey's talks with Sweden, Finland made little progress on NATO concerns -sources

Talks between Turkish officials and delegations from Sweden and Finland have made little headway overcoming Ankara's objections to their NATO membership bids, and it is not clear when further discussions will take place, according to two sources.

Reuters · May 27, 2022

Cyprus's president sees parallel between Turkish and Russian 'revisionism'

Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiadis granted an interview to FRANCE 24 from the capital Nicosia. The northern third of the Republic of Cyprus has been under Turkish domination since 1974. Anastasiadis said that Russia's invasion of Ukraine uses the "exact same arguments that Turkey used to invade Cyprus". Asked about tensions…

France 24 · May 26, 2022

Ukraine war: crisis between the west and Russia gives Turkey a chance to strengthen its hand at home and abroad

The longstanding neutrality of Sweden and Finland was abandoned when both states submitted formal applications to Nato. But they are facing an unexpected obstacle on the way to membership: Turkey. While Turkey supports the alliance’s “open door” policy, Ankara’s veto reflects its aims to change the status quo and make…

The Conversation · May 26, 2022

Turkey in talks with Russia, Ukraine over grain-export corridor -senior official

Ankara is in negotiations with Moscow and Kyiv to open a corridor via Turkey for grain exports from Ukraine, a senior Turkish official told Reuters on Thursday.

Reuters · May 26, 2022

Turkey Prepares to Expand Safe Zones in Syria Despite US Warnings

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent statement led to a dispute with the US concerning the safe zones in Syria. Erdogan on Monday said Ankara would soon launch new military operations along its southern borders to create safe zones 30 km (20 miles) deep to combat what he characterized as…

Asharq Al-Awsat · May 26, 2022

Ukraine-Russia latest updates: Moscow slams West for sanctions

Ukraine news from May 26: Moscow presses West to lift sanctions against Russia as it tries to shift food crisis blame.

Al Jazeera · May 25, 2022