The pace of events is so rapid that it is difficult to keep track of what is happening and to deliberate on its repercussions and consequences. Last week I wrote about the new U.S. National Security Strategy and said that I would continue trying to discern its implications, but recent events have forced me to shift my focus of analysis. ...

By Ceren Ceviz Türkiye’s negotiations with the United States over the F-35 program remain complicated due to Ankara’s possession of the Russian S-400 Triumph air defense system. This article examines why Türkiye considers the S-400 essential and why it is unwilling to forgo it in exchange for the F-35 Lightning II. The Republic of Türkiye continues its negotiations with the ...

By Deniz Yıldırım – Emre Ünver, from Berlin / Germany The general congress of BSW, whose support is rapidly rising in Germany, was marked by calls for independence, anti-US/NATO policies, and workers’ rights. The resolution passed in the Congress called for an end to military aid to Ukraine and a resumption of natural gas imports from Russia. BSW’s new leader ...

This is the text of the speech by Dr. Erdem Ilker Mutlu, at the Conference of “Social Architecture” hosted by St. Petersburgh University on 5-6 December 2025. Dr. Mutlu currently works as an Associate Professor of International Law for Hacettepe University in Ankara. He has been acting as the head of department of International Law since 2011. The Metaphorical Orient Express ​The metaphorical novel “Murder on the Orient Express” has become a noteworthy ...

By Hideto Osaka Prime Minister TAKAICHI Sanae’s “Taiwan contingency” remarks at the House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on November 7 constitute blatant interference in China’s internal affairs. They are extremely malicious and grave statements, openly preempting a war of re-invasion against China through the exercise of collective self-defense (a clear violation of Article 9* of the Constitution of Japan). ...

By Yıldıran Acar, Political Scientist Türkiye’s acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system has long ceased to be a technical or even military issue. In Russian media and expert circles, it is now treated as a strategic resilience test—one that measures not only Ankara’s resilience under Western pressure, but also the credibility of Türkiye’s long-claimed strategic autonomy. From Moscow’s ...

By Mohammed Sabreen, from Cairo / Egypt The people of the Middle East are waiting to see if Washington will withdraw from the region, or if the administration of US President Donald Trump, like the four previous administrations, will instead become more deeply mired in the Middle East’s quicksand. Despite all the glittering slogans of successive US administrations, the region’s ...

By Adem Kılıç, Political Scientist Over a year has passed since the chaotic environment of the Syrian civil war, which lasted more than a decade, and the collapse of the Assad regime. Throughout this process, Türkiye has stood firm against both Assad’s massacres and the policies of Russia, a supporter of Assad, as well as the policies of the US, ...

By Feyyaz Erkin Eşli The European Union has scheduled a summit for 18 December 2025 at which member states are expected to decide whether frozen Russian sovereign assets — Russian sovereign assets immobilized by EU sanctions since 2022 — should be used to finance additional military assistance for Ukraine. This development once again places Donald Trump’s emerging peace initiatives at ...

Last week in Türkiye, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Turkmenistan, new developments in the “Terror-Free Türkiye” process, and statements by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on international issues with a particular focus on Palestine, made up the top topics. Erdoğan in Turkmenistan President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the “International Forum of Peace and Trust”, organized to mark the 30th anniversary ...

I have been to many cities and states across the US, from Washington to New York, from California to Texas, and from Chicago to Atlanta. I have been to all G-8 countries except Japan. I have also traveled to numerous European countries outside the G-8. I am familiar with major Russian cities from the far east to the far west ...

By Azar Mahdavan, Tehran / Iran An Iranian expert, referring to the clashes between Tehran and Tel Aviv, said: Netanyahu, who must hold the next elections in 6 to 10 months, is still in a losing position, and this increases the likelihood of renewed conflict for him. The war between Iran and Israel is recognized as one of the most ...