Interesting info here: In recent convo w/Turkish FM Fidan, Blinken conveyed through Turkey to Iran that any retaliatory attack on Israel should remain 'within certain limits'. Tehran informed Ankara ahead of time on what would likely happen.
reuters.com/world/middle-e….

Germany has issued a political activity ban on former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, preventing him from visiting the country or participating via Zoom in a three-day conference in Berlin to discuss Israel's war on Gaza.

🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/on7k9q

Ekrem Imamoglu in his guest essay for us this week: “The election has also shown that citizens can form much stronger alliances than political elites. Even if parties and political leaders lose hope in democracy, citizens do not.” economist.com/by-invitation/…

The organisational and institutional reform of the Turkish MFA (a priority of Fidan since he came into office) is gradually taking place. Several changes have been made to the directorates framework of the MFA (resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2024/0…); increase of DG's/directorates (+change in

'Turkey has jettisoned any desire to join the West, and the United States must recognize that its multialignment is here to stay,' writes Soner Cagaptay. foreignaffairs.com/united-states/…

The latest episode of The New Arab Voice podcast is out now.

This week, we spoke with Gönül Tol from Middle East Institute and Soner Cagaptay from Washington Institute about the recent elections in Turkey.

In your feeds now.

newarab.com/podcast/turkey…

The best way for the U.S. to approach #Turkey is to acknowledge #Ankara 's ties with countries in the #MiddleEast , #Europe , and #Eurasia , writes Soner Cagaptay. foreignaffairs.com/united-states/…

A Turkey of an Election for Erdogan newarab.com/podcast/turkey…

Greece reopened a historic mosque in the northern city of Thessaloniki for the first time in over a century to allow prayers marking Eid al-Fitr, the celebration ending Ramadan u.afp.com/5Q8R

In city councils across the U.S., women’s representation is on the rise.

As of 2024, six of the cities in the analysis have majority-female representation, up from zero in 2016. #WomensHistoryMonth

pew.org/3v7uxo7

Meanwhile on an island at the heart of the Middle East, Iranians and Israelis not only live side by side but buy property from each other

Don’t miss this eloquent feature by Nazlan Ertan

al-monitor.com/originals/2024…

🇹🇷 When will #Turkey / #Türkiye 's nascent 5th-gen national jet fighter, MMU KAAN, earn its nickname ('master') and rule the the skies?

My latest for Al-Monitor:

al-monitor.com/originals/2024… Turkey Pulse

Gagauz ↔️ Turkish ↔️ Azerbaijani

*to pressure

Emperor Leo VI showing Arab ambassadors from the Emirates of Tarsus and Melitene the liturgical vessels of Hagia Sophia
From 12th century Madrid Skylitzes
Biblioteca Nacional de España in Madrid Biblioteca Nacional de España

Turkey in evolution: cinematic adaptation of Feride —lead character of “Çalıkuşu” (Lovebird), a classic Turkish novel on the story a female schoolteacher in the Ottoman era

President Erdogan caving into pressure from his right flank, namely the YRP, whose (surprise) election breakthrough cost Erdogan's AKP 7 percent of popular vote, and with that the first place in Turkey's March 31 mayoral polls...

Turkey moved today to restrict key exports to Israel. Despite a bitter diplomatic row re Gaza, the two countries are still significant trade partners. More w/ Neri Zilber -> ft.com/content/73edc1…

Turkey’s national fighter plane, nicknamed Kaan, offers many opportunities to Turkey’s air force and its booming military-industrial complex. But analysts believe it will need to partner with other countries for accelerated progress. (via Barın Kayaoğlu) al-monitor.com/originals/2024…