Ankara

Turkish defence industry news reports that Turkey is looking for new buyers for its Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile systems. Ankara purchased the systems from Russia in 2019, a move that led to its removal from the US F-35 programme and sanctions. The search for new customers is drawing attention among defence watchers.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that attacks in the Black Sea cannot be explained, a remark reported by Marine Link. As a Black Sea power that brokered the wartime grain corridor, Turkey has repeatedly pressed both sides over maritime security, and Erdogan's comments underscore Ankara's concern about escalating attacks affecting shipping.

The Middle East Institute examines whether Ankara could pursue nuclear weapons in the wake of the war involving Iran. The piece explores how a weakened Iranian deterrence and regional insecurity may reshape Turkey's strategic calculus, long balancing between NATO membership and indigenous defence ambitions, and what that would mean for non-proliferation efforts.

Turkey is setting its sights on the space sector, hoping to replicate the international success it achieved with its domestically developed combat drones. Officials and industry commentators see the country's growing defence technology base as a springboard for an ambitious space programme. Details of specific missions or timelines remain sparse, but the announcement signals Ankara's intent to compete among emerging space powers.

Figure skaters from Evgeni Plushenko's team will not compete in Turkey after scheduled competitions in Ankara and Istanbul were cancelled. The news comes amid ongoing restrictions on Russian athletes at international events, and fans are discussing how the cancellations affect the skaters' competitive season and preparation opportunities.

Turkey has condemned the deployment of weapons in space following reports that American weapons systems have reached orbit. The criticism signals Ankara's opposition to the militarisation of space, a growing concern among nations as major powers advance satellite and orbital defence programmes. Details of the specific systems involved and Turkey's planned response remain limited.

Ankara is drawing attention amid discussion of the global fallout from Ukraine's grain crisis, which analysts say could cost the world economy around 60 billion dollars. Turkey's capital has been a key venue for grain-deal negotiations. Separately, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with Turkish businessman Ahmet Çalık, underlining Ankara's growing economic ties in the region.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have moved to activate the Mecca Pact as conflict with the Houthis escalates. The agreement, a mutual defence framework among Muslim-majority states, is now being put into effect amid the widening war. The development signals deepening military cooperation between Riyadh, Ankara and Islamabad, and is drawing attention across the Middle East and beyond.

Turkey's TAI KAAN, the country's domestically developed fifth-generation fighter prototype, is being discussed in connection with its first flight milestone and a projected timeline pointing to 2027. Turkish state media coverage highlights the programme's progression from prototype construction to testing as Ankara positions itself among the few nations developing advanced stealth fighters domestically.

Reports point to fresh momentum in relations between Türkiye and Lebanon, with talk of deepening political and strategic cooperation between Ankara and Beirut. The development is drawing attention amid the wider regional flux in the Middle East, where Türkiye has been expanding its diplomatic footprint and Lebanon continues to navigate a prolonged political and economic crisis.

Syrian government officials and Hezbollah held secret talks in Turkey, according to sources cited in a Reuters exclusive report. The undisclosed meetings link two of the region's most contested actors on Turkish soil, raising questions about back-channel diplomacy and what was negotiated. Details of the agenda and participants remain limited, and neither Damascus, Hezbollah nor Ankara has publicly commented on the talks.

Turkish broadcaster anews reports on what it calls the end of an era as the United States withdraws from Iraq. The framing, under its Türkiye's Diplomacy banner, suggests a focus on how the drawdown reshapes regional politics and Ankara's position between Washington, Baghdad and other actors in the Middle East.

North Rhine-Westphalia's minister-president Hendrik Wüst honoured Turkish guest workers during a visit to Ankara, praising their contribution to postwar Germany's economy. The outlet NIUS reported this as Wüst praising Turks and criticising Germans. Commenters note both framings miss the mark: Turkish employees were around one percent of the workforce in the 1960s and about 2.2 percent by 1973, and the remarks are being pulled into Germany's polarised immigration debate.

Turkish defense electronics company ASELSAN and Azerbaijan have broadened their defense cooperation at the ADEX 2026 exhibition in Baku. The expansion of the partnership signals deepening military-technology ties between Ankara and Baku, with ASELSAN presenting its systems to the Azerbaijani armed forces. Details of specific contracts have not been disclosed.

EU envoy Nikolaus Orav has said that Türkiye and the European Union need each other, underscoring the continued importance of their relationship. The statement highlights interdependence between Ankara and Brussels on shared interests, though specific policy areas or the occasion for the remarks were not detailed. It comes amid ongoing debate over the state of EU–Türkiye relations.

Turkey is positioning itself to expand its influence across the Middle East as the United States signals a reduction in its military and diplomatic footprint. Amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran and regional upheavals following 2023, Ankara is moving to fill the vacuum, prompting debate over whether Turkey can become the region's dominant power broker.

Türkiye's Defense Ministry announced it will gradually transfer its Bashiqa-Zilkan military base in northern Iraq to Iraqi control. The base near Mosul has hosted Turkish troops for years, supporting operations against the PKK. The handover marks a notable step in bilateral relations, as Ankara and Baghdad have recently deepened security cooperation.