Media

Trump’s Trade Step Shows U.S. Can Hit Turkey Where It Hurts

Source:Bloomberg Date:06Mar2019

President Donald Trump’s decision to strip some Turkish exporters of their preferential trade status is taken from a playbook that’s been effective in the past. American officials are pressing

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China plays economy card in Uighur dispute

Source:Hurriyet Daily News Date:04Mar2019

Turkey will put economic ties with China if it keeps criticizing Beijing’s treatment of Uighur Muslims, China’s envoy to Ankara said, in an apparent threat against Turkey’s

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Turkish economic woes seen weighing on Erdogan party in elections

Source:Reuters Date:04Mar2019

AKP officials said polls carried out for the party show its support at 36.8-38 percent, with its nationalist MHP allies on 10.5-11 percent. In parliamentary elections last year, Erdogan’s party

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Cyprus will not consent to any upgrading of Turkey-EU customs agreement

Source:Cyprus Mail Date:23Feb2019

This is a major blow to Turkey-EU relations.  Essentially,  little upside left for Erdogan to be nice to EU anymore.   CYPRUS will not give its consent for an upgrade of the EU–Turkey

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Erdogan denied Syrian opportunity to shore up electoral fortunes

Date:22Feb2019

Critical article to understand how the Syria issue is shelved until after Turkey’s election, with the side effect that it robs AKP-MHP off   a potent propaganda tool.   There is

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Turkey hits out over call to suspend EU accession talks

Date:22Feb2019

But a formal call to suspend talks would risk exacerbating tensions at a time when Ankara and Brussels have been striving to improve relations after a fraught period that followed an attempted

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Trump signs bill blocking transfer of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey

Source:Ahval News Date:20Feb2019

New trouble between US and Turkey U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signed a spending bill that blocks the transfer of the country’s F-35 new generation fighter jets to Turkey.

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Could Turkey Moderate Iran’s Influence Over Iraq?

Source:The National Interest Date:19Feb2019

A controversial but thought-inspiring article.  The bigger question is when Ankara will realize Iran is a rival, rather than ally?   Into this muddle, Turkey is well positioned to provide a

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Gen. Votel recommends arming, aiding Syrian fighters after pullout

Source:Task and Purpose Date:16Feb2019

U.S. arming of the SDF has infuriated Turkey, which sees the Syrian Kurdish YPG fighters that spearhead the group as indistinguishable from the Kurdish PKK movement that has waged an insurgency

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Turkey’s row with China over Uygurs unlikely to affect relations in long term, analysts say

Source:South China Morning Post Date:16Feb2019

Turkey is in an economic crisis where food prices have hit a 20-year high because of inflation. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party, which has dominated Turkish politics since 2002, risks

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