The following is a post I had written eleven years ago. A decade later, the Middle East is again in turmoil. The OIC is nonexistent. Ankara must be a partner in peace, not in conflict.
Okumaya devam etYemen’s Ordeal Continues
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Etiket arşivi: Iran
Learning Again to Live With Wars
August 17, 2026
Since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, the Middle East has been traumatized by Western interventions, wars, power competition, and peace treaties among regional adversaries that have failed to embrace the broader region. In brief, its past century has been one of conflict.
Okumaya devam etThe Second-best Option: “No War, No Peace”
July 20, 2026
The world remains occupied with the wars in the Middle East and in Ukraine, and their global repercussions.
With the sharp military escalation between Iran and the US and President Trump’s threats and conflicting remarks, it was another chaotic week in the Middle East. Before the war, tankers going through the Strait of Hormuz carried around a fifth of the world’s oil consumption. Today, countries are looking at alternative routes and considering building new pipelines. On top of Iran’s nuclear program, passage through the Strait has become a major issue.
Okumaya devam etThe Iran-US MoU and the G7 Summit
June 2, 2026
The Iran-US “Memorandum of Understanding” (MoU) was signed last Thursday by Presidents Trump and Pezeshkian in Paris and Tehran, respectively. Thus, the 60-day negotiation period started. The preceding days saw endless speculation about its contents. US Vice President Vance said the MoU is “a very general document,” with specifics to be worked out in further negotiations. Although not disclosed, the MoU may have understandings that go beyond those 14 paragraphs.
Okumaya devam etOperation Regime Change (2)
March 9, 2026
On March 1, the next day of the US-Israeli attack on Iran, President Trump stated that the US military intends to sustain its assault on Iran for “four to five weeks” if necessary, insisting that it “won’t be difficult” to maintain the intensity of the battle, even as he warned of the possibility of further American casualties.
Okumaya devam etA New Round of Talks or Military Strikes?
February 25, 2026
Yesterday, February 24, marked the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began Europe’s bloodiest conflict since the Second World War. Tomorrow, the Iranian and US delegations will meet again in Geneva. The question is whether the meeting will be followed by another round of talks or US strikes against Iran, in other words, another Middle East war.
Okumaya devam etTürkiye at an Inflection Point
December 19, 2024
The history of Türkiye-West relations over the last fifteen years has been characterized by a lack of meaningful dialogue, unfriendly rhetoric, and confrontation despite a promising beginning.
In April 2009 President Obama came to Ankara on his first bilateral visit to Europe as president. He started his address to the Turkish parliament with the following:
“This morning I had the great privilege of visiting the tomb of your extraordinary founder of your republic. And I was deeply impressed by this beautiful memorial to a man who did so much to shape the course of history. But it is also clear that the greatest monument to Atatürk’s life is not something that can be cast in stone and marble. His greatest legacy is Turkey’s strong, vibrant, secular democracy, and that is the work this assembly carries on today…”
Okumaya devam etIraq and Syria Refuse Being Made Punching Bags
February 5, 2024
On January 3, twin blasts near the burial site of Qasem Soleimani, the former head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, killed a hundred people and injured scores in the southern Iranian city of Kerman adding to concerns about a widening regional conflict. President Raisi’s political deputy, Mohammad Jamshidi, blamed Israel and the US for the attack. Later, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei vowed a “harsh response” to the attack but did not mention either Israel or the US.
Okumaya devam etAnkara’s Troubled Relations with Washington
January 29, 2024
Türkiye’s governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power following the general election on November 2, 2002. This marked the end of the coalition government led by Prime Minister Ecevit, the prominent leader of Türkiye’s democratic left. The change of government came at a critical time for Türkiye-US relations because the Bush administration had already declared its intention to invade Iraq. Vice President Cheney had visited Ankara to secure the Turkish government’s “full cooperation” in the project, but Mr. Ecevit had resisted.
Okumaya devam etUS and Israeli Leaders on Different Wavelengths
January 22, 2024
On January 18, Prime Minister Netanyahu claimed that Israel under his leadership will not compromise on less than total victory over Hamas, and they will win. “In any arrangement in the foreseeable future — with an arrangement or without one — Israel must have security control over all the territory west of the Jordan,” Mr. Netanyahu also said at a news conference, referring to the area that would supposedly belong to an independent Palestinian state. “This clashes with the idea of sovereignty. What can you do? The prime minister needs to be capable of saying no to our friends,” he declared.
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