December 15, 2025
In two weeks, the year 2025 will be behind us. The end of a year is a moment of reflection on the achievements, disappointments, and failures of the past twelve months and whether different paths could have been taken. In international relations, those who choose between “new chapters” and “the same old story” are world leaders, primarily among them the leaders of major powers. And “new chapters” are not easy to start writing.
Okumaya devam etNovember 22, 2025
President Trump’s 28-point Ukraine-Russia peace plan is now public knowledge, making it clear that since the August 15, 2025, Alaska summit, Washington and Moscow have remained engaged in behind-closed-doors diplomatic talks, working on the details of a peace deal, the basic parameters of which were agreed upon during that meeting.[i]
Okumaya devam etOctober 20, 2025
It has been a week since the Middle East’s Trump Day. With expected accusations of violations, the ceasefire is not an irreversible fact yet, and questions about the following phases and the long-term future remain. Still, the Gaza ceasefire is a positive development. As for the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, this was probably a frustrating experience for most attendees. Many of those leaders who shook hands with President Trump and then stood behind him to listen to his remarks for half an hour might have regretted being there, even if they received personal compliments. And Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s sycophantic comments about Mr. Trump’s leadership could have annoyed many in Pakistan.
Okumaya devam etOctober 6, 2025
On September 29, 2025, President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu met at the White House. Mr. Trump announced his 20-point plan for Gaza. During remarks to the media with the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Trump said that Hamas has ‘three or four days’ to respond to the proposal.
Last Friday, “An Agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX (6) P.M., Washington, D.C. time. Every Country has signed on! If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas.” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.
His fixing the deadline one day before the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel was another warning to Hamas, signaling that without an agreement, that very day would be a big day of punishment. Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey started talks with both Hamas and the US administration.
Okumaya devam etSeptember 29, 2025
The “High-level Week 2025” is now behind us. As expected, there was no progress on any of the major questions confronting the world. President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi chose to skip the high-level session. The former virtually addressed the meeting on climate change. And President Putin’s travels remain restricted by the ICC War Crimes Warrant.
Okumaya devam etJuly 21, 2025
After six months in office in his second term, the world has become accustomed to President Trump’s surprising changes of direction. Thus, his recent turnabout on the war in Ukraine and his relationship with President Putin, following their call on July 3, has not come as a stunner.
Okumaya devam etApril 14, 2025
People aspire to democracy. Regardless of the level of respect they have for fundamental rights and freedoms, all regimes, including dictatorships claim to be democratic as this remains the ultimate source of legitimacy. People also aspire to economic development, higher standards of living, and a fair distribution of income.
Okumaya devam etJanuary 2, 2025
Toward the end of 2024, Germany and France were engulfed in domestic political problems. Romania’s constitutional court annulled the country’s 2024 presidential election. Georgia remained in political turmoil. South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law created havoc, and the National Assembly impeached him in a second vote. The US and its European allies continued providing Ukraine with economic and military assistance. Their motto has always been “as long as it takes”. However, such references became increasingly questionable. Mobilization became unpopular in Ukrainian society. By contrast, Russia regained momentum. Though welcomed, the fall of the Assad dynasty created anxiety not only in Syria but also in the Middle East. The war in Gaza continued with no end in sight.
Okumaya devam etNovember 11, 2024
For months the West anxiously watched the US presidential campaign. “Anxiously” because the world is in turmoil with the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Lebanon taking their toll, and there is a lack of leadership. The quality of the campaign, particularly Mr. Trump’s language, his distortion of facts, and the worries about political violence if he were to lose was disappointing.
Okumaya devam etJuly 22, 2024
During the past weeks, developments of global public interest somehow diverted attention away from the war in Gaza until the Israeli strikes on Al-Mawasi, an area in southern Gaza where tens of thousands of Palestinians had fled to after the Israeli military declared it safe for civilians. The attack targeted Mohammed Deif, a Hamas commander, but also left nearly a hundred dead and more than three hundred wounded.
Okumaya devam et
Diplomatik Yorum - Ali Tuygan 