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New Atlanticist

Aug 16, 2013

Turkey’s Pivot Away from Democracy

By Kathryn Alexeeff

For the second time in two months, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government is clashing with secularists and opposition forces. The latest clash brings to the fore the question of whether Turkey will remain democratic, or if it is descending into authoritarianism. While the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) rightly emphasizes that it […]

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Aug 7, 2013

Ergekenon–the Movie

By Ross Wilson

Turkey’s long-running case against alleged plotters to overthrow the government reached another milestone on August 5 when an Istanbul court handed down sentences in the so-called Ergenekon affair.  The results were astounding. According to lists published in the Turkish media, recapped below, the court handed out 22 life sentences plus 1267 years, 11 months, and […]

Turkey

NATOSource

Jul 29, 2013

Some NATO Allies Concerned about Turkey’s Satellite Launching Center

By Burak Ege Bekdil, Defense News

Turkey has approved construction of its first satellite launching center to cater for the country’s mushrooming satellite programs. But Ankara’s western allies worry that the Turks intend to use their own launching pad to fire the long-range missiles they hope to build in the medium- to long-run.

Missile Defense Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jul 28, 2013

Turkey-Syria-Kurdish Fronts Heat Up

By Ross Wilson

Reports that Turkish F-16s will fly reconnaissance flights along the Syrian frontier highlight rising alarm over border security and suggest a further internationalization of the civil war in Syria with implications for it, Turkey, and the region’s Kurds.

Intelligence Security & Defense

NATOSource

Jul 22, 2013

Report: US Predator Operation in Turkey Named Nomad Shadow

By Craig Whitlock, Washington Post

From Craig Whitlock, Washington Post:  The steel-gray U.S. Air Force Predator drone plunged from the sky, shattering on mountainous terrain near the Iraq-Turkey border. For Kurdish guerrillas hiding nearby, it was an unexpected gift from the propaganda gods.

Drones Technology & Innovation

New Atlanticist

Jul 22, 2013

Secularists Need Unity to Take on Political Islam

By Barbara Slavin

For millions of Egyptians, there is a palpable sense of relief that their president is no longer Mohamed Morsi. But for Egypt’s democratic “do-over” to succeed, the forces that came together to persuade the army to remove Morsi will have to unite behind a viable electoral alternative.

Elections Iran

NATOSource

Jul 2, 2013

Turkey’s Move to Chinese Air Defense Systems Appals NATO Allies

By Burak Bekdil, Hurriyet Daily News

From Burak Bekdil, Hurriyet Daily News:  Turkey’s western allies look puzzled by a looming decision by Ankara to select Chinese long-range anti-missile and air defense systems which they think cannot be integrated into the NATO-sponsored early warning architecture currently deployed on Turkish soil.

China Turkey

New Atlanticist

Jun 28, 2013

Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkey Proceed Slowly on Energy Cooperation

By Ross Wilson & David Koranyi

Overshadowed by the Syrian civil war, rising violence in Iraq, and recent turmoil in Turkey, another problem is simmering in the Middle East.  Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) recently reported that a long-mooted new oil pipeline to Turkey should be completed within months.  By making possible oil not controlled by the Iraqi central government, this […]

Iraq Turkey

New Atlanticist

Jun 24, 2013

Lessons (Not) Learned from the Caucasus

By Sabine Freizer

The situation in Turkey today could be much less polarized, without such strong anger and distrust of the police, if a key lesson learned in the South Caucasus had been applied in Taksim Square: governments should engage non-violent protestors and allow demonstrations to fizzle out gradually.The indiscriminate and violent police reaction in Turkey did the […]

Turkey
Turkey Gezi Park

New Atlanticist

Jun 21, 2013

Turkey: Calm Returns – but Calm Before What?

By Ross Wilson

Tomorrow’s headlines could be different, but Istanbul seems to calming after the protests and violence that have wracked the city since late May.  Looking back, what took place is significant and in many respects unprecedented. 

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

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