Is Turkey becoming a Middle East adversary to the West? | The Jerusalem Post Turkey’s growing regional influence and ties to Hamas challenge NATO and US security.

My first piece for JP w/ FDD colleague Natalie Ecanow
ends nonsensical portrayals of 🇹🇷 as a "difficult" ally

As we argue "the danger lies not in exaggerating Ankara’s ambitions, but in continuing to excuse them while they erode the very alliance structures that have long sustained Western security"

In what ways does 🇹🇷 Erdogan regime support the Muslim Brotherhood?

@hayeytan tells me on FDD Morning Brief

You can also read our new Memo, titled:

"Islamist Turkey: A Base for Muslim Brotherhood Jihadism" for complete details👇

www.fdd.org/analysis/202...

Islamist Turkey: A Base for Muslim Brotherhood Jihadism "Illustration by Lilia Gaufberg/FDD"

I've long heard that Erdogan and the AKP are "Muslim Brotherhood"

But what does that mean?

What are Erdogan and 🇹🇷 ties to the Brotherhood, and more importantly, what action should the 🇺🇸 take?

Read my latest FDD memo (report) w/ William Doran

Turkey’s Glee Over Trump’s Victory May Be Short-Lived Turkey’s President Erdogan is optimistic that Trump will be an easier partner than Biden. He may be disappointed.

If Trump decides to sabotage NATO, that is very, very bad for Turkey.

Link is from 2024

www.worldpoliticsreview.com/us-turkey-re...

Turkey is the NATO ally Trump should pressure first Turkey takes U.S. aid, dodges U.S. asks, and still wants F-35s. If Trump wants NATO reciprocity, Ankara is the place to start.

🇹🇷 has many demands from 🇺🇸: F-35s, engines, sanctions relief...

What is it offering the in return? Certainly no help with the Iran war

🇹🇷 has a sizable navy and mine clearing capabilities. Trump should demand co-operation

My latest for @washingtonexaminer.bsky.social

Storm clouds in the East Med? Turkey's escalation in Cyprus, Israel's offensive against Hezbollah, and Imamoglu's trial

'Storm clouds in the East Med? Turkey's escalation in Cyprus, Israel's offensive against Hezbollah, and Imamoglu's trial', w/ @thanosdavelis.bsky.social, @sinanciddi.bsky.social, Elisa Ewers, @liselhintz.bsky.social & Henri Barkey, on @kathimerini.gr & HALC's The Greek Current podcast.

Turkey's red lines in Iran conflict As Iranian missiles enter Turkish airspace, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan must define Ankara's red lines to balance national security and political stability.

Turkey has made it clear that it does not want to be dragged into the Iran war, but it has red lines

What are those? I explain in my latest for The National Interest

The administration moves to quietly kill the biggest Iran sanctions evasion scheme –– a move that lets Halkbank off the hook

I joined @klasfeldreports.com on @legalafmtn.bsky.social
to talk about why 🇹🇷 gets a pass & what this means for "maximum pressure on Iran"

📺 www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7-P...

Storm clouds in the East Med? Turkey's escalation in Cyprus, Israel's offensive against Hezbollah, and Imamoglu's trial | The Greek Current Sinan Ciddi, Elisa Ewers, Lisel Hintz, and Henri Barkey join Thanos Davelis this week as we take a closer look at Turkey’s decision to deploy fighter jets to the occupied part of Cyprus, Israel’s esca...

"Storm clouds in the East Med? Turkey's escalation in Cyprus, Israel's offensive against Hezbollah, and Imamoglu's trial" with @sinanciddi.bsky.social, Elisa Ewers, @liselhintz.bsky.social and Henri Barkey hosted by @thanosdavelis.bsky.social. [4/5]

@ustreasury.govmirrors.com sanctions a fresh batch 🇹🇷 entities

🔥Ghazi Destek Dernegi (GDD),
🔥Hayat Yolu,
🔥Palestinian White Hands Assistance and Solidarity Association

for providing "significant material support to Hamas"

Between Ally and Adversary: Turkey’s Strategic Calculus in the Iran War YouTube video by FDD

@sinanciddi.bsky.social, @stevenacook.bsky.social, and Henri Barkey on Turkey's role and goals in the context of the US/Israeli War on Iran.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jgh...

Between Ally and Adversary: Turkey’s Strategic Calculus in the Iran War YouTube video by FDD

Please join us today for an anticipated, timely & necessary discussion on 🇹🇷's Iran calculations, fears and wants

I am putting Steven Cook & Henri Barkey in the hotseat

TODAY @ 12noon EST👇

Appreciate the feedback Howard!

Turkey Wants To Stay Out Of Iran War— Will The Country Be Dragged In Anyway? Expert Explains YouTube video by Forbes Breaking News

What are 🇹🇷 calculations in the Iran war?

What does it want, fear & want to capitalize on?

I spoke to Brittany Lewis on @forbes.com

Why is Washington going soft on the Turkish banks enabling Iran’s terrorism? The Turkish state-owned lender Halkbank has served as a conduit for illicit Iranian financing networks. It was indicted in the U.S. in 2019 for one of the largest sanctions-evasion...

I thought the name of the game was "maximum pressure" on Iran?

So why the sweetheart deal for Halkbank?

Our latest for @thehill.com w/FDD colleagues @Tyler Stapleton & Max Meizlish

Will Turkey Invade Iran? Turkey views Iran’s sizable Kurdish population as a potential threat to Turkey’s internal unity.

IRGC targets Turkey with ballistic missile. Erdogan invested a good deal in trying to befriend the Islamic Republic - this is the price he pays for hedging

But is this the reason why Ankara may join the war against Iran?

William Doran and my latest for The National Interest & FDD

Erdogan's neo-Ottoman ambitions | feat. Sinan Ciddi YouTube video by FDD

Live from the studios of FDD is the Morning Brief:

Featuring your's truly & none other than the redoubtable
🔥Jon Schanzer🔥

We are talking about everything 🇹🇷 !!!

- Who controls TR after Erdowan
- Ankara's praise of Tehran
- 🇹🇷 militarization of the Horn & PMC's

and more...

Turkey Negotiates Repatriation of ISIS Detainees It Once Enabled After years of serving as a key transit hub for foreign fighters and an enabler of the Islamic State’s (ISIS’s) campaign to establish a caliphate, Turkey is now in negotiations to repatriate its own.....

During the Syrian civil war 1000’s 🇹🇷 nationals joined ISIS & over 40K foreign fighters were permitted to transit 🇹🇷’s “jihadi highway” to join the “cause” unhindered

Now Ankara has to repatriate its ISIS brethren. My latest for FDD w/Ahmad Sharawi

I suspect the Erdogan’s think they have a plan. He may run again to win the election, only to make Bilal chairman of the AKP immediately after victory, followed by finding him a way to get him elected at a future point in time

Turkey’s Cabinet Reshuffle Sets the Stage for Its Next President Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan is laying the groundwork for a dynastic succession—and disposing of democratic institutions that might obstruct it.

Turkey's leadership succession strategy is in full swing

Erdogan is building an AKP cabinet to ease Bilal's transition to the presidency

This is bad news for 🇹🇷 opposition. Why?

Read our latest for @TheNatlInterest & @FDD 👇

Board-of-Peace : Trump says members have pledged $7bn to Gaza relief • FRANCE 24 English YouTube video by FRANCE 24 English

Turkey leaves the Board of Peace meeting empty handed. No Turkish troops in the ISF

But why was Ankara denied its long-held desire to position troops in Gaza?

I explained for @f24debate.france24.com 👇

Who else will send troops but those invested in Gaza’s security?

As Board of Peace summit kicks off, @sinanciddi.bsky.social warns of risks to neighbouring countries.

More in #F24Spotlight

Talking Turkey: Impediment to Further Progress in the Middle East YouTube video by emetonline

As Iran continues to decline, how is 🇹🇷 intend to become the region's premier military and political power?

I examine Ankara's various strategies & approaches for
@emet4u.bsky.social

"Talking Turkey: Impediment to Further Progress in the Middle East" youtu.be/Eza1KRLd2dU

Sinan Ciddi on why Turkey is pushing an Iran deal – i24 News YouTube video by FDD

Why is 🇹🇷 throwing the kitchen sink to prevent US military action against Iran?

I explain @i24news.bsky.social 👇

Turkish foreign minister warns of nuclear arms race if Iran gets the bomb Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned on February 9 that Ankara may pursue nuclear weapons if Iran acquires them, signaling a potential shift from rhetorical grievance to a conditional prolifera...

Tehran has some bad habits. Chief among them is the regime's nuclear and chemical weapons program

Guess which neighboring country is also considering the acquisition of nuclear weapons?

My latest for Long War Journal w/my FDD colleague Will Doran

‘We Don’t Care What Others Say’: Turkey Won’t Withdraw Its Troops From Syria Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler could not have been blunter. “We have no agenda for withdrawing or leaving those areas,” Guler told the Turkish daily Hurriyet when asked whether Turkey...

Turkey declares it will not leave Syria

If I got a $1 for every time I said this in 2025 and have people not believe me, I'd be a rich man

My latest policy brief co-authored w/my FDD colleague Ahmad Sharawi

As Iran tensions mount, beware the hidden hand of this two-faced US ‘ally’ The diplomatic tug-of-war over US-Iran negotiations is a win for Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s Islamist strongman, who has led a cynical campaign to block military action against Tehran.

NATO ally or Iran enabler? As Tehran teeters, Turkey isn’t helping bring down the mullahs — it’s helping them

Erdogan fears a free Iran more than a tyrannical one. Washington must wake up to Ankara’s dangerous game.

My latest for NYPost column w/ William Doran

🔥Out tomorrow: February 3 🔥

Who will succeed Erdogan as 🇹🇷 next President?

Who are the contenders, what are rules, and what are the implications?

FDD's signature research that I have worked on w/ my colleague Will Doran will be available to download 6am EST 2/3

Erdogan chooses the ayatollahs over the Iranian people The Turkish government is failing to hold the Iranian regime responsible for massacring its own people.

If Washington takes military action against the regime in Tehran, 🇹🇷 will work to protect the mullahs

Read our latest for Washington Examiner to understand why👇

Turkey’s Strategic Support for the Maduro Regime Deserves Attention Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro long had a friend in President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In addition to diplomatic cover, under the Turkish leader, the regime in Caracas received an economic life...

In my latest policy brief for @FDD I argue

“Given the persistence of the Venezuelan regime, Maduro’s personal fate should not constitute grounds for granting Turkey immunity for violations of U.S. sanctions” www.fdd.org/analysis/202...