1 hr. ago
By Alexander Cornwell and Tuvan Gumrukcu
JERUSALEM/ANKARA, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Israel accused Turkey of "dangerous adventures in Syria" on Thursday, while Ankara called for a halt to "reckless" Israeli attacks, two days after Israel bombed a Syrian airbase where it said Turkish troops were about to deploy.
The attack has brought into focus tensions between regional powers Turkey and Israel over Syria, an Arab state which borders both countries and where Ankara's influence as an ally of President Ahmed al-Sharaa has stirred Israeli alarm since he toppled Bashar al-Assad in 2024.
Israel said that Damascus was on the verge of allowing Turkish troops to deploy at the Abu al-Duhur airbase and had ignored Israeli warnings that such a deployment would pose a threat to Israel's security - a claim denied by Turkey.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, in comments to Axios on Wednesday, said he had made clear to Israel there were no plans to establish a Turkish military base at Abu al-Duhur.
#ankara #syria #airbase #troops
JERUSALEM/ANKARA, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Israel accused Turkey of "dangerous adventures in Syria" on Thursday, while Ankara called for a halt to "reckless" Israeli attacks, two days after Israel bombed a Syrian airbase where it said Turkish troops were about to deploy.
The attack has brought into focus tensions between regional powers Turkey and Israel over Syria, an Arab state which borders both countries and where Ankara's influence as an ally of President Ahmed al-Sharaa has stirred Israeli alarm since he toppled Bashar al-Assad in 2024.
Israel said that Damascus was on the verge of allowing Turkish troops to deploy at the Abu al-Duhur airbase and had ignored Israeli warnings that such a deployment would pose a threat to Israel's security - a claim denied by Turkey.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, in comments to Axios on Wednesday, said he had made clear to Israel there were no plans to establish a Turkish military base at Abu al-Duhur.
#ankara #syria #airbase #troops
16 hours ago
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signed into law a measure that would introduce a conditional pardon for thousands of Kurdish militants as part of a government peace effort with the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK.
The measure was published in the Official Gazette on Tuesday. It will only come into force after Turkey's National Security Council confirms that the group has fully dissolved itself and disarmed.
Parliament approved the bill overwhelmingly last week. It would suspend certain prison sentences for convicted PKK members and postpone ongoing investigations and trials against others for five or 10 years, depending on the severity of the crime. Authorities would drop the cases against the individuals if they don't re-offend during those periods.
The legislation also establishes a committee to oversee the group's disarmament, with its first meeting expected next week.
Last year, the PKK — considered a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies — announced its decision to disband, following a call by its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan. Ocalan and other key PKK figures are excluded from the pardon.
#recep
The measure was published in the Official Gazette on Tuesday. It will only come into force after Turkey's National Security Council confirms that the group has fully dissolved itself and disarmed.
Parliament approved the bill overwhelmingly last week. It would suspend certain prison sentences for convicted PKK members and postpone ongoing investigations and trials against others for five or 10 years, depending on the severity of the crime. Authorities would drop the cases against the individuals if they don't re-offend during those periods.
The legislation also establishes a committee to oversee the group's disarmament, with its first meeting expected next week.
Last year, the PKK — considered a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies — announced its decision to disband, following a call by its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan. Ocalan and other key PKK figures are excluded from the pardon.
#recep
10 days ago
ANKARA, Aug 8 (Reuters) - A defence pact signed between Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is technically the same as NATO's Article 5 mutual defence agreement, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday, adding the accord was not targeting Iran.
Fidan also said Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan wanted to see the alliance expand, and that Egypt was a potential candidate to join, among others.
The regional powers signed the "Mecca Joint Defence Agreement" on Friday, wedding Sunni Muslim U.S. allies alarmed at a regional conflagration that has brought Iranian missile fire onto Gulf oil exporters.
In a joint statement, they said the accord intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression and stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three would be regarded as an attack on all.
Speaking to the state-run Anadolu news agency, Fidan said the new alliance was not directed against Iran or any other country, but rather served as a general pledge to support the three allies' security.
#defence #regional
Fidan also said Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan wanted to see the alliance expand, and that Egypt was a potential candidate to join, among others.
The regional powers signed the "Mecca Joint Defence Agreement" on Friday, wedding Sunni Muslim U.S. allies alarmed at a regional conflagration that has brought Iranian missile fire onto Gulf oil exporters.
In a joint statement, they said the accord intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression and stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three would be regarded as an attack on all.
Speaking to the state-run Anadolu news agency, Fidan said the new alliance was not directed against Iran or any other country, but rather served as a general pledge to support the three allies' security.
#defence #regional
1 month ago
MOSCOW, July 10 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Friday that Russia was in touch with Turkey about the fate of Russian S-400 missile systems which Ankara owns after a news outlet reported that Turkey was poised to transfer the air defence missiles to an unnamed Gulf country.
Turkish news outlet Hurriyet reported earlier on Friday that Turkey could announce it would resell the S-400s to one of the Gulf nations as soon as today in order to persuade the United States to lift sanctions on Ankara.
In 2020, the U.S. sanctioned fellow NATO member Turkey over the purchase of the S-400s and removed it from a procurement and manufacturing programme for F-35 fighter jets which Ankara wanted to be involved in.
Asked on Friday about the media report and if Turkey had sought Russia's permission to go ahead with the alleged deal, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said:
"I can say one thing here: this is an extremely sensitive issue. However, we have been in contact with the Turkish side on this matter, and we will continue to maintain contact with them on this issue."
Turkish news outlet Hurriyet reported earlier on Friday that Turkey could announce it would resell the S-400s to one of the Gulf nations as soon as today in order to persuade the United States to lift sanctions on Ankara.
In 2020, the U.S. sanctioned fellow NATO member Turkey over the purchase of the S-400s and removed it from a procurement and manufacturing programme for F-35 fighter jets which Ankara wanted to be involved in.
Asked on Friday about the media report and if Turkey had sought Russia's permission to go ahead with the alleged deal, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said:
"I can say one thing here: this is an extremely sensitive issue. However, we have been in contact with the Turkish side on this matter, and we will continue to maintain contact with them on this issue."
1 month ago
Stocks closed mostly lower on July 8 after President Donald Trump signaled that the Iran ceasefire might be over.
The Dow Jones ended the day down nearly 600 points, losing just over 1% of its value. The S&P 500 lost 0.3%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq, which already has endured losses in recent weeks, eked out a gain of 0.2%.
Markets faltered following renewed military strikes between the United States and Iran, a development that prompted Trump to declare that the ceasefire in the Iran war is likely over.
"To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them," Trump said in Ankara, Turkey, where he was attending a NATO summit.
Iran live updates: Trump 'not sure' he still wants a deal with Iran
The Dow Jones ended the day down nearly 600 points, losing just over 1% of its value. The S&P 500 lost 0.3%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq, which already has endured losses in recent weeks, eked out a gain of 0.2%.
Markets faltered following renewed military strikes between the United States and Iran, a development that prompted Trump to declare that the ceasefire in the Iran war is likely over.
"To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them," Trump said in Ankara, Turkey, where he was attending a NATO summit.
Iran live updates: Trump 'not sure' he still wants a deal with Iran
1 month ago
By Aislinn Laing and David Latona
MADRID, July 9 (Reuters) - Madrid said on Thursday U.S. President Donald Trump had softened his rhetoric on Spain, hours after threatening to halt trade with the NATO ally, because he had been made aware of a surge in Madrid's contributions to the alliance in recent years.
At a NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday, Trump called Spain a "terrible partner" and ordered an immediate halt to all trade with the country after disputes over defence spending and the Iran war.
On his way back to the United States after the summit, he told reporters aboard Air Force One: "I did have issues, and I still do. But Spain, they came back all the way today. Spain was very generous today."
Asked what Spain had done, he said: "They honoured a request for lots of payments, and if they didn't, we wouldn't have even talked to them."
MADRID, July 9 (Reuters) - Madrid said on Thursday U.S. President Donald Trump had softened his rhetoric on Spain, hours after threatening to halt trade with the NATO ally, because he had been made aware of a surge in Madrid's contributions to the alliance in recent years.
At a NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday, Trump called Spain a "terrible partner" and ordered an immediate halt to all trade with the country after disputes over defence spending and the Iran war.
On his way back to the United States after the summit, he told reporters aboard Air Force One: "I did have issues, and I still do. But Spain, they came back all the way today. Spain was very generous today."
Asked what Spain had done, he said: "They honoured a request for lots of payments, and if they didn't, we wouldn't have even talked to them."
1 month ago
September S&P 500 E-Mini futures (ESU26) are down -0.96%, and September Nasdaq 100 E-Mini futures (NQU26) are down -1.34% this morning as sentiment took a hit after U.S. President Donald Trump declared an end to the ceasefire with Iran, sending oil prices and bond yields soaring.
When asked at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Ankara, Turkey, whether the ceasefire and memorandum of understanding were over, Trump said: "It's a very interesting question. For me, I think it's over. As far as I'm concerned, it's just a waste of time." The price of WTI crude jumped over +5% following Trump's comments. Treasuries fell across the curve as a spike in oil prices reignited inflation concerns, with the benchmark 10-year yield rising two basis points to 4.58%.
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When asked at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Ankara, Turkey, whether the ceasefire and memorandum of understanding were over, Trump said: "It's a very interesting question. For me, I think it's over. As far as I'm concerned, it's just a waste of time." The price of WTI crude jumped over +5% following Trump's comments. Treasuries fell across the curve as a spike in oil prices reignited inflation concerns, with the benchmark 10-year yield rising two basis points to 4.58%.
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1 month ago
By Mike Stone, Gram Slattery and Humeyra Pamuk
WASHINGTON/ANKARA, July 8 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump unexpectedly left Turkey on Wednesday aboard an older Air Force One rather than the newly renovated Qatari-donated jet that brought him there, but later boarded the new plane in Britain for the flight to Washington.
The trip to Turkey for the NATO summit, the first international travel for the new plane, took place as hostilities escalated with Iran, a country that borders Turkey.
The unexpected plane switch followed months of scrutiny over the luxury gift intended to serve as a temporary replacement while Boeing struggled to deliver long-delayed next-generation Air Force One planes.
Critics questioned the cost, security and pace of the retrofit.
WASHINGTON/ANKARA, July 8 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump unexpectedly left Turkey on Wednesday aboard an older Air Force One rather than the newly renovated Qatari-donated jet that brought him there, but later boarded the new plane in Britain for the flight to Washington.
The trip to Turkey for the NATO summit, the first international travel for the new plane, took place as hostilities escalated with Iran, a country that borders Turkey.
The unexpected plane switch followed months of scrutiny over the luxury gift intended to serve as a temporary replacement while Boeing struggled to deliver long-delayed next-generation Air Force One planes.
Critics questioned the cost, security and pace of the retrofit.
1 month ago
By Humeyra Pamuk and David Latona
ANKARA/MADRID, July 8 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered an immediate halt to all trade with NATO ally Spain, escalating tensions over defence spending and the Iran war, despite European Union rules requiring trade negotiations to be conducted as a single bloc.
During a NATO summit in Ankara, which European leaders had hoped would cap rifts within the military alliance, Trump reignited the dispute with Spain, calling it a "terrible partner", and made renewed claims on Greenland, although he later changed tack and said there had been love and "a lot of unity" at the gathering.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez played down the rift and said he had a "very cordial" conversation with Trump during the summit.
It was the second time Trump has instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to halt commerce with Spain over its refusal to commit to NATO's new defence spending target of 5% of GDP. However, after his first such promise in March, trade between the two countries continued normally.
ANKARA/MADRID, July 8 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered an immediate halt to all trade with NATO ally Spain, escalating tensions over defence spending and the Iran war, despite European Union rules requiring trade negotiations to be conducted as a single bloc.
During a NATO summit in Ankara, which European leaders had hoped would cap rifts within the military alliance, Trump reignited the dispute with Spain, calling it a "terrible partner", and made renewed claims on Greenland, although he later changed tack and said there had been love and "a lot of unity" at the gathering.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez played down the rift and said he had a "very cordial" conversation with Trump during the summit.
It was the second time Trump has instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to halt commerce with Spain over its refusal to commit to NATO's new defence spending target of 5% of GDP. However, after his first such promise in March, trade between the two countries continued normally.
1 month ago
US stock futures fell as oil surged and President Trump declared that the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran was "over," raising the likelihood of a reescalation in the Middle East war.
Futures tied to the Dow (YM=F) fell 1%, or nearly 600 points, while contracts on the S&P 500 (ES=F) dropped 0.8%. Nasdaq 100 futures (NQ=F) slipped 1.3% following a down day for US markets.
Markets are digesting a sharp escalation in US-Iran tensions after American forces carried out a "series of powerful strikes" against Iran late Tuesday in response to attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump, speaking in Ankara ahead of a NATO summit, stated that the US-Iran ceasefire agreement was over amid the flare-up in hostilities. "As far as I'm concerned, it's just a waste of time dealing with them," Trump said of Iran.
Energy markets have been shaken after the Treasury revoked a license that had allowed Iran to export oil globally, adding to concerns over potential supply disruptions. Crude prices climbed more than 5%, with West Texas Intermediate (CL=F) trading above $74 a barrel and Brent (BZ=F) at $78 a barrel.
Futures tied to the Dow (YM=F) fell 1%, or nearly 600 points, while contracts on the S&P 500 (ES=F) dropped 0.8%. Nasdaq 100 futures (NQ=F) slipped 1.3% following a down day for US markets.
Markets are digesting a sharp escalation in US-Iran tensions after American forces carried out a "series of powerful strikes" against Iran late Tuesday in response to attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump, speaking in Ankara ahead of a NATO summit, stated that the US-Iran ceasefire agreement was over amid the flare-up in hostilities. "As far as I'm concerned, it's just a waste of time dealing with them," Trump said of Iran.
Energy markets have been shaken after the Treasury revoked a license that had allowed Iran to export oil globally, adding to concerns over potential supply disruptions. Crude prices climbed more than 5%, with West Texas Intermediate (CL=F) trading above $74 a barrel and Brent (BZ=F) at $78 a barrel.
1 month ago
ANKARA, July 8 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday at a NATO summit he had ordered his Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to cut off all trade with Spain, calling Madrid a "terrible partner" in the alliance.
Trump, speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the start of the summit in Ankara, said he wanted no business with Spain.
Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration with Spain, which has not agreed to NATO's new defence spending target of 5% of GDP and whose Socialist leadership refused to let the U.S. use its airspace or bases on its territory for the Iran war.
"Spain doesn't agree to anything, and you shouldn't carry them," Trump told Rutte.
"I don't want to do any trade with them, alright?" he said, turning to Bessent, who replied: "Yes, sir."
Trump, speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the start of the summit in Ankara, said he wanted no business with Spain.
Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration with Spain, which has not agreed to NATO's new defence spending target of 5% of GDP and whose Socialist leadership refused to let the U.S. use its airspace or bases on its territory for the Iran war.
"Spain doesn't agree to anything, and you shouldn't carry them," Trump told Rutte.
"I don't want to do any trade with them, alright?" he said, turning to Bessent, who replied: "Yes, sir."
2 months ago
By Andrew Gray and Lili Bayer
BRUSSELS, July 3 (Reuters) - NATO leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump are set to affirm an "ironclad commitment" to collective defence under the alliance's Article 5 pact at a summit in Ankara next week, according to a text approved by NATO ambassadors on Friday and reviewed by Reuters.
NATO members are also set to pledge €70 billion ($80 billion) in military ***** istance to Ukraine for 2026 and "at least equivalent levels" of support in 2027, according to the declaration, which still needs final approval from the leaders at the summit.
"We ... have gathered in Ankara to reaffirm our ironclad commitment to our collective defence under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty and to the transatlantic bond. An attack on one is an attack on all," says the declaration for the summit, which takes place on July 7 and 8.
Trump has frequently railed against NATO and its members, accusing them of not spending enough on defence and relying on the United States to protect Europe.
BRUSSELS, July 3 (Reuters) - NATO leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump are set to affirm an "ironclad commitment" to collective defence under the alliance's Article 5 pact at a summit in Ankara next week, according to a text approved by NATO ambassadors on Friday and reviewed by Reuters.
NATO members are also set to pledge €70 billion ($80 billion) in military ***** istance to Ukraine for 2026 and "at least equivalent levels" of support in 2027, according to the declaration, which still needs final approval from the leaders at the summit.
"We ... have gathered in Ankara to reaffirm our ironclad commitment to our collective defence under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty and to the transatlantic bond. An attack on one is an attack on all," says the declaration for the summit, which takes place on July 7 and 8.
Trump has frequently railed against NATO and its members, accusing them of not spending enough on defence and relying on the United States to protect Europe.
2 months ago
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's president on Tuesday dismissed an Israeli proposal to designate violence against Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War I as genocide, and turned the accusation back at Israel by pointing at the deaths of Palestinians in Gaza.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was responding to a measure approved Sunday by Israel's Cabinet. The proposal still requires parliamentary approval and comes amid deteriorating ties between Israel and Turkey.
Turkey has fiercely lobbied to prevent countries from officially recognizing the mass deaths of Armenians around 1915 as genocide, even as Armenians have pushed for it.
Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I, an event widely viewed by scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey denies that the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.
"We pay absolutely no attention to the slanders against our country by this criminal network, which has the blood of 73,000 innocent people of Gaza, mostly children and women, on its hands," Erdogan said in a televised address following a Cabinet meeting.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was responding to a measure approved Sunday by Israel's Cabinet. The proposal still requires parliamentary approval and comes amid deteriorating ties between Israel and Turkey.
Turkey has fiercely lobbied to prevent countries from officially recognizing the mass deaths of Armenians around 1915 as genocide, even as Armenians have pushed for it.
Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I, an event widely viewed by scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey denies that the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.
"We pay absolutely no attention to the slanders against our country by this criminal network, which has the blood of 73,000 innocent people of Gaza, mostly children and women, on its hands," Erdogan said in a televised address following a Cabinet meeting.
2 months ago
ANKARA, June 16 (Reuters) - Turkey's foreign minister said on Tuesday he told his Russian counterpart about the need to avoid steps in the Black Sea that threatened regional security and Turkey's interests, adding he also repeated Turkey's offer to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow.
In recent months, Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of drone attacks on tankers near Turkey's northern coast, including one on a Turkish-owned vessel. Ankara has protested to both Kyiv and Moscow over the attacks.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the priority for Turkey - which hosted previous rounds of direct talks between Ukraine and Russia - was for the sides to resume negotiations and end the war as soon as possible.
"I conveyed our readiness to host the next rounds of talks once again... If the sides agree, we are ready to also discuss how the negotiations can continue in a more result-oriented way," he said.
"I conveyed to my counterpart our expectation to avoid any incidents that can harm our country's interests in the Black Sea," Fidan added, saying he and Lavrov discussed possible ways to ensure navigational safety in the region.
In recent months, Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of drone attacks on tankers near Turkey's northern coast, including one on a Turkish-owned vessel. Ankara has protested to both Kyiv and Moscow over the attacks.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the priority for Turkey - which hosted previous rounds of direct talks between Ukraine and Russia - was for the sides to resume negotiations and end the war as soon as possible.
"I conveyed our readiness to host the next rounds of talks once again... If the sides agree, we are ready to also discuss how the negotiations can continue in a more result-oriented way," he said.
"I conveyed to my counterpart our expectation to avoid any incidents that can harm our country's interests in the Black Sea," Fidan added, saying he and Lavrov discussed possible ways to ensure navigational safety in the region.
9 months ago
Headline 2: Türkiye receives first dedicated organic cotton training resource
The Organic Cotton Training Curriculum (OCTC) is now publicly available in Turkish and English, alongside a Trainer’s Handbook to support sector-wide adoption.
Developed with Ankara-based Prospera Impact and informed by Turkish sector partners, the curriculum adapts proven good farming practices to Türkiye’s soils, climate and growing conditions.
It also introduces the programme’s first module on regenerative agriculture, offering clear direction on soil health, biodiversity and long-term resilience.
Beyond field
The Organic Cotton Training Curriculum (OCTC) is now publicly available in Turkish and English, alongside a Trainer’s Handbook to support sector-wide adoption.
Developed with Ankara-based Prospera Impact and informed by Turkish sector partners, the curriculum adapts proven good farming practices to Türkiye’s soils, climate and growing conditions.
It also introduces the programme’s first module on regenerative agriculture, offering clear direction on soil health, biodiversity and long-term resilience.
Beyond field
