Politics
Parallel SDF structure in Aleppo must be dismantled: FM Fidan
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Türkiye expects the parallel structure linked to the terrorist YPG/PKK’s Syrian offshoot Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Aleppo, to be eliminated, voicing confidence that the city will soon be governed solely by Syria’s central state institutions.
Earlier on Friday, Fidan said Türkiye expects the SDF to adhere to the March 10 agreement in Syria and fully meet its obligations.
Speaking in a televised interview with TRT Haber, Fidan said the process that began in Aleppo would conclude with the dismantling of what he described as a parallel authority, allowing a single state to provide services to all citizens.
“I believe the process that started in Aleppo will soon be completed and that the parallel structure there will be removed, with one state serving all its citizens through a single set of institutions,” Fidan said. “This is how it should be. State services must be unified, while citizenship must be inclusive.”
Fidan said Türkiye has consistently conveyed this position through its intelligence, diplomatic and military channels to all relevant parties, including the SDF, which Ankara considers an extension of the PKK terrorist organization.
He argued that the SDF has shown little willingness to pursue genuine dialogue, relying instead on international propaganda while shifting its stance only under pressure. “They are an actor that changes position only when faced with force or the threat of force,” Fidan said, adding that ignoring this reality would be futile.
The foreign minister said developments in Aleppo were in line with Türkiye’s long-standing assessments and warned that the continuation of parallel governance structures would undermine stability and state authority in Syria.
Fidan’s remarks came as he outlined Türkiye’s broader foreign policy outlook, saying the region was entering a period of heightened uncertainty and overlapping crises, requiring active diplomacy and firm security policies. He said Ankara would continue to pursue stability in Syria while safeguarding its national security interests.
Speaking at a Türkiye-Indonesia joint foreign and defense ministers meeting in the capital Ankara, Fidan also stressed that ensuring public order in Syria is extremely important for public peace and welfare, and that the fight against terrorism must continue in the most effective manner.
“We are closely monitoring where things stand at the latest stage and what is being done,” he said, adding that he held talks earlier in the day with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani.
Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler said Türkiye views Syria’s security as its own and continues to support Syria’s fight against terrorist organizations, its unity and territorial integrity.
On March 10, 2025, the Syrian presidency announced the signing of an agreement for the SDF’s integration into state institutions, reaffirming the country’s territorial unity and rejecting any attempts at division.
Authorities said in the months since, the SDF has not shown any efforts to meet the terms of the agreement.
The government has intensified efforts to maintain security across the country since the ouster of the Assad regime in December 2024, after 24 years in power.
Türkiye-Indonesia strategic cooperation
Fidan said Türkiye and Indonesia reviewed all aspects of their strategic cooperation following the meeting hosted with Güler, alongside Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.
The talks reaffirmed a shared vision on bilateral, regional, and global issues, he added, describing Indonesia as “a strong partner” and stressing that Türkiye would “continue to deepen political and security cooperation with a comprehensive approach.”
Fidan emphasized that Türkiye and Indonesia are determined to raise bilateral trade volume to $10 billion, saying: “In this context, we aim to deepen our strategic cooperation in contracting, energy, health, and halal food sectors.”
He added that Türkiye is strengthening its engagement in the Asia-Pacific under the “Asia Anew” initiative, reaffirming its commitment to elevating relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to dialogue partnership level.
The Turkish foreign minister recalled Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s February visit to Jakarta and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s April visit to Türkiye, saying leaders instructed their respective sides to advance ties to the highest level.
Fidan also extended condolences to Indonesia over last month’s landslides and floods in the country’s Sumatra region.
The Turkish defense minister also said that Türkiye and Indonesia agreed to further strengthen cooperation in defense and defense industries through concrete projects and long-term partnerships.
Fidan said the ministers also exchanged views on developments in Palestine, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, and Syria.
He said the issue of Palestine and Gaza was a top priority, noting that Türkiye and Indonesia are among the eight members of the OIC-Arab League contact group on Gaza and have worked closely together over the past two years, with Indonesia contributing to all outcomes achieved so far.
Fidan stressed that the experience showed Islamic countries can make real progress when they demonstrate initiative, courage, effort, and sincerity in addressing issues affecting their own regions.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan discussed the ongoing regional developments amid the conflict between US-Israel and Iran early Saturday with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman.
“Our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, held a phone call with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman. During the call, the conflict situation in our region and the latest developments were discussed,” Türkiye’s Presidency’s Communications Directorate said in a statement.
“Our President conveyed his get-well wishes to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the meeting due to the attacks targeting Saudi Arabia.”
Erdoğan has stepped up his peace diplomacy efforts by holding a series of phone calls with world leaders in a bid to help end the conflict in the region and ensure stability following the recent attacks on Iran.
According to Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications, Erdoğan engaged in diplomatic outreach with several leaders from Europe, the Middle East and beyond as part of Ankara’s efforts to prevent further escalation and promote dialogue during a period of heightened tensions.
A ballistic missile intercepted after being detected heading toward Turkish airspace has renewed debate about NATO’s collective defense principle under Article 5, though alliance officials say the provision has not been triggered in the latest incident.
Türkiye said Wednesday NATO air defenses destroyed an Iranian ballistic missile as it headed into Turkish airspace, marking the first time the alliance member has been drawn into the widening war between Iran, Israel and the United States, and raising the possibility of an expansion involving its bloc allies.
Iran’s General Staff denied the claim the following day, saying that no missile had been launched toward Turkish territory and emphasizing that Tehran respects “the sovereignty of neighboring and friendly country Türkiye.”
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington did not believe the situation would trigger Article 5 of the NATO treaty.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also described the event as serious but said the alliance was not considering invoking the clause.
“Nobody is talking about Article 5,” Rutte said, adding that the most important outcome was that NATO’s adversaries had seen the alliance is “so strong and so vigilant.”
The following overview of NATO’s collective defense clause was outlined in a report by BBC Türkçe.
What is Article 5?
Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty forms the basis of NATO’s collective defense principle, under which an armed attack against one or more allies is considered an attack against all members.
The article states that if such an attack occurs in North America or Europe, each member will assist the attacked ally by taking “such action as it deems necessary,” including the possible use of armed force, in line with the right to individual or collective self-defense recognized by Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
The treaty also stipulates that any such attack and the measures taken in response must be immediately reported to the U.N. Security Council. Those measures would end once the council takes steps necessary to restore international peace and security.
Is Article 5 automatic?
The North Atlantic Treaty does not specify a detailed procedure for activating Article 5. However, two conditions generally need to be met for the collective defense obligation to arise.
The first is that a NATO ally must have been subjected to an armed attack. While the most severe example would be a military invasion, the clause may also apply to lower-level armed attacks.
Attacks targeting land, sea or air assets, including unconventional forms of attack, may fall within its scope.
An armed attack is typically expected to involve damage to property, destruction of assets, or injury or death.
Because Article 5 carries major political and potential military implications, each case is assessed individually.
The second condition is that the NATO member under attack must request or consent to collective action under Article 5. In such a situation, NATO’s main decision-making body, the North Atlantic Council, convenes to determine whether the incident qualifies as an Article 5 case.
A consensus among member states is required for the article to be invoked.
If both conditions are met, NATO allies issue a political declaration stating that collective defense measures are being taken under Article 5.
What happens if invoked?
If Article 5 is invoked, each ally is obligated to assist the NATO member that has been attacked in a manner it considers necessary.
Although the clause is often associated with military intervention, the treaty does not require allies to provide direct military support.
Assistance may include military, political or other forms of support, depending on consultations among allies.
NATO plays a central coordinating role in those discussions and helps establish a common position among member states.
The attacked ally can outline its security needs and receive offers of assistance from other members.
NATO then works to synchronize the support provided by allies.
At the same time, coordination through NATO does not prevent allies from taking unilateral or bilateral measures.
Alternatives in case of attacks
Article 5 is widely seen as a last-resort option within the alliance.
It has been invoked only once in NATO’s history, following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
In many past incidents, including missile strikes or border violations, allies have instead opted for consultations under Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
Article 4 allows member states to request consultations if they believe their territorial integrity, political independence or security is threatened.
Such consultations, however, are not a prerequisite for invoking Article 5, nor does activating Article 4 automatically lead to the collective defense clause being considered.
Due in part to its geographic location and regional security developments, Türkiye has been among the NATO members that most frequently invoke Article 4.
In the latest Iran-linked incident, however, no such consultation request was made within NATO.
Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) helped dismantle a Daesh cell preparing sabotage attacks in Damascus, with three suspects detained and a bomb-laden vehicle seized after intelligence shared with Syrian authorities led to a coordinated operation.
The operation followed intelligence work by MIT, which identified a Daesh-linked cell operating in the Syrian capital and passed the information to Syria’s Internal Security Service Command and General Intelligence Service.
Syrian intelligence units then monitored the suspects’ movements closely and identified their exact location before launching a raid. The operation resulted in the detention of three Daesh members – Omar Hashem, Muhammad Hammad and Hussein Khalef.
At the same time, bomb disposal teams intervened to neutralize a vehicle packed with explosives that had been prepared for remote detonation at a key location. Authorities said the vehicle contained large quantities of C4 and TNT capable of causing major destruction.
The detained suspects were transferred to the counterterrorism department of Syria’s General Intelligence Service for further interrogation and to help identify additional members or supporters linked to the cell.
Security sources said the raid prevented a planned attack believed to have been ordered after a recent Daesh audio message urging terrorists to prepare for operations.
At its peak in 2015, Daesh controlled a swath of territory across Iraq and Syria, half the size of the United Kingdom. It was notorious for its brutality against religious minorities, as well as Muslims who do not follow the terrorists’ ideology.
After years of fighting, the U.S.-led coalition broke the group’s last hold on territory in late 2019, but Daesh cells in multiple countries continue to carry out periodic attacks.
Pakistan said Thursday it stands in strong solidarity with Türkiye and Azerbaijan following recent attacks targeting the two countries, warning that such actions violate international law and risk further escalating regional tensions.
In a statement shared on social media, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said Islamabad is seriously concerned over the incidents and reaffirmed its support for the two “brotherly countries.”
The ministry stressed that attacks directed at Türkiye and Azerbaijan represent a clear breach of international law and the principles governing relations between states, cautioning that such developments could push the region toward greater instability.
Pakistan reiterated its strong solidarity with Ankara and Baku and called on all parties to exercise restraint while prioritizing dialogue and diplomacy to preserve regional peace and stability.
On Wednesday, Türkiye’s Defense Ministry announced that a ballistic munition launched from Iran toward Turkish airspace had been intercepted and neutralized by NATO air and missile defense assets deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In response, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan raised the issue during a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, conveying Türkiye’s reaction and stressing the need to avoid steps that could further expand the conflict.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry reported that drones launched from Iranian territory had targeted the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Following the incident, Iran’s ambassador to Baku, Mojtaba Demirchilou, was summoned and handed a protest note.
A parliamentary commission established to examine the causes behind children being drawn into crime will continue its work for an additional month, Ankara announced on Friday.
The decision to extend the mandate of the commission was approved during a parliamentary session on March 4 and published in the Official Gazette, allowing the body to continue its research from March 10 for another month.
The commission was formed to investigate the root causes that lead children into criminal activity and to propose preventive and protective policies aimed at improving their participation in social life.
Steps against juvenile crime
On the other hand, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said the government is preparing additional legal measures to protect children from criminal environments and strengthen penalties for those who exploit minors in illegal activities, according to the ministry statement published on Friday.
Gürlek noted that authorities aim to prevent children from being drawn into crime while also ensuring rehabilitation for those who have already committed offenses, emphasizing that the ultimate goal is to reintegrate them into society.
“We must keep children away from environments that lead them to commit crimes,” Gürlek said. “If they do commit an offense, we must rehabilitate them and ensure they can return to society.”
He also remarked that the government introduced several provisions in the 11th Judicial Reform Package targeting criminal groups that use minors in illegal activities. The reforms increased penalties for organized crime leaders and members who involve children in crimes.
He added that the government is considering further increases to those penalties under the upcoming 12th Judicial Reform Package, which is currently being prepared.
“In cases where organized crime groups, their leaders or members use children in criminal activities, we have already raised the penalties,” Gürlek said. “We are now considering increasing those penalties again in the 12th Judicial Reform Package.”
The minister emphasized that protecting children and safeguarding their future is a fundamental responsibility of the state.
“Children are entrusted to us,” Gürlek said. “We have a duty to protect their future.”
He also stressed that the role of the state extends beyond preventing crime, noting that authorities must also help create social opportunities that allow young people to build stable futures.
“The state not only prevents crime,” Gürlek said. “It must also offer individuals a social future.”
According to Gürlek, the planned measures aim both to deter criminal groups from exploiting minors and to ensure that children who become involved in crime receive support and rehabilitation so they can return to society as productive individuals.
The proposed changes are expected to be included in the next judicial reform package that the government plans to present to Parliament.
Gürlek previously announced that the Justice Ministry has launched a joint platform with the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Ministry of National Education to study the issue.
The platform will examine social, educational and family-related factors that may lead children toward criminal activity or violent behavior, he said.
“We aim to conduct a comprehensive study on the circumstances that lead children toward violence, starting from family structures and education,” Gürlek stressed. “We are also considering measures to ensure that children who are driven into crime serve the full duration of their sentences.”
He added that the government intends to introduce policies that respond to public concerns over crimes involving minors and perceptions that offenders are not sufficiently punished.
“We will take steps to address crimes involving children and to break the perception of impunity in society,” Gürlek said. “Our goal is to produce regulations that deliver concrete improvements in practice.”
The minister also highlighted ongoing efforts to combat violence against women, noting that recent legislation had established stronger legal tools to address such crimes. Gürlek said additional provisions related to the protection of victims could be included in the upcoming judicial reform package.
“We closely monitor the problems experienced by women who are victims of violence,” he said. “We plan to introduce further regulations on this issue in the 12th Judicial Reform Package and present them to Parliament.”
A series of fatal stabbing incidents involving teenagers has intensified public debate in Türkiye over youth violence and the factors driving minors toward crime. One of the most widely reported cases occurred on Jan. 24, 2025, when 14-year-old Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi was stabbed by a 15-year-old attacker at a street market in Istanbul. Minguzzi died on Feb. 9 after spending 16 days in intensive care.
Just two months later, another fatal stabbing shocked the public in the northern province of Tokat, where 17-year-old national athlete Berkay Melikoğlu was killed.
In one of the most recent incidents, 17-year-old Atlas Çağlayan died after being stabbed during an argument in Istanbul on Jan. 14, with initial findings indicating that the suspect is a 15-year-old.
Foreign ministers from the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) will gather in Istanbul on March 7 for an informal meeting aimed at strengthening cooperation among member countries and addressing pressing regional and global issues, Turkish diplomatic sources said.
The meeting will be hosted by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and attended by representatives from Azerbaijan, the current chair of the organization, as well as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Officials are expected to review recent developments within the OTS and discuss priorities and steps for the coming period.
Comprehensive consultations are also planned on current global and regional challenges. On the sidelines of the meeting, Fidan is expected to hold bilateral talks with his counterparts. Delegation heads are also scheduled to be received collectively by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
In his address, Fidan is expected to stress the importance of expanding cooperation among Turkic states at a time when the region and the international system face growing difficulties in producing peace, stability and justice. He is also expected to highlight the need for a unified stance within the Turkic world calling for an end to ongoing conflicts involving the United States, Israel and Iran, and attacks targeting third countries, urging renewed space for diplomacy.
The Turkish minister is further expected to underline the importance of preventing further escalation of tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan through dialogue and peaceful solutions. He will also call for an end to what Ankara describes as the unjust isolation imposed on Turkish Cypriots and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), encouraging OTS members to deepen political, economic and cultural ties with the community.
Fidan is also expected to outline Türkiye’s priorities regarding the planned “OTS+” format aimed at expanding cooperation with third parties within the organization.
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