Politics
Türkiye steps up global role with mediation, climate push, aid efforts
Over the past decades, Türkiye has expanded its public diplomacy efforts beyond traditional communication, positioning a wide range of institutions and nonstate actors as key tools in shaping its international image.
Institutions such as the Yunus Emre Institute (YEE), the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), the Turkish Maarif Foundation, the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) and Anadolu Agency (AA) are cited as leading contributors to Türkiye’s public diplomacy architecture.
AA operates in 144 countries and publishes in 13 languages, making it one of the world’s largest international news agencies. TRT, meanwhile, conducts multilingual broadcasting tailored to regional audiences through channels such as TRT World, TRT Arabi, TRT Türk and TRT Avaz, officials say. TRT has also expanded its cultural outreach through its digital streaming platform “tabii,” which distributes Turkish television series globally.
Speaking on Jan. 20, 2026, Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran said public diplomacy has become increasingly critical in an era where communication is used as a strategic weapon. In a social media post, Duran said Türkiye was building secure and effective communication ecosystems under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, while actively combating disinformation.
Another cornerstone of Türkiye’s public diplomacy is the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), held annually since 2021. The fourth forum took place in April 2025 under the theme “Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World,” highlighting concerns over global polarization, inequality, violence against civilians and declining trust in international institutions.
The next edition, scheduled for April 17-19, 2026, will focus on “Designing the Future: Managing Uncertainty,” continuing Türkiye’s efforts to position itself as a hub for global diplomatic engagement.
Public diplomacy initially emerged as a government-driven communication process, but advances in digital technology and global media have diversified its actors. Universities, opinion leaders, media organizations, international institutions, private companies and individual citizens are now considered central to public diplomacy.
Humanitarian diplomacy
Türkiye has intensified its use of humanitarian diplomacy to position itself as a global peace broker, delivering not only humanitarian and development assistance but also acting on moral and ethical principles across the world during crises.
Erdoğan has framed the country’s foreign policy around global justice and reform of the international system, often using the slogan “The world is bigger than five,” underlining that humanitarian diplomacy forms a core element of this vision.
During the Syrian civil war, Ankara became the world’s largest host of refugees, sheltering millions of Syrians and still continues to extend humanitarian and mediation efforts across regions, including Gaza, Somalia, Sudan and Libya, presenting itself as a global advocate for civilians affected by war and crisis.
The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) has launched two development projects in Mozambique and Djibouti aimed at supporting vulnerable groups, strengthening local production capacity and promoting sustainable economic growth. It aims to support women who are victims of physical and sexual violence and reintegrate them into social and economic life.
As part of the initiative, a production kitchen has been established to contribute to the women’s rehabilitation process while enabling them to generate a regular income.
In a separate project in Djibouti, TIKA supports the development of the fisheries sector by providing infrastructure and equipment for fishing boat production and establishing a dedicated boat manufacturing workshop. The agency supplies equipment and materials.
TIKA also completed the construction of a flood-resilient settlement for vulnerable river island communities in northern Bangladesh, delivering a long-term solution to recurring displacement caused by flooding and riverbank erosion along the Brahmaputra River.
The agency opened a newly constructed school building in northern Afghanistan as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen education, employment and local production through development projects. In December, the 24th “Kindness Train,” carrying 1,300 tons of emergency relief supplies for earthquake survivors, including 28,000 food parcels, 560 tons of food supplies, 550 tons of flour and 14,000 blankets, was sent.
Türkiye’s rail-based humanitarian deliveries to Afghanistan over the past three years have reached a cumulative 11,768 tons.
On the other hand, Türkiye has always called for an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Sudan, reiterating its continuous support to the countries and people suffering there.
Following the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) dispatching its 19th “Goodness Ship,” carrying nearly 1,300 tons of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip from the southern Mersin Port in December, most recently, the 20th “Goodness Ship” arrived in Egypt’s al-Arish port on Sunday, carrying 1,400 tons of humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza.
The ship carried food, blankets, tents, winter clothes and hygiene kits among other aid materials, for Palestinians who struggle to survive in the harsh winter in the Palestinian enclave, almost razed to the ground by Israel’s genocidal attacks since 2023.
The 6th humanitarian “Goodness Ship” was also sent to Sudan, delivering 2,600 tons of aid as part of ongoing efforts to support civilians affected by the country’s ongoing civil war.
Last week, TIKA and UNICEF signed a cooperation protocol on Thursday aimed at improving the living conditions of children and young people in Cameroon.
Moreover, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Türkiye also provided aid all across the globe to 131 countries affected by the pandemic including Germany, China, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, Norway, Nigeria, Mexico and Somalia, in coordination with the Health Ministry, the National Defense Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, TIKA, Kızılay and nongovernmental groups (NGOs), in-kind aid.
The assistance included donations of medical supplies and equipment such as protective gear, diagnostic kits, medicines and ventilators.
Mediation and peace diplomacy
Over the past few years, issues regarding securing justice and representation within the current international system have become unsustainable. Erdoğan’s “The world is bigger than five” approach represented not only a political stance but also a humanitarian and ethical call for reform.
Türkiye has been a staunch critic of Israel, with which it was about to normalize relations before the new round of the Palestine-Israel conflict began in 2023. The Gaza conflict remained a central theme in several meetings.
Before and after the cease-fire plan, which took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, Türkiye played a key role in ending the devastating suffering in Gaza and bringing peace and stability to the Middle East. Erdoğan, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalın and other Turkish political figures urged to make constructive steps to revive Gaza and end the Israeli aggression since the beginning of the conflict.
Recently, U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack commented at the Jerusalem Post’s Washington conference on Türkiye’s military capacity and the channels of dialogue with the Palestinian group Hamas, noting that Türkiye should be included in an international stabilization force for Gaza.
A U.S official said earlier in January that Türkiye has played a very integral role in reaching the cease-fire in Gaza, while U.S President Donald Trump’s plan for the Gaza Strip transitions into the second phase.
Türkiye has also been a central diplomatic figure between Kyiv and Moscow since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.
On March 10, 2022, just days after matters escalated, Ankara successfully hosted the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine at the ADF, marking the highest-level meeting since the war’s outbreak.
Furthering its mediation efforts, Türkiye facilitated another crucial gathering of Russian and Ukrainian negotiation teams in Istanbul from March 28 to 30, 2022.
Ankara’s most notable diplomatic triumph was brokering the Black Sea Grain Initiative alongside the U.N. on July 22, 2022. This agreement, aimed at alleviating global food security threats triggered by the war, garnered widespread international acclaim and resulted in establishing a Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul.
Erdoğan has maintained open communication channels with Moscow and Kyiv. With his landmark visit to Lviv on Aug. 18, 2022, Erdoğan became the only NATO leader to have visited both nations since hostilities erupted, reflecting Türkiye’s unique position.
Furthermore, Türkiye successfully facilitated a significant prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine on Sept. 22, 2022.
Türkiye significantly influenced the decadeslong Azerbaijan-Armenia dispute over Karabakh. In September 2023, Azerbaijan successfully regained control of Karabakh through a swift 44-day military campaign triggered by Armenian provocations and attacks.
Türkiye played a critical supporting role throughout the conflict, offering extensive defense industry cooperation, technology transfers, and strategic diplomatic support that contributed significantly to Azerbaijan’s military success and subsequent peace efforts.
Türkiye with its strong commitment to preventive diplomacy and mediation, worked to resolve conflicts peacefully across a wide range of geography including reconciliation in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine and Kyrgyzstan, the establishment of the trilateral cooperation mechanism with Afghanistan and Pakistan and the launch of the “Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process” based on the principle of regional ownership, the establishment of trilateral consultation mechanisms between Bosnia-Herzegovina-Croatia-Türkiye and Bosnia-Herzegovina-Serbia-Türkiye, and the Ankara Declaration between Ethiopia and Somalia, as the Foreign Ministry stated.
Climate diplomacy
Türkiye’s climate policies, emissions-reduction targets, and green transition programs serve as a global example.
Türkiye secured the hosting and presidency of COP31, with Australia to lead negotiations at the summit, in a win-win solution following negotiations of the impasse between the two countries led by Environment, Urban Planning and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP30 conference, held last year in Brazil.
“More than 80,000 people from 196 countries will be here, and we will show them Türkiye’s power to hold such summits and our hospitality,” Kurum said to reporters during the Antalya EXPO Fairgrounds earlier in January.
The 31st Conference of the Parties is scheduled to take place on Nov. 9-20, 2026, primarily in Antalya, with a leaders’ summit in Istanbul.
The Zero Waste Project, one of Türkiye’s most prominent international initiatives in recent years, is positioned as a cornerstone of the COP31 process. The initiative promotes a comprehensive approach focused on resource efficiency, circular economy principles, waste reduction and sustainable production and consumption models.
As part of COP31 preparations, the Zero Waste Foundation is implementing a comprehensive process to define the conference’s sustainability standards. The “Sustainable COP31 Framework” developed by the foundation aims to reduce the event’s carbon footprint, optimize resource use and make environmental performance measurable for all stakeholders.
Designed in line with U.N. sustainable event standards, the framework includes zero waste management protocols, carbon reduction and offset strategies, sustainable logistics and transportation planning, environmental performance criteria for event venues, and stakeholder engagement and transparency mechanisms. The goal is to make COP31 a global model for sustainable mega-events.
The zero waste vision was launched under the leadership of first lady Emine Erdoğan, founder of the Zero Waste Project and honorary president of the Zero Waste Foundation.
Moreover, recently, the High Seas Treaty, considered a landmark global agreement to protect marine biodiversity in international waters, entered into force on Jan. 17, after receiving the required 60 ratifications, marking a major milestone in ocean conservation.
The agreement, formally known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), was adopted by the U.N. in 2023. It establishes a legal framework for creating protected areas on the high seas and requires environmental impact assessments for activities that could harm fragile marine ecosystems.
Cultural diplomacy
Using television series, cuisine and heritage sites, Türkiye has increased cultural outreach across the world to strengthen its global image and tourism appeal.
Gastrodiplomacy, as a soft-power strategy, uses national cuisine to connect with foreign publics, creating lasting cultural ties and serving as a strategic tool to support economic relations.
Recently, the traditional Turkish dessert “Antakya Künefe,” which earned the No. 1 spot on the World’s 100 Best Desserts list by TasteAtlas, stands out for being prepared with a cheese that is protected by a geographical indication.
Following the recent registration of Hatay’s “kaytaz böreği” and Gaziantep baklava, Türkiye’s EU-recognized GI count reached 40. Authorities aim to raise that figure to 45 by the end of this year and 60 next year.
Over the past two decades, Turkish series have built a strong audience base across a vast geography stretching from the Middle East to the Balkans, and from Latin America to South Asia.
One of the earliest and most symbolic examples of this shift was the hit television series “Magnificent Century,” which depicted life inside the Ottoman palace and sparked widespread curiosity across the world. With “Resurrection: Ertuğrul,” an epic drama that emphasized themes of justice, loyalty and sacrifice, the series gained a strong following from Pakistan to Indonesia and across Central Asia and the Gulf, particularly resonating in Muslim-majority societies.
Television productions have also reshaped domestic tourism. Series such as “Uzak Şehir” “Hercai” and “Sıla” transformed the southeastern city of Mardin into popular destinations, with filming locations becoming symbolic stops for visitors.
Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said last month that Türkiye ranks first globally in annual television episode production and is among the world’s top three TV exporters. He noted that the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency operates in nearly 200 countries, with the GoTürkiye platform reaching more than 21 million followers worldwide.
On the other hand, cultural diplomacy has extended beyond television and cuisine. Göbeklitepe, the 12,000-year-old UNESCO World Heritage site often described as the “zero point of history,” has inspired contemporary artists abroad and drawn renewed attention following recent archaeological discoveries, including a rare human statue believed to have been placed as a votive offering.
The growing rift between the main opposition New Party (YP) and the former main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) manifested in Muğla, a southwestern city home to world-famous Bodrum and other top tourism destinations. A local CHP official suggested that Mayor Ahmet Aras should face disciplinary proceedings for his contacts with YP.
YP was formed in July by Özgür Özel, the former chair of CHP. Özel was removed from office by a court ruling over allegations of vote-buying during a 2023 intra-party election that brought him to power. He was replaced by his predecessor Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Kılıçdaroğlu’s return sparked a bitter row with supporters of Özel, who accused him of betraying the party by accepting the court’s request for his reinstatement. Özel initially appealed the verdict but decided to form the new party after receiving overwhelming support among CHP lawmakers.
Under Kılıçdaroğlu, CHP began what it called a “cleansing” process, expelling several figures accused of corruption. The new administration has been more muted about the fate of members openly supporting Özel while several mayors resigned from the party and remain independent, leaving the door open for a future switch to YP.
Aras, who was Bodrum mayor for CHP before his election as Muğla Metropolitan Municipality mayor in the 2024 elections, faces accusations of cooperating with YP while remaining in CHP. CHP’s local branch was angered when Aras temporarily handed over his duties to a YP municipal assembly member in Muğla during a recent visit to Syria. Aras also reportedly ceased contact with CHP’s Muğla branch.
Aziz Gürsoy, head of CHP’s disciplinary board in Muğla, told the Sabah newspaper that Aras has almost severed all ties with CHP.
“It is neither ethical nor legitimate for Mr. Aras to remain in the CHP under the current conditions. In fact, I believe there is bad intent here. He needs to be expelled immediately. Even during his trips abroad, he leaves the municipality (to YP). He has no communication with us. He no longer has any emotional or organic ties to the CHP,” Gürsoy stated.
Stating that they will protect the institutional structure of the CHP under all conditions and that no one is above the party, Gürsoy said: “The current picture creates serious concern among the CHP base. If this situation continues, as the president of the provincial disciplinary board, I will personally apply to headquarters for Mr. Aras’s expulsion. We will not hesitate to take any step necessary to protect the rights, rules and institutional structure of the CHP.”
According to the CHP bylaws, metropolitan mayors can only be referred to the High Disciplinary Board upon the request of the Party Assembly.
The name of Lütfü Türkkan, a lawmaker from the opposition Good Party (IP), came up in an investigation into judiciary officials accused of taking bribes. Prosecutors in Istanbul separated the case of Türkkan and referred it to Ankara on Monday for further investigation.
The Bakırköy Chief Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul has recently ordered the arrest of eight suspects in an investigation into judges accused of taking bribes in exchange for verdicts in favor of defendants in some cases. The investigation specifically focused on a former judge working at the Court of Enforcement who was accused of receiving millions of Turkish liras in bribes.
Suspects in the case are also accused of running a criminal organization apparently thriving on bribes. Authorities are now looking into cases handled by several Istanbul courts between 2022 and 2024, on suspicion that some businesspeople, politicians and lawyers sought to influence trials and get verdicts in their favor in exchange for bribes, employing judges and court staff. In connection with the case, the Board of Judges and Prosecutors suspended five people, including judges and prosecutors.
In one instance of the suspicious cases, investigators are looking into the claim that M.Ş. and Y.A., identified only through their initials, served as mediators in a case involving lawmaker Türkkan and secured a verdict in favor of the lawmaker, reports by Turkish media outlets say.
In a social media post on Sunday, Türkkan rejected claims, though he acknowledged that a case he was party to was handled by one of the arrested judges. He said that being a party to a trial involving the suspect did not mean that he should be associated with “allegations (of bribery).” He said his lawyers were looking into the case and he never met the judge in person during the trial.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will be joined by National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and Chief of General Staff Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu on a visit to Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh on Monday.
They will attend a meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee of the historic Mecca Joint Defense Alliance, formed by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in August. The meeting comes amid rising threats to Saudi Arabia by the Houthis in Yemen.
Foreign Ministry sources said on Sunday that Fidan would reaffirm Türkiye’s strong solidarity with and support for Saudi Arabia in the face of Houthi attacks and underline that provocative acts targeting sacred sites are unacceptable. Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to its most sacred site, the Kaaba, located in Mecca. Mecca has recently come under fire from the Houthis.
The Houthi group said on Saturday that it targeted Saudi oil company Aramco in Riyadh with ballistic missiles and drones in response to attacks on the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.
The operation “successfully achieved its objective,” causing fires at the targeted sites, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a televised statement.
Saree added that Sanaa and other provinces had been subjected to 60 airstrikes over the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of strikes to 1,420. He attributed the attacks to Saudi Arabia.
The spokesperson warned that the group would respond to “blockade with blockade, and escalation with escalation.”
Meanwhile, Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s government, said in remarks carried by Saudi media, including Asharq Al-Awsat, that Houthi claims of targeting Riyadh on Saturday were “misleading.”
He added that the Houthis were trying to “divert attention from the scale of their losses and growing public anger over the militias’ conduct and their ties to foreign agendas that have brought chaos and destruction to Yemen.”
Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government against Houthi forces, which have controlled Sanaa and several other governorates since September 2014.
In July this year, the Houthis announced a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, saying the move was in response to a Saudi naval and air siege on areas under their control in Yemen. The group has since targeted energy infrastructure in the kingdom.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud signed the Mecca agreement for joint defense in Mecca on Aug. 7, 2026. The agreement aims to bolster the security of Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia through joint deterrence and defense, and reflects the three countries’ commitment to developing regional solutions to regional issues and their shared strategic vision centered on regional security and stability.
A Strategic Political and Defense Committee, comprising the foreign and defense ministers and chiefs of general staff of the three countries, was established to guide activities under the agreement. The committee held its inaugural meeting in Istanbul on Aug. 31, 2026. At the meeting, foundational decisions were adopted, and technical work toward institutionalizing the alliance was reviewed. Accordingly, the alliance’s secretariat is expected to be established in Riyadh as soon as possible. Retired Pakistani Lt. Gen. Nauman Mahmood has been nominated to serve as its first secretary-general.
The foreign ministers of the three countries held a meeting in New York on Sept. 24, 2026, on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. Regional developments were discussed at the meeting. In a joint statement issued afterward, the three countries condemned attacks targeting the holy city of Mecca and Saudi Arabia’s civilian and economic infrastructure. The chiefs of general staff of the three countries met in Riyadh on Sept. 25, 2026.
Turkish sources said Fidan would convey Türkiye’s views on the next steps for the alliance and its institutionalization process. He will also offer Türkiye’s assessment of threats to peace and stability in the Middle East and views on regional developments related to the joint security of the allies. He is also expected to highlight how the alliance’s progress in a short time has proved valuable for the prospects of lasting stability in the region, as well as the importance of the alliance both in building capacity for a joint and efficient response to existing threats and in preventing regional crises.
Fidan is also expected to underline the prioritization of peaceful means to resolve conflicts in the region and the need to avoid steps that may escalate tensions. He will also stress the importance of ensuring the freedom and security of navigation on international trade routes and discuss how Israel has continued to undermine efforts for regional peace and stability.
In an interview last month, Fidan said the alliance had reached an advanced stage, with efforts underway to establish its headquarters and assign personnel, describing the initiative as a “very game-changing platform.” Fidan also implied that Türkiye stood ready to provide technical assistance to Saudi Arabia amid an escalating conflict with the Houthis in Yemen.
Fidan stated that there is “a very strong will” behind the alliance and that Ankara is working to turn that political will into action.
“The Mecca alliance is really at a good stage. There’s a very strong will that has been put forward. We’re working with all our strength to put this will into action,” Fidan told broadcaster NTV last month.
He said steps toward institutionalizing the alliance are underway, particularly work to establish a secretariat envisaged under the agreement and a military headquarters affiliated with it. He added that detailed preparations for both structures have “almost been completed” and that the three countries have reached a common understanding of how they will operate.
“There are steps currently being taken toward institutionalization. In particular, the work on establishing the secretariat mentioned in the agreement and bringing an affiliated military headquarters into operation is almost complete. We have reached a common understanding. From now on, the remaining stage is to send personnel and make the headquarters operational. I am pleased with the process on this issue,” Fidan said.
He said that once institutionalization steps are completed, talks could be held with the other two founding countries on admitting new members.
“There is such a principle decision because our president said this from the beginning. If this does not grow, then it would not be an alliance area. We would have created a bloc. Our regional vision is for as many countries in the region as possible to come together and establish a common defense area.
“This defense area is not against outsiders; it is about solving problems within the region better through regional ownership and creating an environment of trust that has not existed before, in order to prevent new crises from emerging. The basic point of departure for all of this is the search for regional solutions to regional problems,” Fidan said.
He stressed that the alliance was not intended to create a new regional bloc against other countries but to establish a common defense framework based on regional ownership.
“It is an alliance open to the countries of the region,” he said.
Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz was among the dignitaries attending the International Bediüzzaman Symposium, held under the theme “Quranic Solutions to Global Crises,” in Istanbul on Sunday. The occasion was also a remembrance of prominent 20th-century Muslim scholar Said Nursi, who also carried the honorific Bediüzzaman, or “wonder of the age.”
Speaking at the symposium, Yılmaz explained how the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) sought to portray itself as followers of Nursi and how the scholar fought against imperialist forces during his lifetime.
The two-day event hosts scholars from across the world. Along with Yılmaz, Mohammed Abu al-Khair Shukri, Syria’s minister of Awqaf, or Endowments, in charge of managing religious affairs; Safi Arpaguş, head of Türkiye’s Presidency of Religious Affairs; and Necmettin Bilal Erdoğan, head of the board of trustees at Türkiye’s Foundation for Dissemination of Knowledge, attended Sunday’s symposium.
Nursi, who passed away in 1960, was a Kurdish scholar best known for his Risale-i Nur collection of writings on the Quran. Early in his life, he was instrumental in the fight against the Russian occupation of eastern Türkiye, where Nursi originated. He was also a staunch opponent of Western powers invading present-day Türkiye in the last days of the Ottoman Empire. Nursi inspired several movements that came to be known as “Nurcular.” FETÖ also claimed to follow Nursi’s teachings but evolved into what it is known today: a terrorist group that tried to seize power in 2016 through its military infiltrators.
In his speech at the symposium, Yılmaz delved into FETÖ’s scheme to brainwash people into doing its bidding. “Unfortunately, we confronted a network exploiting the name of Bediüzzaman and his writings, a network that stirred up strife in our country. FETÖ is a terrorist network serving international powers and intelligence agencies. It is also a structure treating its members as slaves who do not question the leader. The Quran teaches us to use our minds. FETÖ held people’s minds hostage,” Yılmaz said.
Yılmaz, who also heads a board overseeing the terror-free Türkiye initiative, spoke at length about the process that aims for the full dissolution of the terrorist group PKK. The PKK, exploiting disillusioned Kurds deprived of their rights, carried out a campaign of violence since the 1980s that killed tens of thousands of people across Türkiye. In 2024, Türkiye launched the initiative by highlighting the need to strengthen unity between Turks and Kurds against external threats. Yılmaz said they wanted to remove terrorism from Türkiye’s and the wider region’s agenda permanently.
He lamented that, for a long time, the very imperialist powers Nursi fought against sought to pit people against each other in the region.
“As the Republic of Türkiye, we have to end those conflicts, this ethnic and sectarian strife, and act in unison. We have to create a region where terrorism is no longer an issue, where foreign powers are not able to exploit our resources,” he said.
“Bediüzzaman Said Nursi was a man of these lands. He fought against imperialists. He did not flee to another country to incite strife in Türkiye as certain people did,” he said, referring to Fethullah Gülen, who died in Pennsylvania, United States, where he spent his last years in a self-styled “exile” while facing multiple arrest warrants issued by Türkiye for his role in the 2016 coup attempt.
The Turkish Parliament will begin its weekly session on Tuesday, following the inauguration of the new legislative year last Thursday. Parliament’s General Assembly will debate a new bill on the Turkish Red Crescent, while the Planning and Budget Committee will hear from Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan.
The bill on the Turkish Red Crescent would make the Turkish Red Crescent, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the national Red Crescent and Red Cross societies of other countries the sole authorized entities for receiving and using in-kind and cash assistance sent to Türkiye during ordinary or extraordinary circumstances. Cash compensation will also be paid to personnel of the Turkish Red Crescent who are actively serving in the field to carry out the organization’s activities during extraordinary periods and times of disasters, war and conflict. In provinces and districts where Red Crescent branches and representative offices are located, the heads of the provincial and district Red Crescent branches will also become members of the boards of trustees of the Foundations for Social Assistance and Solidarity, the state entities overseeing social aid schemes for disadvantaged individuals.
On Tuesday, Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan will make a presentation to the Parliamentary Planning and Budget Committee. Karahan is expected to deliver a comprehensive presentation on global developments, the Turkish economy, inflation and the monetary policy framework at the meeting.
The Parliamentary Public Works, Reconstruction, Transport and Tourism Commission will also convene to discuss the bill on Foreign Digital Accommodation Platforms.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, parliamentary group meetings of the political parties represented in Parliament will be held.
Cemil Tugay, the independent mayor of Türkiye’s third-largest province, Izmir, who resigned from the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), will join the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) this week, media outlets reported Sunday. Tugay met President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Presidential Complex on Sept. 30, fueling rumors about the switch. Tugay and Erdoğan reportedly met to discuss the needs of Izmir, but media outlets said the mayor later met officials at the AK Party’s Izmir branch, leading to further speculation about the switch.
Erdoğan will officially welcome him to the party at the AK Party’s parliamentary group meeting on Oct. 7. Along with Tugay, the mayors of two district municipalities in Izmir are expected to join the AK Party, media reports said. Pro-opposition Sözcü newspaper reported that Tugay canceled all appearances after meeting with Erdoğan and has not returned calls from journalists.
If the switch takes place, it will be the first time the AK Party has taken over a municipality in Izmir, a longstanding CHP stronghold. The CHP is already in tatters after former Chair Özgür Özel founded the New Party (YP) in July, taking dozens of lawmakers from the CHP with him. The YP is now the main opposition party thanks to the sheer number of its lawmakers in Parliament, while several mayors have signaled that they would join the party soon.
The number of mayors elected under the CHP banner who have since joined the AK Party has risen to 44.
The latest switches include the mayors of the Çerkezköy, Çiğli, Elmalı, Şenkaya and Marmara districts, continuing a series of defections from the CHP since the 2024 local elections.
President Erdoğan presented party badges to the nine mayors during the party’s Expanded Provincial Chairs Meeting in Ankara last month and wished them success in their work.
The CHP won 420 municipalities across Türkiye in the 2024 elections. With 44 mayors having since resigned from the party and joined the AK Party, the figure represents roughly one in every 10 mayors elected on the CHP ticket, according to the figures.
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