Politics
Türkiye confirms withdrawal of troops from Iraq
The Ministry of National Defense announced on Thursday that Turkish troops stationed in Baghdad as part of the NATO Iraq mission have left the country under the current circumstances.
NATO ordered its staff in Iraq to evacuate last Friday, while Iraq said that it was a temporary precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the personnel. Iraq, like Türkiye, stands to be affected by the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran war. NATO elements in Türkiye have intercepted several missiles reportedly fired by Iran, but the spillover of the conflict was worse for Iraq. Since the outbreak of war on Feb. 28, after U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, strikes have targeted both U.S. interests and pro-Iranian groups in Iraq. Baghdad has hardened its stance. On Tuesday, it granted former paramilitary groups and pro-Iran factions within the formal popular mobilization forces the “right to respond in self-defense” to attacks.
Bases hosting the Popular Mobilization Force (PMF), part of the regular army but containing some pro-Iran factions, have been targeted by airstrikes. The PMF has blamed these on the United States and Israel.
Some Iraqi pro-Iran factions, which have a presence within the PMF, have claimed daily attacks on U.S.-linked bases and interests in Iraq and across the region. On Tuesday, authorities said they would summon the U.S. charge d’affaires after a deadly strike targeting the PMF killed 15, and the Iranian ambassador over ballistic missile hits that killed six Peshmerga fighters in northern Iraq controlled by Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Defense Ministry spokesperson Zeki Aktürk told a weekly press briefing in Ankara on Thursday that NATO’s Iraq mission was ordered to be evacuated by the alliance due to the latest developments in the region, and Türkiye joined the order, successfully evacuating troops. Aktürk said they also supported evacuation operations for military personnel of other NATO member countries.
The ministry also made a statement on Thursday regarding reports of the establishment of a multinational NATO headquarters. The statement said the work for establishing a corps headquarters as part of NATO’s southeastern flank regional plan in 2023 was done, and Türkiye formally relayed its intention to the alliance in 2024. The ministry said that contrary to the media reports, the headquarters was not established, though they were in contact with NATO for its foundation. The statement also said it was not related to current developments in the region, namely the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, and that the headquarters would serve for the integration of security forces for deterrence and defense missions.
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş said Wednesday that Türkiye is committed to deepening cooperation with the Three Seas Initiative as a newly designated strategic partner, emphasizing the country’s key role in strengthening regional and global connectivity.
Speaking at the Three Seas Initiative Parliamentary Summit hosted by the Croatian Parliament at the National and University Library in Zagreb, Kurtulmuş described Türkiye’s participation as a significant step in expanding collaboration within the platform.
He said connectivity remains one of Türkiye’s core priorities, highlighting ongoing efforts to enhance transportation, energy and communication corridors linking regions across Europe and Asia.
“As the country with the longest coastline on the Black Sea, Türkiye is determined to further deepen its relations with the initiative and develop multidimensional cooperation,” Kurtulmuş said.
He described the Three Seas Initiative as an inclusive framework shaped by the principle of regional ownership, providing a platform for strategic cooperation and consultation among participating countries.
Kurtulmuş pointed to Türkiye’s geostrategic position and advanced infrastructure as key advantages in facilitating connections between different regions of the world. He highlighted major projects such as the Middle Corridor, which links Asia and Europe via the South Caucasus and Central Asia, and the Development Road project connecting the Gulf region to Europe.
He also said the Turkish Parliament is ready to support inter-parliamentary dialogue to help advance the initiative’s goals.
Kurtulmuş warned that ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East demonstrate the fragility of global connectivity in the face of geopolitical tensions. He said the world is experiencing significant regional and international upheavals with lasting consequences.
“The humanitarian disaster in Sudan, the war in Ukraine, the ongoing crisis in Gaza, and the conflict involving Israel, the United States and Iran point not only to a global crisis but also to a profound erosion of the international order established after 1945,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of security in the Black Sea region, describing Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine as a major threat. He reiterated Türkiye’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, including Crimea, and said Ankara continues diplomatic efforts to facilitate a just and lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.
Turning to the Middle East, he called for an end to the conflict involving Iran, warning of its impact on civilians, infrastructure and maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
He added that connectivity should also encompass the exchange of knowledge, culture and values, not just infrastructure, and reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to building corridors of trust, prosperity and resilience linking countries and regions.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance, values or position of Daily Sabah. The newspaper provides space for diverse perspectives as part of its commitment to open and informed public discussion.
Turkish diplomatic sources said on Wednesday that Minister Hakan Fidan had a phone call with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. It was the latest instance of Fidan’s intense phone diplomacy amid the U.S.-Israel war against Iran. Sources said Fidan discussed the war and efforts to end the conflict.
The ministers “emphasized the need for an immediate end to the war”, sources said, adding they stressed as “critically important” maintaining the uninterrupted operation of transport lines, as well as energy and supply chains.
Earlier on Wednesday, Fidan also held phone calls with his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, and Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov.
The calls focused on the latest situation regarding “war in the region,” sources said, referring to the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, adding that ministers discussed efforts to stop the attacks.
Fidan spearheads Türkiye’s efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region as Ankara reportedly pursues the role of the mediator in the conflict. Türkiye maintains close ties with both Iran and the United States and has also stepped up cooperation with the Gulf countries in recent years. The country criticized attacks by both the U.S. and Israel and Iran’s strikes in the Gulf countries. However, it did not openly take sides.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek filed a lawsuit against the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel over the latter’s allegations on March 17 that Gürlek amassed wealth through title deeds.
Gürlek has denied claims that he had an abundance of properties acquired while he was still a prosecutor and told journalists on March 18 that he had only four properties he purchased far below the astronomical fees Özel claimed.
The minister’s lawyer filed a petition to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul for the lawsuit against Özel on charges of insult, defamation and forgery in official documents. Separately, Gürlek sought TL 1 million ($23,000) compensation from the CHP leader.
The petition says Özel launched a systematic defamation campaign against Gürlek and utilized fake documents to prop up his claims. It says that the CHP leader sought to portray Gürlek in a negative light and that his repeated statements against the minister on several occasions were “attacks on Gürlek’s individual rights.” It also said that the allegations that Gürlek had dozens of properties acquired through illegal means were baseless and a figment of Özel’s imagination and pointed out that the title deeds Özel displayed at a news conference on March 17 were fake.
In statements to journalists on March 18, Gürlek argued that Özel’s remarks were politically motivated and aimed at diverting public attention from what he described as a major corruption case.
“Özel’s primary objective is to obscure what has been called the ‘corruption case of the century,’” he stressed.
He also linked the allegations to a separate judicial process involving Antalya’s jailed mayor, Muhittin Böcek, claiming that Özel was attempting to influence public perception regarding that case as well.
The justice minister said he owns four properties, all of which have been officially declared through mandatory asset disclosures required of judges and prosecutors. He disputed claims about the value of one property in Istanbul’s Tuzla district, saying it was worth “TL 3 million to 4 million, not TL 30 million as alleged.”
Gürlek has been in the crosshairs of criticism by the main opposition over the investigation into corruption allegations in CHP-run municipalities.
The party’s leader recently stepped up rhetoric against Gürlek, leading prosecutors in Ankara to launch an investigation into his remarks.
Özel claimed Gürlek was rounding up people linked to his party unfairly, and he would “show him.” He also implied Gürlek lacked “namus” (a Turkish word roughly meaning honesty or dignity) in the same speech. Such a description can be interpreted as a severe insult punishable under Turkish laws.
The CHP launched a blitz against prosecutors and the government in the wake of the arrest of the party’s Istanbul mayor, Ekrem Imamoğlu, in March on graft charges. More arrests followed as investigators dug deeper into a criminal network allegedly led by Imamoğlu. Before his appointment as Justice Minister in February, Gürlek was Istanbul’s chief prosecutor and led investigations into the wrongdoings of Imamoğlu and his associates. The Imamoğlu case was dubbed as corruption of the century by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan scaled back his official visits abroad in recent weeks but conducts a busy diplomatic blitz via phone and occasional meetings as the U.S.-Israel war against Iran and Iran’s retaliatory strikes rock the region. Türkiye’s top diplomat dismissed criticism from the opposition on the country’s foreign policy regarding the war in a terse post on his social media account on Wednesday.
The minister did not mention the war in his post, but it was apparently a blunt response to those seeking to push Türkiye to take sides in the war, specifically by openly aligning with Iran. Türkiye already expressed its opposition to the war, but also criticized Iran for attacks on the Gulf countries, allies of Ankara. Türkiye itself saw missiles landing on its territories while Iran denied that the missiles were theirs.
Fidan said Türkiye’s foreign policy was not shaped by knee-jerk reactions. “They are shaped by the state mindset and strategic foresight, with an independent will centered on our nation’s interests,” Fidan said.
He underlined that under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s strong and resilient leadership, Türkiye has become an international actor with a say in international affairs, an actor with gravity that has an impact on the balance of matters. Fidan said that the critique of the foreign policy ignored the steps Ankara has taken as a responsible state and warped his statements. He also stressed that these were a “product of the malignant minds lacking common sense and any responsibility towards our nation.”
The minister added that Türkiye approaches regional crises calmly and takes responsibility for peace and stability. “Türkiye is a country that has been able to tell all the sides (of a conflict) what it views as right and in a clear way. False allegations against our policy cannot overshadow Türkiye’s sincere efforts,” Fidan added.
Fidan continued an intensive round of telephone diplomacy this week aimed at ending the conflict. The push follows Fidan’s mid-March visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Between March 22 and March 25, Fidan held discussions with a wide range of international counterparts to evaluate efforts to secure a cease-fire.
On March 22, Fidan spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy. He also held talks with U.S. officials. On the same day, he consulted with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and officials from Pakistan.
The next day, the foreign minister held separate calls with Egypt’s Abdelatty and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. He also re-engaged with the Saudi foreign minister to review ongoing peace efforts.
On Wednesday, Fidan spoke with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul to exchange views on ending the hostilities. He later held discussions with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, Qatar’s Al Thani, and Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov.
In a call with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also on Wednesday, Fidan discussed recent regional developments and emphasized the urgency of ending the war. The two ministers noted that maintaining uninterrupted transportation lines, energy supplies and global supply chains is critical to regional stability. They also reviewed bilateral economic and trade relations, including mutual investments. Fidan concluded the round of talks by speaking again with Iran’s Araghchi to discuss the latest status of the conflict between Iran and the U.S.-Israeli forces.
Environment Minister Murat Kurum will travel to New York this week to attend events marking International Zero Waste Day and to promote Türkiye’s bid and vision for hosting the COP31 climate summit, officials said Wednesday.
Kurum is scheduled to take part in a series of meetings and events on March 25-27 as part of a three-day visit to the U.S., according to a statement from the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. The visit coincides with global activities ahead of March 30, designated by the United Nations as International Zero Waste Day.
During his trip, Kurum is expected to brief U.N. representatives on Türkiye’s preparations and priorities for COP31, the 31st Conference of the Parties under the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Türkiye aims to position the summit as an “implementation COP,” focusing on concrete actions, cooperation and measurable outcomes.
The minister will begin his New York program with a meeting at the Turkish House (Türkevi), where he will address representatives of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and nearly 140 U.S.-based business leaders and civil society participants. In his remarks, Kurum is expected to highlight Türkiye’s Zero Waste Project, launched under the patronage of Emine Erdoğan, as a key pillar of the country’s environmental policy.
Kurum will also hold bilateral meetings with senior international officials, including U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He is expected to meet with the head of the U.N. Development Programme and the executive director of the U.N. Environment Programme, where discussions will focus on climate cooperation, sustainability efforts and Türkiye’s COP31 agenda.
On March 27, Kurum will address delegates at the U.N. General Assembly, outlining Türkiye’s vision for COP31 and its broader climate strategy. According to the ministry, his speech will emphasize dialogue, consensus and action as central elements of the planned summit. Türkiye also intends to prioritize clean energy, green transformation and international climate cooperation during the conference.
Following his address, Kurum will attend events marking International Zero Waste Day at U.N. headquarters. The program will include a video message from Emine Erdoğan, honorary chair of the Zero Waste Foundation, alongside speeches by senior international officials and environmental leaders.
The Zero Waste initiative, which promotes sustainable consumption and waste reduction, has been a cornerstone of Türkiye’s environmental messaging in recent years.
First lady Emine Erdoğan promotes water conservation through the Zero Waste Foundation, and the broader Zero Waste Movement, highlighting the protection of water resources and sustainable practices in Türkiye and around the world.
One of the projects is the “Zero Waste Blue – Drop by Drop” campaign, which highlights marine, lake and coastal conservation and encourages citizens to adopt sustainable behaviors that reduce water and resource waste.
Separately, Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications will host an international media program in Istanbul and the northwestern province of Kocaeli from March 27 to March 29 as part of preparations for the climate summit. The event, titled “Road to COP31: Sustainable Future International Media Program,” will bring together 17 journalists from eight countries.
The program aims to increase international awareness of Türkiye’s environmental policies, technological capabilities and scientific infrastructure. Participants will visit the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye’s (TÜBİTAK) Marmara Research Center, where they will receive briefings on wastewater monitoring systems, air quality technologies and environmentally friendly production processes.
In Kocaeli, journalists will observe environmental projects in the Gulf of Izmit, including seabed cleaning operations and marine waste collection efforts. Officials say the visits are intended to showcase Türkiye’s practical steps to protect ecosystems and combat pollution.
The media tours are expected to continue through a series of programs leading up to November, when Türkiye plans to host COP31. Authorities say the initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen international engagement and build support for the country’s climate leadership ambitions.
The COP31, which Türkiye will host, is scheduled to take place from Nov. 9-20, 2026, primarily in Antalya on the Turkish Riviera, with a leaders’ summit in Istanbul.
At the gathering, nearly 200 countries are expected to convene in Türkiye to discuss the next steps in implementing the Paris Agreement, including updated emission reduction targets, adaptation measures, climate finance and carbon market rules.
Foreign Ministry sources said on Wednesday that Minister Hakan Fidan held phone calls with his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, and Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov. The calls focused on the latest situation regarding “war in the region,” sources said, referring to the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, adding that ministers discussed efforts to stop the attacks.
Fidan spearheads Türkiye’s efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region as Ankara reportedly pursues the role of the mediator in the conflict. Türkiye maintains close ties both with both Iran and the United States and has also stepped up cooperation with the Gulf countries in recent years. The country criticized attacks by both the U.S. and Israel and Iran’s strikes in the Gulf countries. However, it did not openly take sides.
“We see the confidence in Türkiye is rising (after the war began). We never adopted an ambivalent stance on the matter. Everyone is aware that we told each side what mistakes they made. We strongly and clearly voice our opinion about how it was wrong what was done to Iran and as well as to the Gulf countries,” he told journalists on Saturday.
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