Politics
Türkiye’s AK Party mulls reshuffle of local chairs
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is working on a substantial reshuffle at the local level. Party sources say that Deputy Chair Ahmet Büyükgümüş is coordinating the efforts for “field analysis” and evaluating the performance of branches.
The party sources say that the planned change will not be limited to just names, but that a deeper and more fundamental transformation in the organizational structure is being targeted.
The results of the most recent local elections, on-the-ground performance, and the level of engagement established with voters are among the most important factors shaping the process. Sources report that individuals who lack support in the field are being documented through detailed analyses.
Based on the data obtained, reports are prepared and presented by Büyükgümüş to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. If President Erdoğan forms an opinion in favor of change, a search for new chairpersons is initiated for the relevant provinces and districts.
Meanwhile, efforts carried out in line with the directive from the Organization Directorate of the party to recruit new members in provincial and district branches are also being closely monitored. Reports prepared by coordinators and regional heads are regularly submitted to the headquarters. Individuals who have terminated their party membership are contacted one by one to learn their reasons. Issues that can be resolved are addressed, while unresolved matters are directly reflected in the performance evaluations of provincial and district chairpersons.
Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen will make his inaugural visit to Türkiye on Thursday. The minister, who assumed office in February, will meet Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Ankara, with a busy agenda on Turkish-Dutch relations and other issues.
Foreign Ministry sources said on Wednesday that during the talks, Fidan is expected to highlight the importance of improving multidimensional relations between the two countries, especially in the framework of the planned 11th meeting of the “Wittenburg Conference” in Türkiye.
The conferences were inaugurated in 2008, in the eponymous castle in the Dutch Wassenaar. They were scrapped between 2014 and 2018 as the two countries’ relations deteriorated over a series of issues, particularly over the Dutch opposition to a campaign on the Turkish constitutional referendum that led to a diplomatic crisis. The sides resumed relations in 2019.
Still, issues remain between the two countries while Ankara apparently hopes to overcome them with the new Dutch government, which took office two months ago. One of them is the extradition of a terror suspect. Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, who hosted his Dutch counterpart David van Weel earlier this month, pointed out the issue at the meeting. Gürlek stated back then that they were still awaiting the extradition of 217 Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) and eight PKK members from the Netherlands, according to the minutes of the meeting released by the Turkish Ministry of Justice. FETÖ, which is known for its widespread infiltration in Türkiye, tried to overthrow the government three times in 2013 and 2016. When their network was uncovered in the wake of these attempts, members of the terrorist group fled abroad, mostly to Europe. Germany and the Netherlands were among the “safe havens” they found. European countries were quick to grant asylum to FETÖ members who portrayed themselves as members of the so-called innocuous-sounding “Service (or Gülen) Movement.” Gürlek also urged the Netherlands not to grant asylum or hand out residence permits to members of FETÖ and the PKK and to consider reviewing permits already issued.
Foreign Ministry sources said Fidan would also discuss sustaining work to increase bilateral trade volume to $20 billion. In 2025, the trade volume was $13.3 billion. The Netherlands ranks first among countries with direct investment in Türkiye, which reached to $33 billion in 2025. Türkiye’s direct investment in the Netherlands exceeded $21 billion. Two countries have a Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), which held its last meeting in Istanbul in January 2025.
Fidan is also expected to highlight the need for having a strategic viewpoint by the European Union in Turkish-EU relations and, in this context, will voice Türkiye’s anticipation of progress in matters including updating the customs union and establishment of visa liberalization, sources said. He will also talk about the need for cooperation with all partners under the umbrella of NATO for initiatives launched by the European Union to improve the continent’s security. The Russia-Ukraine conflict and a fallout with the United States on defense pushed Europe to boost its defenses. Last year, EU countries adopted a regulation setting up SAFE, a new financial instrument designed to support member states that wish to invest in defense industrial production through common procurement, focusing on priority capabilities. Türkiye seeks inclusion in the mechanism as a partner.
The talks will also focus on the Turkish diaspora in the Netherlands and how Türkiye prioritized their peace and prosperity. The European country hosts a Turkish community of around 500,000 people.
In addition, Fidan will discuss the conflict between the U.S., Israel and Iran that began with attacks on Iran and continued with Iran’s attacks on third countries. The ministry sources said Fidan will share information about efforts for a peaceful solution to the conflict. Separately, the Turkish minister will highlight how Israel’s illegal moves in the Palestinian territories, annexation policies and escalating attacks on Lebanon threatened regional stability. He will stress that Israel’s attempts and provocations targeting sacred sites, particularly Al-Aqsa Mosque, were unacceptable.
Sources said Fidan will reiterate Türkiye’s commitment to success in diplomatic processes to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict and underline how important it was for Syria to stay away from regional conflicts in its path to recovery, after years of civil war.
Türkiye and the Netherlands pursue close dialogue in the face of regional and global challenges and maintain multidimensional relations with political, economic, military and social aspects.
The last high-level meeting between the two countries was between then-Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the margins of the NATO summit in June 2025. Fidan himself visited the Netherlands for the 10th meeting of the Wittenburg Conferences in April 2024.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan resumed his phone diplomacy for ending the U.S.-Israel-Iran war on Wednesday, hours after the United States refrained from a hinted all-out offensive, and the sides appear to accept a cease-fire.
Fidan held a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and expressed Türkiye’s satisfaction with the temporary cease-fire, Foreign Ministry sources said. He said Ankara would continue its efforts to establish a permanent peace.
Türkiye recently joined Pakistan and Egypt in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
After Araghchi, Fidan held a phone call with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. Sources said the two top diplomats discussed steps for elevating the temporary cease-fire to a permanent, regional truce.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two-week cease-fire with Iran on Tuesday, saying Tehran presented a “workable” 10-point proposal for negotiations.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said the 10-point proposal delivered to the U.S. through Pakistani mediation includes a key U.S. commitment to non-aggression, continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of uranium enrichment, and the lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions.
The proposal also includes paying compensation to Iran, withdrawing U.S. combat forces from the region and ending the war on all fronts, including the war against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Turkish security forces detained 29 suspects in coordinated operations across 12 provinces centered in Izmir as part of an investigation into the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), authorities said Tuesday.
The operations were carried out under the coordination of the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, with police and gendarmerie units conducting simultaneous raids.
According to officials, the suspects were identified as part of the group’s alleged military clandestine structure. Investigators said some of the suspects had been dismissed from military schools by government decree and were linked through witness statements and identification procedures. Authorities also said the suspects were contacted via payphones, a method previously associated with the group’s communication network.
Police counterterrorism and intelligence units detained 19 suspects during operations across multiple provinces. Authorities said two additional suspects were believed to be abroad.
Separately, gendarmerie counterterrorism teams carried out early morning raids targeting addresses linked to the same network, detaining 10 suspects. One additional suspect remained at large, with efforts ongoing to locate and apprehend the individual.
Legal proceedings have been initiated against all 29 detainees, authorities said, adding that the investigation is continuing.
The terrorist group orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, in Türkiye, in which 252 people were killed, and 2,734 were wounded. Ankara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.
Türkiye has targeted the group’s active members and sleeper cells nonstop, and its influence has been much reduced since 2016.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed the cease-fire between the U.S. and Iran on Wednesday, while hoping for full implementation on the ground.
“We welcome the ceasefire declared last night in the war that has turned our region into a battleground since Feb. 28,” Erdoğan said.
“We hope the cease-fire will be fully implemented on the ground without giving rise to possible provocations or acts of sabotage,” he added.
He also lauded Pakistan’s role as a mediator and said: “We sincerely congratulate all actors who contributed to the process leading to the cease-fire, especially our friend and brother Pakistan.”
Erdoğan also sent out a message for broader regional peace and reiterated that Türkiye will continue to play a key role in that end.
“It is our heartfelt hope that our region – having suffered greatly from war, conflict, tension and oppression – will soon attain peace, tranquility, and stability,” he said.
“Türkiye will continue to raise the voice of peace both in its region and around the world,” said Erdoğan.
Earlier Wednesday, Türkiye formally welcomed the two-week cease-fire in the Iran conflict and called for full compliance from the warring parties.
“We emphasize the necessity of the full implementation of the temporary ceasefire on the ground and express our expectation that all parties will adhere to the agreement,” said the Foreign Ministry in Ankara.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the two-week cease-fire around 90 minutes before the expiry of his deadline overnight, putting a pause on more than a month of fighting since the U.S. and Israel launched large-scale attacks on Iran on Feb. 28.
Ankara said that the path to lasting peace can only be achieved “dialogue, diplomacy, and mutual trust.”
“We will continue to extend all necessary support for the successful conclusion of the negotiations to be held in Islamabad,” the ministry said.
It also congratulated Pakistan for its role in brokering the cease-fire and said it would support negotiations set to take place in Islamabad.
The Foreign Ministry’s Antalya Diplomacy Forum will begin on April 17 in the eponymous Mediterranean Turkish city with the participation of foreign ministers and dignitaries from around the world. The annual event will mark its fifth edition at a time of raging conflicts in the region and talk of a “new order” with major shifts in ties. This year’s theme is fittingly “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties.”
At the forum, Türkiye aims to highlight its vision for diplomacy and peace as Ankara has raised its profile as a key mediator in conflicts in recent years.
With Israel’s aggressive expansionism threatening to further destabilize the region, from the Gulf to Syria and Iran, Türkiye promotes itself as an oasis of stability. The two-day forum will be a platform for Ankara to showcase this vision, discussing sharpening the foresight for future challenges and efficient ways to address those issues.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan are scheduled to make keynote speeches at the forum, which will host leaders’ panels and other sessions entitled ADFPanels, ADFRounds and ADFTalks.
The event is expected to be attended by decision-makers, diplomats, academics, businesspeople, representatives of media and civic society for discussions on managing uncertainties, emergency issues and future challenges through interactive sessions and bilateral meetings.
The forum last year hosted participants from 155 countries, including 21 heads of state and government and 61 ministers.
“As conflicts remain unresolved, polarization grows and strategic rivalries expand, numerous critical issues continue to affect people all over the world. To address these challenges and work toward a more inclusive, fair and effective international system, the consolidation of international cooperation, dialogue and solidarity is imperative,” the forum’s organizers said in a statement on the event’s website.
Türkiye is engaged in a diplomatic blitz on multiple fronts, from the Russia-Ukraine conflict to the U.S.-Israel-Iran war. Under the leadership of Erdoğan, the country seeks a mediator role in conflicts threatening the region and the international community while striving to remain neutral. Over the past two decades, it has become a key actor in international affairs, utilizing its location as a bridge between Europe and Asia and its ability to maintain dialogue with opposite sides of conflicts. This was most evident in its mediating role between Russia and Ukraine. It is the only country that managed to preserve good ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. As for the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, the country balances its ties with NATO ally the U.S. and its eastern neighbor Iran successfully as it yearns to bring the sides to the negotiation table.
Erdoğan on Monday acknowledged that they were working for peace amid the U.S.-Israel-Iran war. “If there is even the slightest chance to silence the guns and open space for negotiations, we are making a sincere effort to seize it,” Erdoğan said, describing the conflict as “unlawful, meaningless and illegitimate” and calling for its immediate end. He warned that “as the war drags on, the fire could spread to other countries,” and added that those prolonging the conflict for political survival should remember that “one day, the tide turns.”
Amid escalating crises across the region, Erdoğan emphasized that Türkiye’s main agenda is to remain insulated from instability and focus on the well-being of its people. “Our government is in control of its agenda; no one can impose an agenda on us,” Erdoğan told a news conference after the Cabinet meeting in Ankara on Monday, dismissing any suggestion of early or snap elections. “Our sole priority is to keep our country away from the fire in our region and improve the livelihood of our nation.”
The president also stressed Ankara’s commitment to peace, warning that prolonged conflicts risk spreading further across the region. “As Türkiye, we will continue to raise our voice for peace,” Erdoğan said, urging the international community to take stronger action against policies that prolong conflict and instability.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday underscored Türkiye’s growing role as a stabilizing force in the Middle East, praising Ankara’s recent diplomatic engagements with regional actors, including Riyadh, Islamabad and Cairo, to de-escalate tensions stemming from the ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Israel and Iran.
Speaking at the inaugural Kuala Lumpur-Ankara Dialogue, jointly organized by the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) and the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia, Anwar said Türkiye’s approach under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan offers a constructive model centered on dialogue rather than escalation.
“Türkiye, as a country not directly party to the conflict, has chosen dialogue over confrontation. This approach stands as an instructive example,” Anwar said.
Anwar noted that the idea for the Kuala Lumpur-Ankara Dialogue emerged from consultations with Erdoğan, adding that the meeting reflects a shared commitment to strengthening ties at a time when the international community is once again confronting the harsh realities of war in West Asia.
The Malaysian leader described the humanitarian toll of the conflict as severe, citing thousands of deaths, including schoolchildren, and the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure such as bridges, oil refineries and nuclear facilities.
“While countries like Türkiye and Malaysia call for an end to military operations and pursue diplomatic efforts to restore stability, the human and material costs of war continue to mount,” he said.
He further accused Israel of continuing attacks in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as maintaining policies in the West Bank and Jerusalem that disregard Palestinian rights.
Anwar cautioned that the conflict risks expanding beyond a regional crisis, warning of long-term consequences for global energy security. He highlighted the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, noting that any sustained disruption there could drive up prices, disrupt production systems and increase living costs for hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
“To prevent a crisis whose effects may last for generations, diplomacy must extend beyond governments to include institutions, industries and societies,” he said.
Turning to bilateral relations, Anwar said the Kuala Lumpur-Ankara Dialogue represents a tangible outcome of deepening ties between Türkiye and Malaysia, strengthened by close personal relations between the two leaders.
Anwar added that both countries aim to enhance collaboration in defense industries, semiconductor technologies, education, research and energy supply.
Highlighting Türkiye’s strategic position bridging Asia and Europe, he said Malaysia has long prioritized relations with Ankara and intends to further deepen cooperation in the years ahead.
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