Politics
TRNC PM accuses Greek Cypriots of raising tensions
Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ünal Üstel commented on the informal EU leaders summit on the Greek Cypriot side of divided Cyprus earlier this week and lamented Greek Cypriots’ stance.
Üstel said in a statement on Sunday that Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides sought to invoke Article 42.7 of the Lisbon Treaty, which calls for EU countries to provide assistance to a member facing armed aggression. The prime minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is not recognized by Europe, said this attempt was “clear in its intention.” “The Greek Cypriot administration attempts to involve Europe in their maximalist policies in the Eastern Mediterranean, to institutionalize their search for military protection and establish a political bloc against the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Türkiye,” he said.
“The Greek Cypriot administration insists on portraying Türkiye and the TRNC as a threat. But the truth is obvious. It is not Türkiye or Turkish Cypriots raising tensions in the region. On the contrary, it is the Greek Cypriot administration that escalated armament in recent years, signed military agreements with various countries and made the island a hub for foreign military entities. It is that administration that put the island at the heart of wars and used a threatening rhetoric against the TRNC and Türkiye,” he underlined.
Üstel stated that the Turkish Cypriot people will never relinquish their rights, sovereign equality or security, despite the aggressive stance
“The European Union must now grasp these realities. On this island, it is the Greek Cypriot administration that attacked Turkish Cypriots, burned their villages and homes, forced them to live in tents, killed them, buried them in mass graves and blocked the path to a lasting reconciliation on the island by rejecting all settlement plans. It is Türkiye that, by exercising its right of guarantorship, put a stop to this brutality and has ensured that peace has prevailed on the island for more than 50 years. Despite all this aggression, the Turkish Cypriot people will never give up their rights, sovereign equality, or security. The path to a permanent, just, and sustainable solution on the island lies in acknowledging the existing realities. As the Government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, we will resolutely continue to defend our vision of a two-state solution based on sovereign equality and equal international status, shaped with the strong support of our motherland Türkiye. We will continue to explain this policy on every platform and strengthen it with concrete steps. No one should think that the Turkish Cypriot people will step back in the face of pressure. This struggle is a struggle for sovereignty, security, and a dignified future,” he said.
Cyprus has been split since 1974 when a Greek Cypriot coup aimed at Greece’s annexation of the island led to Türkiye’s military intervention as a guarantor power to protect Turkish Cypriots from persecution and violence. The TRNC was founded in 1983 and is recognized only by Türkiye. The Greek Cypriot administration, widely recognized internationally, has long supported a bi-communal federation model, while the Turkish Cypriot side has increasingly emphasized full sovereignty for the TRNC. United Nations-led talks over decades have so far failed to produce a comprehensive settlement.
The EU and the United States have grown apart recently, but they appear to agree on one thing: Türkiye is no longer a country to be underestimated in global affairs.
Statements by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who warned against “Turkish influence” in Europe, may be downright hostile, but it is also an acknowledgement of the fact that Türkiye has cemented its place in the world as a key actor, rather than a pawn on the global chessboard. Add this to U.S. Ambassador Tom Barrack’s remarks describing the country as a vital partner for the United States, and it is clear that Türkiye is viewed by the West as an indispensable presence in international relations.
Now, the question is how the West will move forward in its relations with Türkiye. The EU has long maintained its stance on keeping Türkiye at its door, while Ankara was forced to establish one-on-one beneficial cooperation with members of the bloc, which always placed obstacles before it. As for the U.S., Washington seems more engaged with Ankara under the Trump administration, though a solid outcome of renewed ties is yet to be seen, especially in terms of lifting the sanctions.
Under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Türkiye has shifted its absolute alignment with the EU in terms of strategic cooperation to a balanced relationship. It did not lose the ambition for full membership to the bloc, but did not idle around while waiting for membership invitation after completing most of the criteria the EU asked to fulfill. It built new partnerships across the globe rather than remaining focused on Europe.
Nevertheless, as the U.S. under Trump and the Russia-Ukraine conflict upset the EU’s relatively serene world detached from international crises, the Turkish “influence” von der Leyen emphasized may be an ingredient to survive this new era for Europe. Türkiye’s overtures to the bloc in recent months show Ankara needs Brussels as much as it needs Ankara. In other words, both sides need each other, though in different fields. Take the economy, for instance. Türkiye is one of Europe’s largest trading partners. The rise of the Turkish defense industry and Türkiye’s appetite to bolster its defenses with EU products such as Eurofighter jets can also contribute to reinvigorating ties that took blows, especially in the mid-2010s, amid separate crises with members of the bloc, such as the Netherlands.
On a side note, Türkiye has not slammed von der Leyen’s remarks outright as it would have done in the past, and the EU was quick to clarify them. A commission spokesperson told Anadolu Agency (AA) on April 21 that von der Leyen’s remarks were merely “a recognition of its geopolitical clout, size and ambitions.” These attempts to downplay or ignore the remarks also highlight that both sides are keen on maintaining ties in a time of uncertainty. For Türkiye, this silence is something that may be associated with Ankara’s ultimate ambition in peace diplomacy: making new friends and keeping old foes at bay. Speaking of peace diplomacy, Türkiye is still essential for the EU as the only country that can talk to both sides in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and as Kyiv recently pointed out, an ally trustworthy enough for them to host a possible Putin-Zelenskyy meeting. At the end of the day, Türkiye may address the EU’s concerns of lingering conflict that occasionally threatens to spill over into other countries by securing a peace deal, and at the same time, may help the bloc by boosting its defenses as a key partner through the SAFE mechanism Ankara seeks to benefit from.
A group of activists from Türkiye participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla’s Spring 2026 Mission have reaffirmed their determination to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian assistance.
Fatih Varol, a board member of the Global Sumud Flotilla, told Anadolu Agency (AA) on Saturday that the Turkish delegation is among the initiative’s most significant components.
“Türkiye has deep-rooted historical ties with Palestine. As a people, we feel the tragedy unfolding in Gaza much more profoundly. In this regard, both public support in Türkiye and the backing of Turkish civil society organizations are very strong,” he said.
Varol said the Turkish delegation has contributed not only to the fleet’s administration and coordination, but also to vessel preparations at Mediterranean ports through financial support.
He also noted that more than 10 lawmakers from both governing and opposition parties in Türkiye attended the Global Sumud Parliamentarians Congress in Brussels on April 22, forming the diplomatic arm of the mission.
According to Varol, lawmakers from around the world agreed during the meeting to raise calls in their respective parliaments to end the genocide in Gaza, lift the blockade on Palestine, ensure Israel complies with international law, and activate international criminal justice mechanisms.
He said the initiative would help increase international political pressure on Israel and grow through coordinated efforts aimed at paving the way for a freer world.
Görkem Duru, another Turkish activist, said participants are preparing to sail toward Gaza as part of the 2026 mission, stressing that a “fake cease-fire” has not ended occupation, blockade, or violence.
“Last year, the Global Sumud Flotilla set sail. This year, despite the cease-fire, the blockade and occupation continue, so we are setting out again, stronger and more numerous, to break the blockade,” he said.
Duru added that final preparations are underway at Italy’s Augusta Port, while vessels departing from Barcelona have already arrived.
Activist Ömer Aslan, known as the “Local John Wick” due to his resemblance to the character portrayed by Keanu Reeves, said he joined the mission out of humanitarian responsibility.
“While innocent babies and civilians in Gaza suffer oppression and violence, I could not live comfortably in my own country. I joined this peaceful humanitarian action to raise awareness both among my followers and globally,” he said.
Aslan said activists from across the world have joined the flotilla regardless of language, religion, or nationality, united by a common cause.
The Global Sumud Flotilla was created to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, deliver humanitarian aid, and draw international attention to the situation in the enclave.
Created in 2025 by NGO representatives, activists and volunteers from various countries, the flotilla launched its second mission to Gaza.
Its Spring 2026 Mission departed from Barcelona on April 12 with around 70 vessels and nearly 1,000 participants from 70 countries, significantly larger than a previous mission in September 2025, which included 42 boats and 462 participants.
The Israeli military halted the roughly 40 boats assembled by the same organization last October as they attempted to reach blockaded Gaza, arresting Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and more than 450 other participants.
Israel, which controls all access to the Gaza Strip, denies withholding supplies for its more than 2 million residents. Yet, Palestinians and international aid bodies say supplies reaching the territory are still insufficient, despite a cease-fire reached in October, which included guarantees of increased aid.
The Gaza Strip needs around 450 tons of flour daily, while only around 200 tons are currently available, Gaza’s government media office said earlier this month.
Israel is intensifying a policy of “engineered starvation” in Gaza by restricting flour supplies, the office said in a statement.
Despite the cease-fire agreement that allows the entry of 600 trucks per day, Israel allows only 38% of the prewar supply, it added.
The office said the crisis worsened after World Central Kitchen halted its flour support, as the U.S.-based charity previously provided 20 to 30 tons daily, while the World Food Program reduced its supplies from 300 to 200 tons per day, adding that several other organizations have also suspended their bread and flour programs to the enclave.
About 1.9 million people in Gaza, out of a population of 2.4 million, remain displaced and live in harsh conditions in worn-out tents after their homes were destroyed during Israel’s two-year war.
Despite the cease-fire agreement that took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, living conditions have not significantly improved, amid Israel’s failure to allow the agreed levels of humanitarian aid, including food, medical supplies and shelter materials.
The war in Gaza has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians and injured about 172,000 others, and has caused widespread destruction affecting around 90% of civilian infrastructure.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday held a phone call with Donald Trump and conveyed his well wishes after what the White House has called the attempted assassination of the U.S. president.
Erdoğan told Trump that he views the incident as “a heinous act against democracy and press freedom” and wished a speedy recovery to the injured security officer, the Presidential Communications Directorate said in a statement.
Erdoğan was among several world leaders who earlier condemned the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington when a suspect armed with multiple weapons charged the premises, trying to penetrate the hotel ballroom where Trump and Cabinet secretaries were assembled.
The shooting suspect was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California. He railed against Trump administration policies and referred to himself as a “Friendly Federal Assassin” in writings sent to family members minutes before the attack that authorities increasingly believe was politically motivated, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation.
The writings, sent shortly before shots were fired Saturday night at the Washington Hilton, made repeated references to President Donald Trump without naming him directly and alluded to grievances over a range of administration actions and recent events, including U.S. strikes on drug smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific, the official said Sunday.
Türkiye will introduce a new system requiring age verification through its national e-Government platform and bar children under 15 from accessing social media, Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş said Sunday.
Speaking on a live broadcast of AHaber, Göktaş outlined recently approved regulations aimed at making digital spaces safer for children, citing growing concerns over online risks, including cyberbullying, exploitation and exposure to inappropriate content.
Under the new rules, social media platforms will be required to implement stricter oversight for users under 15 and provide differentiated content for those aged 15 to 18.
Companies with more than 1 million users in Türkiye will also be required to appoint a local representative, while gaming platforms with over 100,000 users will face similar obligations.
Göktaş noted that the government would roll out a Türkiye-specific age verification model using credentials from the country’s e-Government system, commonly known as e-Devlet. Authorities will also introduce an effective complaint mechanism requiring platforms to respond to harmful content within one hour.
“Our goal is to provide children with a safer digital environment,” Göktaş said, adding that children under 15 “will no longer be able to access social media.”
The measures are part of the government’s 2024-2028 Family Protection and Strengthening Action Plan, which aims to address the impact of rapid digitalization on families and children.
The minister also remarked that studies show children’s attention spans have declined by around 30% over the past decade, with the average focus duration dropping to about eight seconds. She also noted that the age at which children begin using social media has fallen to as young as 6.
According to her, 63% of children spend significant time online, a trend she described as “digital addiction.” She said children often mirror digital habits observed within their families, underscoring the need for broader awareness and intervention.
The regulations follow increasing public concern and align with global efforts to regulate online platforms and protect minors. Göktaş said the government had taken into account both domestic demands and international developments in shaping the policy.
Separately, the minister also addressed a recent incident in the southern province of Kahramanmaraş, saying it highlighted the need for stronger preventive measures to protect children from various risks. She said authorities had deployed 256 personnel, visiting more than 6,000 households and directly engaging with over 3,100 families.
Psychosocial support efforts are ongoing, including grief counseling for families affected by loss. Göktaş noted that 72 children who had previously lost parents in the 2023 earthquakes and were also impacted by the recent incident are receiving targeted support from dedicated teams.
She added that a “Social Risk Map” project, developed in coordination with the education, interior and health ministries, has been completed to help identify potential risks before they escalate.
Monday was the anniversary of the controversial 2007 “e-memorandum” by the Turkish army against the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government. The party hailed how its stand against the memorandum, amounting to a coup attempt, paved the way to a stronger reaction to decades of military tutelage that had taken captive the Turkish democracy.
The AK Party spokesperson Ömer Çelik told Anadolu Agency (AA) on Monday that the e-memorandum failed due to resistance by then prime minister, incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the AK Party, the national will and support by civic society to this resistance. He added that, combined with support to the resistance by some political parties derailed plans their opponents aimed through the e-memorandum.
The memorandum, published on the website of the Office of the Chief of General Staff, stands out among many others in the brief history of the Republic of Türkiye. It was the first attempt by the powerful military in the 2000s to intervene in political affairs. Though similar to a 1997 coup where an army memorandum paved the way for government collapse, it was the first time it took place online. Also, it was the first time a government actively resisted such an attempt and succeeded. The memorandum, released at 23:20 on April 27, 2007, during the first round of presidential elections, was a thinly veiled attempt to stop Parliament’s vote for presidential candidate Abdullah Gül. According to the memorandum, exclusively published online, the army was concerned about the “erosion of basic values, primarily secularism,” and tied the activities of the conservative population permitted by the government, such as the recitation of the Quran at public events, to mark national holidays, to a reactionary movement “against the state.”
The statement targeted Gül, viewed as “reactionary,” a derogatory term for anyone with a conservative background. Indeed, it was not different than the motive of the 1997 coup for the army, which has long promoted itself as a self-styled defender of “secularism,” a concept exploited to stamp out the participation of practicing Muslims in social life, for instance, joining the public sector or pursuing political office.
Türkiye was heading to presidential elections with Abdullah Gül as a potential ruling AK Party candidate long before the memorandum. Gül was a controversial figure for secularists due to his background, and even his status as the husband of a headscarf-wearing woman was a point of contention for secular extremists. For them, having such a man in the republic’s highest office was unprecedented and against their rigid interpretation of secularism. Then Chief of General Staff Yaşar Büyükanıt openly voiced the army’s opposition to the next president when he said that the president should be “truly adhering to (values) of the republic,” on April 12, 2007, to the chagrin of the government.
“Republic” rallies, where crowds of hardline secularists convened in big cities, followed Büyükanıt’s controversial remarks in the following days. The pressure was on the Erdoğan-led government, which did not step back from the nomination of Gül. In the first round of the election, Gül won 357 out of 361 votes in Parliament, while the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) objected to the result. The CHP took the election to the Constitutional Court, claiming that the president should win 367 votes or a majority under an interpretation of a Constitutional article.
The Constitutional Court annulled the first round of elections upon appeal by the CHP on May 1. The AK Party then proposed a parliamentary election on July 22. Constitutional amendments followed the proposal. After the AK Party’s victory in the elections, Abdullah Gül once again ran for election on an Aug. 20 vote, and at the end of a three-round election, he was elected as the 11th president of Türkiye on Aug. 28.
Çelik said on Monday that the days leading to the memorandum were “times of darkness inflicted by military and judiciary tutelage over Ankara.”
“Just as people looked up to the government and the decisions at the Cabinet meetings, National Security Council (MGK) meetings of those days were closely watched. This was where the military tutelage demonstrated its influence on politics,” he said. “Regardless of the decisions of the elected government, the MGK (controlled by powerful generals) was able to steer politics. The memorandum was a reflection of this ‘tradition,’” he said.
Çelik stated that no government resisted such moves. “This is why April 27 is an important date, in terms of resistance,” he underlined. Çelik, then a lawmaker for the Adana province, said the evening of April 27, 2007, was not “a relaxing evening” for them. “Nobody knew what would happen. But the resolve demonstrated by Erdoğan and the party showed that we were ready to pay the price. It was a turning point for civilian politics, for democracy,” he said.
Çelik recalled that the government sought to go to the Office of the Chief of General Staff to confront them, but the army’s headquarters were silent. “They did not return the calls for hours. This was not because they ignored the government. It was because they became aware that the government would respond to them this time,” he said.
Efkan Ala, the AK Party’s deputy chair, said in a social media post on Monday that the democratic reaction to the memorandum launched a new era in Turkish political history. “The resolute stand against it proved that the national will truly governed the country. This strong will, indeed, is the underlying reason for the achievements we have come to have in the country and abroad since then,” he said.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan resumed his phone diplomacy on Saturday. The Foreign Ministry said Fidan held separate phone calls with his Iranian and Pakistani counterparts on Saturday.
The talks between Hakan Fidan, Abbas Araghchi and Ishaq Dar focused on the latest developments in the negotiation process between Iran and the U.S., according to the ministry.
The first round of talks between the U.S. and Iran was held in Islamabad two weeks ago but failed to produce an agreement to end the conflict that began on Feb. 28 and spread across the Middle East. The talks followed a two-week cease-fire brokered by Pakistan on April 8, which was later extended by Trump.
On Sunday, the ministry announced that Fidan held a phone call with U.S. negotiators. Sources from the Foreign Ministry said Fidan exchanged views with the U.S. interlocutors on the latest developments in negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.
Araghchi met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir in Islamabad on Saturday, while the visit of U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to the Pakistani capital was cancelled.
The sticking points between the two sides are said to be the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, a global shipping chokepoint which Iran has effectively closed since it was attacked by the U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28, the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, and the fate of enriched uranium Tehran has.
Türkiye could consider taking part in multinational demining operations in the Strait of Hormuz after a possible peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran, Fidan said late Friday. Speaking to reporters in London, Fidan said Türkiye “would be open to” participating in a coalition tasked with clearing naval mines in the strait once a deal is reached, describing such work as a “humanitarian” effort.
However, Fidan underscored that Ankara would not take part in operations that risk positioning Türkiye as a party to renewed conflict. Ankara would avoid any role implying alignment if conflict resumes, Fidan said.
Fidan said Türkiye could foresee a comprehensive deal resulting in a negotiated return to the status quo, ensuring open, toll-free passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Otherwise, both sides would have to explore new ways to find a resolution, according to the minister.
Ankara has been at the forefront of efforts to mend ties between the United States and Iran. Before the conflict began in February with U.S. and Israeli attacks, Türkiye was among the countries considered as a venue for negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. After the conflict began and spread across the region, Türkiye itself faced the risk, with at least five missiles intercepted over its airspace. Still, it adhered to its neutral stand and sought to bring the sides to the negotiation table, especially through Fidan’s diplomatic blitz by phone and visits to the regional countries affected by the conflict.
Earlier this month, Fidan hailed the “sincerity” of the United States and Iran on achieving a cease-fire. However, he warned that Israel may disrupt the process. Fidan also pointed out Israel’s emerging “state strategy” of finding “new enemies” in the region, such as Türkiye.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) on April 13, Fidan said: “The whole world wants free international passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Hormuz should remain open through peace; using an international armed force is a challenge,” he said. He stated that the Strait of Hormuz issue demonstrated that the war is not merely “regional” but a conflict with global repercussions. He highlighted that the Strait was where up to 25% of natural gas and oil shipments went through. “We are facing a situation where a great logistics chain, production and industrial infrastructure is affected,” he added. “The question now is how the strait is going to be run.”
Fidan emphasized the importance of keeping international shipping routes open amid rising tensions in the Gulf. “What the entire world wants is that international transit remain free and not be obstructed,” he said. He warned that stability in the waterway cannot be achieved through forceful measures. “Our position is to reopen it through peace. There are many difficulties in intervening here with an international armed peace force,” he said.
He also noted that there was a thin line between being party to the conflict targeting Iran and keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. “But no country wants to be part of this war, Europeans in particular openly expressed this,” he stated.
On Türkiye’s stand, Fidan pointed out the stance adopted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since the beginning of the war, and this was “the policy of keeping Türkiye out of war.” He said the situation in Hormuz had a significant impact on the global markets and Türkiye made every contribution to resolve the issue. The minister, however, added that Türkiye was not “very much dependent on Strait of Hormuz in terms of energy security, energy supplies.” “The share of natural gas in electricity production dropped and share of renewable energy sources dramatically increased in the past two decades. But we feel the indirect impact of the situation, especially on pricing. Energy supplies are delivered smoothly but pricing poses a problem. This may be a burden on the economy in the long run,” he warned.
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