Politics
Battle over PKK disarmament defines new phase in Türkiye initiative
Türkiye’s terror-free Türkiye initiative has entered its most critical stage, with the central issue no longer focused on political negotiations but on who will control the terrorist PKK’s disarmament process and under what conditions the group’s weapons will be surrendered.
Türkiye’s terror-free Türkiye initiative has reached a decisive turning point as the focus shifts from political dialogue to the practical reality of disarmament and the struggle over who controls the process on the ground.
The latest statements from the PKK/KCK leadership revealed growing tension between PKK’s imprisoned terrorist ringleader Abdullah Öcalan’s symbolic authority and the operational control exercised by the group’s Mount Qandil-based commanders. During remarks marking the first anniversary of the organization’s May 2025 dissolution congress, senior KCK figures Mustafa Karasu and Sozdar Avesta announced that the group would continue under the name “Apoist Movement Management.” Yet the organization’s armed structure, leadership cadres and KCK titles remained unchanged, while the statements themselves were delivered alongside armed terrorists.
The development reinforced Ankara’s long-standing concern that while Öcalan is still accepted as the terrorist group’s ideological leader, control over weapons and the timeline of disarmament is being kept in Qandil’s hands. Turkish officials view this distinction as the core challenge facing the process.
Ankara’s position has become increasingly clear: weapons must first be surrendered unconditionally, after which legal and political mechanisms can follow. The National Intelligence Organization (MIT) is expected to oversee a verification and monitoring mechanism aimed at confirming whether militants genuinely disarm and withdraw from armed activity.
At the same time, the Justice Ministry is preparing legislation focusing on two key areas: the return of militants not involved in crimes and the technical framework governing how the disarmament process will be managed. Turkish officials insist the state will prioritize concrete developments on the ground over political declarations.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli publicly outlined Ankara’s sequencing formula, stating that Öcalan’s legal status could only be considered after the terrorist group fully dissolves and hands over all weapons. Bahçeli also proposed a “Peace Process and Political Integration Coordination Office,” though the framework similarly rejected any discussion of political status before complete disarmament.
Qandil, however, continues to oppose Ankara’s approach. Mustafa Karasu openly rejected linking legal reforms to disarmament, insisting that “legal steps should not be tied to laying down arms.” The contradiction became more visible as the group simultaneously claimed armed units had withdrawn beyond Türkiye’s borders while continuing to appear publicly with armed cadres.
Another key issue has emerged around Öcalan’s ability to directly influence the process. The pro-PKK DEM Party delegation has reportedly been unable to establish direct contact with Öcalan for nearly a month, a development viewed by security officials as strategically important because every delay increases Qandil’s room for maneuver and bargaining power.
The process has also exposed growing political divergence between the DEM Party and the PKK’s armed leadership. DEM Party co-chair Tuncer Bakırhan openly supported the political framework proposed by Bahçeli and rejected arguments that instability in the Middle East justified delaying disarmament. Bakırhan further stated that if democratic reforms were implemented and the PKK still failed to comply, the DEM Party itself would become the organization’s first critic.
Attention has also turned toward the PKK’s long-standing financial structure in Europe, which Turkish observers describe as one of the organization’s most important power bases. Networks stretching from Luxembourg and Rotterdam to Paris and Brussels allegedly include front companies, money laundering channels, extortion schemes and narcotics trafficking operations that have sustained the group for decades. Within this framework, weapons are viewed not only as an ideological tool but also as the foundation of an entrenched political and economic order.
Turkish officials remain determined not to repeat the collapse of the 2013-2015 reconciliation process, when the PKK recalculated regional conditions during the Syrian conflict and returned to armed confrontation. As a result, the current initiative is being built around intelligence-based verification mechanisms and measurable developments in the field rather than political promises alone.
The process now hinges on whether Qandil is genuinely prepared to end its armed structure or seeks to preserve a controlled military presence as leverage for future negotiations. Turkish officials increasingly see this as the defining question that will determine the fate of the initiative.
Recent normalization efforts mark the most active and tangible phase since the 1990s in Turkish-Armenian relations, which have long been at a minimum. As of early May, the process has moved toward frequent diplomatic contacts and a focus on confidence-building measures, including direct technical projects such as the joint restoration of the ancient Ani Bridge, which stands on the border between the two.
Young people in Yerevan have mixed views on the future of relations, but are mostly hopeful.
“(We have) big hopes about the peace, because we didn’t have peace for around 30 years,” Aprin, 32, told Anadolu Agency (AA) on Wednesday, reflecting a sentiment shared by many of her generation.
“I was born in 1994, and we always had like, strikes and war, little wars, big wars, etc.,” she recounted. “So it’s actually very fantastic for us, not realistic so much. We have huge hopes for the future, that peace will really happen, and we will have maybe open borders with our neighbors.”
For others, the issue is less abstract and more immediate. “I live here, and every day I think, what if tomorrow starts a war, and that’s not cool,” said a 20-something woman. “I see the future of Armenia will be safer than now, that’s the first question that I’m interested in. And about my own future, about success, about money, about visas, I think that also will have a good impact on Armenia.”
The language of security, or the lack of it, runs through nearly every conversation. A third young Yerevan resident framed the normalization process in simple, almost universal terms: Relief. “I’m very grateful for these processes, and I hope that one day Armenia will have real peace in our region. To be in a peaceful place, Armenia to be in a peaceful place, and soldiers not be (in) any war situation in our region,” said the woman, who was in her 20s. Yet beyond the desire for stability lies a quieter anticipation of transformation.
One young resident imagined a different Yerevan altogether, as transportation links to other countries multiply and grow easier: “Imagine in a few years, how the picture of the city is going to change and how many more people are going to just come to visit here.”
“Of course, it is nice to hear about the word of peace in such a world that we’re living in. And as far as I see, I think Armenia has been successful, keeping it at peace so far. And I hope it goes this way. I hope no more wars come around this beautiful country,” she added.
On Monday, Türkiye and Armenia signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly restore the ancient Ani Bridge, in a move described as a step toward strengthening ties between the two countries. The agreement was announced following a meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz on the sidelines of the 8th European Political Community Summit in Yerevan. Türkiye was represented at the summit at its highest level since 2008 by Yilmaz, reflecting growing momentum in Türkiye’s normalization process with Armenia. Also, on April 28, officials met in Kars to discuss reopening the Kars-Gyumri railway, which has been unused for 33 years. If restored, this link could become a vital artery for regional trade.
European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica described Türkiye as a key strategic partner for the European Union, highlighting its pivotal location linking Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
In a written interview with Anadolu Agency (AA) following her visit to Ankara on Wednesday, Suica said her appointment as the first European Commissioner for the Mediterranean reflects the EU’s ambition to “step up partnerships” and adopt a more focused approach toward the Mediterranean and the Gulf region, noting that her portfolio also covers Gulf relations.
“A strengthened Mediterranean partnership is a strategic imperative for Europe, because our common security, resilience and prosperity can only be built together,” she said.
Suica said the European Commission has launched the Pact for the Mediterranean, bringing together the EU, member states and southern partners to build a “Common Mediterranean Space” based on shared priorities.
She said her mandate is focused on a “people-centered agenda,” developing partnerships based on “common values and dialogue,” while supporting good governance and mutual interests.
On bilateral relations, she noted the EU is strengthening ties with countries in the Middle East and North Africa through Strategic and Comprehensive Agreements, while working toward Strategic Partnership Agreements with Gulf states.
Highlighting Türkiye’s importance, Suica said: “Türkiye is a key partner for the EU. In today’s rapidly changing global context, a stronger, trust-based partnership is a clear win-win for both sides.”
She said Türkiye plays an important role in the wider Middle East and stressed the need to “deepen cooperation further to ensure stability in this volatile region.”
Referring to her recent visit, Suica said discussions covered regional developments, including the Gulf, tensions involving Iran, as well as the situations in Syria and Gaza.
She also highlighted “triangular cooperation” under the Pact for the Mediterranean, saying Türkiye could participate in initiatives related to economic development, connectivity and energy.
Türkiye’s ‘geostrategic position’
Suica emphasized Türkiye’s strategic connectivity role, saying: “Türkiye’s geostrategic position at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East makes it an important partner for connectivity.”
She recalled EU support for strengthening transport links, particularly the Halkalı-Kapıkule railway line connecting Istanbul to the EU border, describing it as the “largest single grant under the EU’s external financing instruments” and a key part of broader regional connectivity corridors.
She also highlighted Türkiye’s role in the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, the EU’s connectivity agenda linking the EU, South Caucasus and Central Asia, as well as its participation in initiatives such as the Iraqi Development Road.
“Connectivity is not about a single corridor but a network,” she said, adding that cooperation should be deepened, including through frameworks such as the Black Sea strategy, with a focus on “secure, resilient and sustainable connectivity.”
Suica said the Pact for the Mediterranean includes major initiatives on climate resilience and energy transition, notably the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy and Clean Tech Initiative (T-MED).
She said the initiative will support investment in clean energy, job creation for young people, trade opportunities and climate goals.
It also aims to integrate electricity markets through cooperation between Mediterranean transmission system operators and energy regulators.
She also highlighted the Blue Mediterranean Partnership, which supports sustainable aquaculture, coastal resilience and the circular economy.
Suica said joint EU efforts have produced results, noting that irregular border crossings along the Eastern Mediterranean route fell by 27% in 2025, continuing a downward trend.
“We cooperate closely with the Turkish authorities on migration-related issues within the framework of the 2016 EU-Türkiye Statement, which continues to work well. Challenges are common and responses need to be coordinated. This is more relevant now than ever, as the war ravages the region,” she said.
“For the moment, we see no large movements of people, but it is important to continue cooperating on preparedness measures,” Suica added.
Mediterranean Pact, Palestine
Addressing the fact that Palestine is one of the stakeholders of the Mediterranean Pact, Suica reiterated the EU’s commitment to a “comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution,” where Israel and Palestine coexist “within secure and recognised borders.”
“We are therefore working with international partners, including Türkiye, towards reviving this political process,” she said.
Referring to the deteriorating situation in Gaza and the West Bank, she noted measures announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her 2025 State of the Union address, adding that they remain under discussion in the EU Council.
“We continue the diplomatic engagement with Israel to seek improvements on the ground, including release of withheld tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority, registration of international NGOs and access of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Dialogue on these topics with Israel remains crucial for the EU and the region,” Suica said.
Eleven suspected members of the terrorist group Daesh were captured in operations across Istanbul on Thursday.
Authorities said the suspects were also involved in Daesh propaganda on social media.
In the early hours of Thursday, counterterrorism and intelligence teams of police raided several locations simultaneously in the city to capture the suspects.
Türkiye considers the Daesh terrorist group one of the biggest threats to the country’s security and peace and was one of the first countries to declare it a terrorist group in 2013. It has suffered from several Daesh attacks since then, including a suicide bombing in an Ankara train station that killed 100 people in 2015 and a deadly Istanbul nightclub shooting on New Year’s Eve in 2017.
On April 7, suspected Daesh members fired at police officers near a building housing the Israeli Consulate. One assailant was killed, and two others were injured in the ensuing shootout, while two police officers were slightly injured. Although Daesh was not officially named as behind the attack, following the incident, authorities launched a nationwide sweep against the terrorist group and detained dozens of suspects. Last December, Daesh members killed three Turkish police officers during an operation targeting a house where suspects resided in the northwestern city of Yalova.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud met in Ankara on Wednesday for the third meeting of the Turkish-Saudi Coordination Council, where the two sides also signed a reciprocal visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic and special passports.
The agreement, officially titled “Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Türkiye and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the Mutual Exemption of Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic and Special Passports,” was signed following the council meeting, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.
Fidan held talks with a Saudi delegation led by Bin Farhan in the Turkish capital as part of the council, which serves as a platform for coordination and cooperation between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia on bilateral and regional issues.
In a statement shared on Turkish social media platform NSosyal, Fidan said the meeting was held with the participation of relevant ministries and institutions from both countries.
He said the sides reviewed committee work in strategic areas such as trade, energy, defense, education, culture, tourism and transportation, while addressing bilateral ties within an institutional framework.
Fidan also said the talks covered regional issues, particularly the situation in Gaza, and the two countries signed an agreement on the reciprocal exemption of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and special passports.
The Turkish foreign minister thanked his Saudi counterpart and the accompanying delegation for their visit, expressing hope that the agreements reached would bring benefits to both countries.
The Turkish-Saudi Coordination Council was established in 2016 and held its first meeting in Ankara in 2017. The second meeting was held in May 2025 in Riyadh. The council is comprised of five subcommittees, including the committees on politics, diplomacy, military and security, culture, sports, media, tourism, social development, health, education, commerce, industry, investment, infrastructure and energy.
Bilateral ties between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have flourished in recent years, and the two countries have also enhanced cooperation in multilateral platforms. As for economic ties, bilateral trade volume rose to $8.5 billion as of the end of 2025.
Türkiye’s diplomatic efforts and security strategy provided an “environment of non-conflict” in Libya, and this led to renewed negotiations between actors in the country’s east and west after a five-year hiatus, experts say.
They highlighted that the balance of security achieved by Türkiye in the North African country pushed the sides to finally understand that a prolonged conflict would not bring about a concrete outcome.
Hanna Tetteh, the U.N. secretary-general’s special envoy for Libya, earlier lauded Türkiye’s stand on Libya that supported stability. Tetteh underlined in remarks on April 19 that without Türkiye’s support, western Libya in particular would not reach the stability it has.
The sides controlling Libya’s west and east met on April 29 under the supervision of the mission led by Tetteh and agreed on restructuring Libya National Election Commission. This paved the way for new talks on electoral laws, the main cause of political conflict in the country. Concerns, however, linger that a new deadlock may emerge in the country.
Professor Veysel Kurt of Istanbul Medeniyet University, who serves as research director at Middle Eastern Studies Center (ORSAM), told Anadolu Agency (AA) on Wednesday after a workshop on Libyan-Turkish relations in Tripoli that the Turkish-Libyan security deal signed in 2020 ensured stability in the country. Kurt stated that interventions by various international actors in Libya have had a negative impact on prolonging the political deadlock.
“At the point we have reached today, Türkiye has made significant diplomatic moves to establish relations with both the Tripoli government and the actors in Benghazi and to ensure reconciliation between them. Ultimately, it is important that these two actors meet face-to-face in Italy for the first time in a long while.”
Kurt assessed that reaching an agreement on the structuring of the National Election Commission at the meeting of Libyan parties is an important sign that the process is moving forward. Stating that to end the division in Libya, either one side must disappear or reconciliation must be achieved between the parties, Kurt said: “One of two scenarios is necessary to eliminate the division. Either one side will completely defeat the other and take full control, or a compromise will be reached. The first scenario did not happen. During the prolonged conflicts and civil war, neither Haftar’s side nor the Tripoli government was able to fully control the country. Therefore, what remains is the second scenario: ‘reconciliation.’”
“If the two sides cannot eliminate each other, then only one option remains: reconciling them. And despite all the difficulties, Türkiye achieved this. It was a very important matter for Libya to continue its political life as an institutionally and territorially unified country.”
Kurt noted that it is an optimistic development that Libyan parties have come together at the same table to address election laws. “Of course, after reconciliation is achieved, the rest of the matter will be decided by the Libyan people. In other words, what result will emerge from the elections, and which structure will take governing authority? This will be a decision made by the Libyan people.”
Associate professor Yunus Turan from Hacı Bayram Veli University also stated that, as in every period of history, Türkiye has always stood actively by Libya’s side after 2011.
Turan said that Türkiye has made serious efforts in terms of political and security paradigms for Libya’s national unity, territorial integrity and unification under a single umbrella.
“Türkiye has essentially proceeded with the motto of one Libya, one nation, one country. Up to now, Türkiye’s policies have demonstrated a consistent Libya policy in this regard. The picture that emerged from the meeting of Libyan parties in Rome showed how consistent and meaningful Türkiye’s Libya policy has been from the very beginning.”
“The point we have reached in 2026 has proven how much the Libyan people desire and approve of Türkiye’s policy. The international media did not accept this in this way and resisted it for many years, putting forward policies toward the fragmentation of Libya. But in the end, it became clear that the policy Türkiye has pursued from the beginning is the most consistent and the one most desired by the Libyan people,” he said. Turan added that recent developments show Türkiye is a unifying actor in the region and that its foreign policy resonates with the people of the region.
Burak Yetimoğlu, a lecturer at Hacettepe University’s Department of International Relations, stated that Türkiye played a very significant role behind the scenes of the UN-sponsored “4+4” meeting where Libyan parties came together.
Emphasizing the importance of military units from eastern and western Libya coming together at the EFES-2026 Exercise in Türkiye’s Izmir, Yetimoğlu said that Türkiye has made major contributions to bringing Libyan parties together around the same table in the 4+4 meeting.
Stating that Türkiye has taken important steps in building a bridge between eastern and western Libya and in shaping the country into a more stable and stronger structure under a single political framework, Yetimoğlu said: “Meetings like the 4+4 are very valuable. We see that Libyan parties are working on election timelines at the table in the 4+4 meeting. When we look at the past, we must certainly not forget the role Türkiye has played here.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday lauded the role of foundations in Türkiye’s culture of charity and pledged to protect the historical and spiritual values inherited from its ancestors.
Speaking during the Foundations Week Celebration Program at the Beştepe Nation’s Congress and Culture Center in Ankara, Erdoğan said charitable foundations have played a central role in shaping Turkish and Islamic civilization throughout history.
“We will continue to protect the values that made our nation what it is, values that reflect the spirit and legacy of our glorious past bearing the marks and seal of our ancestors,” Erdoğan said.
The event, organized under the theme “Foundation Civilization in Architecture and Elegance,” brought together foundation representatives, officials and civil society members at the Presidential Complex.
Erdoğan noted the concepts of architecture, elegance, foundations and civilization complemented and enriched one another, describing Türkiye’s historical foundation culture as unique in the world.
“The historical, cultural and identity heritage we inherited combined architecture with elegance, crowned elegance with foundation services and transformed the foundation tradition into a civilization feast unparalleled in the world,” he stressed.
Foundations, known as “vakıf” in Turkish and Islamic tradition, historically funded a wide range of public services across the Ottoman Empire, including schools, hospitals, mosques, libraries and social welfare programs.
Erdoğan said the tradition embraced all aspects of social life and extended beyond human needs to include environmental and animal protection.
“In the Ottoman era, a person would be born in a foundation-funded house, grow up in a foundation-supported cradle, study using foundation books and even be buried in a foundation cemetery,” he said.
He also referred to historical examples ranging from providing ink to students and restoring shrines to protecting migratory storks and caring for abandoned patients.
The Turkish leader thanked charitable organizations and volunteers dedicating their time and resources to humanitarian work without expecting anything in return.
The president also criticized unnamed groups he accused of targeting foundations and associations while remaining silent about corruption allegations elsewhere.
“Those whose only political direction is money, rent and personal interests target our foundations and associations at every opportunity,” he said.
He added that foundations operating in areas such as youth education, humanitarian aid and social solidarity continue to serve as “a source of pride” for the Turkish nation.
Foundations Week is marked annually in Türkiye with events highlighting the country’s charitable and cultural heritage rooted in Ottoman and Islamic traditions.
-
Politics3 days agoProvocation leads to delay in former Istanbul mayor’s corruption trial
-
Politics3 days agoItalian experts highlight Türkiye remains important partner for EU
-
Daily Agenda3 days agoMinister Ersoy met with Barış Manço’s son Doğukan Manço about the current situation of the museum-house in Moda.
-
Daily Agenda2 days agoBreaking news | ‘Peace Process Coordination’ proposal from MHP leader Bahçeli: If there is a status gap in İmralı, it should be addressed
-
Daily Agenda3 days agoSharing from Minister Göktaş regarding the Family and Youth Fund: “We will continue to support our youth”
-
Economy2 days agoIndonesian economy tops estimates to grow 5.6% in Q1
-
Daily Agenda2 days agoBINDING SERVICE WILL BE PROVIDED – Official Announcement News
-
Sports2 days agoSönmez climbs to career-high No. 65, closing in on Turkish record