Politics
Erdoğan welcomes Tebboune as Turkish-Algerian ties elevate with deals
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune arrived in Türkiye on Wednesday for a three-day visit.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gave a warm welcome to the president at the Esenboğa Airport in Ankara, holding hands with the 80-year-old leader, who made his second visit to the country in four years. On Thursday, a formal welcoming ceremony was held for the Algerian leader at the Presidential Complex.
The visit marks a new boost in developing relations between the two countries, which were set to be crowned with new agreements scheduled to be signed in the presence of Erdoğan and Tebboune.
Ahead of the meeting, the Turkish-Algerian Business Forum was held in Ankara with the participation of Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat and Algerian Minister of Trade and Export Promotion Kamel Rezig. Speaking at the forum, Bolat said the two countries’ leaders set out a goal of reaching a bilateral trade volume of $10 billion, and they believed that 2026 would be the year of significant momentum in relations, especially in trade.
Turkish-Algerian ties go back to the Ottoman times, and although it downgraded in the second half of the 20th century due to Turkish support to France as Algeria sought independence, relations have overcome the challenges and have prospered in the past two decades.
Tebboune’s visit aims to deepen economic relations and shift regular cooperation to a more strategic partnership as Algeria’s role in the wider region grows. They tilt more to the economic side, though. Türkiye defined Algeria as the second biggest trade partner in Africa in 2023. In the same year, trade volume reached to $6.3 billion. Turkish companies have been active in the country in the past two decades, with contractors having a major share in 636 projects across the African country.
Bolat said on Thursday that Türkiye and Algeria have been negotiating for a preferential trade agreement for the past two years and hoped to finalize it by the end of 2026. Bolat said Algeria was the seventh largest partner of Türkiye in terms of contractors’ work and noted that the country had more than 1,600 Turkish investors. He noted that along with construction, Turkish investors concentrated on steel, iron market, chemical industry, cleaning products production and textile.
For his part, Rezig said the two countries had strategic relations, and they continued cooperation based on mutual trust and interests and in a manner benefiting stability and development. Rezig emphasized the importance of revitalizing trade between the two countries, stating that the partnership between Algeria and Türkiye has entered a deeper phase, and that steps such as encouraging mutual investments and cooperation in the industrial sector should be taken within this framework. Stating that all these efforts would lead the two countries toward commercial and economic integration, Rezig noted that bilateral talks are ongoing and that a possible agreement, especially regarding preferential trade, would bring about a significant transformation.
Rezig pointed out that more than 200 Algerian businesspeople participated in this forum, adding that efforts should now focus on concrete projects and that this opportunity should not be missed.
“We have always regarded Türkiye as a reliable economic partner. And the more we can expand areas of cooperation, particularly in industry, agriculture, mining, and infrastructure, which I especially emphasize, the more these become priorities for us. Through these relations, we can move toward a strategic and comprehensive partnership. Thanks to Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Mr. (President Recep Tayyip) Erdoğan, we will achieve these goals. The peoples of the two countries are brotherly peoples,” he said.
Belgian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot said Thursday that Türkiye is an indispensable partner for Europe’s security and economic architecture, arguing that discussing the continent’s future defense framework without Ankara would be impossible.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) ahead of a major Belgian economic mission to Türkiye scheduled for May 10-14, Prevot said the visit, led by Queen Mathilde, aims to deepen trade, as well as strategic and institutional ties between the two countries.
“Without Türkiye, there is no way to speak about Europe’s security architecture,” Prevot said, pointing to Ankara’s geopolitical role, defense industry growth and NATO membership.
The Belgian delegation will include more than 400 representatives from over 200 companies, as well as officials and academics, in what Prevot described as an opportunity to strengthen long-standing bilateral ties.
Belgium and Türkiye have maintained diplomatic relations since the 19th century, when Belgium became one of the first European states represented in Istanbul under the Ottoman Empire.
Prevot highlighted Türkiye’s rapid expansion in the defense sector, saying the country’s defense industry had grown by “300%,” making it a significant actor in Europe’s broader security landscape.
“Türkiye is more strategic than ever from a geopolitical point of view,” he said. “It is essential to address challenges ranging from industrial supply chains to Europe’s global security architecture together with Türkiye.”
The Belgian foreign minister rejected comparisons placing Türkiye alongside Russia and China in European strategic discussions.
“It is strange to use Türkiye in the same sentence as Russia and China,” Prevot said. “Türkiye is a NATO ally and also one of the candidate countries for accession to the European Union. Türkiye should not be ‘contained’ or ‘limited.’ We should work with Türkiye as a strategic partner.”
Prevot also called for the modernization of the EU-Türkiye Customs Union, saying the current framework, signed in 1996, no longer reflects today’s economic realities.
“At the time, it focused mainly on industrial goods and did not include services, agriculture or modern dispute resolution mechanisms,” he said. “We cannot address the shared economic challenges of 2026 with a framework designed 30 years ago.”
On regional security, Prevot praised Türkiye’s diplomatic role in efforts linked to the war in Ukraine and broader regional crises.
He said Türkiye had supported mediation initiatives and continued to emphasize the importance of international law and territorial integrity.
“Türkiye is reminding the international community loudly of the importance of respecting a rules-based order,” Prevot said.
As NATO’s southeastern flank, Türkiye carries “a special responsibility,” he added, stressing that Europe must fully recognize Türkiye’s strategic importance not only economically but also for the security of the entire continent.
Türkiye vital partner
On the other hand, 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.
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 underlined “triangular cooperation” under the Pact for the Mediterranean, saying Türkiye could participate in initiatives related to economic development, connectivity and energy.
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.
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.
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.
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