Politics
Erdoğan arrives in Kazakhstan amid push for strategic cooperation
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was welcomed with an official ceremony by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, on Thursday during an official visit to the Central Asian country.
Erdoğan’s motorcade traveled along a route decorated with Turkish and Kazakh flags before arriving at the Independence Palace, where Tokayev greeted him.
After the introduction of delegations, the two leaders posed for photographs before holding one-on-one talks.
Later, Erdoğan is expected to co-chair the sixth meeting of the Türkiye-Kazakhstan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council with Tokayev.
The two presidents are also scheduled to attend a signing ceremony for bilateral agreements and hold a joint news conference.
The talks are expected to focus heavily on transport and energy cooperation across Central Asia and the Caspian region, areas that have gained increasing importance following geopolitical shifts triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war.
Officials from both countries are expected to discuss the development of the so-called Middle Corridor, a trade route connecting China and Europe through Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus and Türkiye.
Several senior Turkish officials attended the ceremony, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat and Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran.
After completing his meetings in Astana, Erdoğan is scheduled to travel to the southern Kazakh city of Turkistan to attend the informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on Friday.
‘Century of Turkic World’
Speaking after talks with Tokayev during the sixth meeting of the Türkiye-Kazakhstan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Astana, Erdoğan said the two countries agreed on steps to strengthen the institutional framework of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).
“We are in agreement on providing opportunities that will strengthen our organization institutionally,” Erdoğan said. “Hopefully, we will make the coming period the ‘Century of the Turkic World’ together.”
Erdoğan noted that discussions with Tokayev covered trade, energy, transportation, defense industry cooperation and global issues.
The Turkish leader also congratulated the Kazakh people on Defender of the Fatherland Day and Victory Day, and expressed hope that Kazakhstan’s new Constitution, approved in a March 15 referendum, would benefit the country.
Following bilateral talks in Astana, Tokayev awarded Erdoğan the newly established “Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Medal.”
Erdoğan became the first recipient of the award, which Tokayev announced on April 10 to honor contributions to cooperation among Turkic nations and shared cultural heritage.
Speaking during the ceremony, Erdoğan said he was honored to receive the medal named after Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the influential 12th-century Turkic poet and Sufi philosopher.
“I see and accept this medal as a sign of high regard for the Republic of Türkiye and our nation,” Erdoğan said, thanking Tokayev for his leadership in advancing ties between the two countries.
The two leaders also attended the opening ceremony of the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Primary School, built by Kazakhstan in the Nurdağı district of Türkiye’s Gaziantep province after the devastating Feb. 6 earthquakes in 2023.
The “Grand Convention of Turkish Youth” will be a major occasion for Turkish nationalists. The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Idealists’ Club Foundation of Education and Culture, an affiliate of the party, will host the event in Ankara on May 19, an official holiday marked as the Day of Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day.
The government ally MHP is the oldest nationalist party in Türkiye, while the Idealists’ Club is an entity mostly populated with younger supporters of the MHP. In the past, the party and the club were unfairly accused of inciting violence, and they have sought to reinvent their image in recent years.
The convention will be an opportunity to showcase the values of next-generation nationalists. Its highlights will be “Göktay 1” and “Göktay 2,” two race cars developed by the Idealists’ Clubs in Izmir and Bursa, and personally named by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli, and “Türkan,” an unmanned aerial vehicle developed by the members of the clubs.
Ahmet Yiğit Yıldırım, chairperson of the Idealists’ Club Foundation of Education and Culture, told Anadolu Agency (AA) on Wednesday that they would test drive the vehicles for the first time at the convention. “Our friends will make us prouder in the future too and will represent Turkish youth with these projects, which will be promoted abroad. They will prove what Turkish youth are capable of in the fields of science, technology and defense. Our leader (Bahçeli) yearns for a disciplined youth with passion for the homeland, with morals and national conscience,” he said.
Stating that the convention will be the scene of a historic meeting that will showcase the intellectual, technological and moral aspirations of Turkish youth, Yıldırım recalled that the “Turkish Youth Workshop” will be organized prior to the convention. He said that many topics regarding the future of youth, such as education, technology, culture, national identity, the Turkish world, digital transformation, family structure and the fight against addiction, were addressed in the workshop together with academics and experts.
“Our goal here was to establish a youth structure that doesn’t just talk, but produces ideas, develops solutions and shapes the future. We will also share the final declaration of the workshop report we prepared with the public on the day of the convention. In this sense, the technology and innovation fair held as part of our convention, one of its greatest steps, is also of great importance. Because we are directing the energy of our youth not to the streets, but to the future. We want them to be a generation that produces, develops and provides direction,” he said.
Authorities in the central province of Eskişehir issued detention warrants for 60 suspects, and 23 were detained so far on Thursday on charges of corruption in the province’s Tepebaşı municipality.
Among the suspects were deputy mayors of the district where the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) won the 2024 elections. Almost all suspects were municipal bureaucrats, and they are accused of a spate of charges, from embezzlement and forgery of official documents to tax fraud, money laundering and abuse of public duty. Police teams searched the municipality building in the early hours of Thursday.
The Chief Prosecutor’s Office in Eskişehir said in a statement that the probe followed tip-offs and criminal complaints and was based on evidence regarding the charges, including reports by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK). Prosecutors said the investigation uncovered irregularities in some public tenders launched by the municipality, including fake letters of tender in tenders regarding the acquisition of goods and services, and invoices with inflated fees for goods and services.
The municipalities run by the CHP have been in the spotlight for alleged widespread corruption. Since late 2024, mayors and top bureaucrats of municipalities were detained or arrested for bribery for zoning, construction permits and awarding lucrative tenders in exchange for bribes. Tanju Özcan, media-savvy mayor of the northern province of Bolu who rose to prominence for his anti-migrant rhetoric, is among them. On Wednesday, prosecutors unveiled an indictment against Özcan and 18 other suspects on charges of corruption and bribery. The mayor, who was detained in February, faces prison sentences of up to 263 years if convicted.
The indictment states that Özcan held meetings with representatives of retail chains in his office and requested some companies to sign advertising contracts with a municipal subsidiary. The companies refusing to sign these advertising contracts were subjected to inspections, according to the indictment. Ali Sarıyıldız, chair of a foundation linked to the municipality, who was detained in the probe, confessed to the investigators that süpermarket chains were pressured by the municipality to sign advertising contracts. In another case, prosecutors say Özcan and deputy mayor Süleyman Can asked TL 2.5 million from a contractor in exchange for building permits.
The indictment stated that part of the money was delivered in cash, while another tranche was transferred to accounts of a municipal subsidiary.
Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is continuing work on a new civilian constitution aimed at replacing the country’s military-era charter, senior party official Hayati Yazıcı said Wednesday, describing the effort as essential for strengthening democracy and national unity.
Speaking at a “Law and Politics Meetings” event organized by the AK Party’s Ankara branch, Yazıcı said the current Constitution no longer reflects Türkiye’s evolving political and social realities.
“When you value and take into account the nation’s right to make a constitution, it has become necessary to make a more effective and dynamic constitution,” Yazıcı said. “We are working on this.”
Yazıcı, deputy chair of the ruling party, said a commission appointed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is preparing proposals for constitutional reform and is expected to brief Erdoğan after its next meeting before determining a road map for the process.
The AK Party has long advocated replacing the current Constitution, which was drafted following the 1980 military coup and adopted in 1982 during a period marked by political repression, mass detentions and executions.
Government officials have repeatedly described the charter as outdated and incompatible with Türkiye’s democratic transformation over the past two decades. Calls for a new constitution were also a central part of the AK Party’s 2023 election platform under its “New Constitution for the New Century of Türkiye” initiative.
The proposal envisions a constitutional framework centered on human dignity, expanded rights and freedoms, democratic governance and the rule of law while preserving reforms introduced during the AK Party’s years in power.
Erdoğan too renewed last week his call for a new constitution, saying a “new, inclusive, libertarian and civilian constitution” would offer an opportunity to strengthen Türkiye’s democracy.
Yazıcı said constitutional reform should be shaped by civilian politics rather than tutelage-era institutions.
“The right to make a constitution belongs to the nation,” he said, noting that previous constitutions were drafted under military influence rather than through broad public consensus.
He also emphasized that implementation was as important as legal text itself, saying democratic practices give meaning to constitutional principles.
Terror-free initiative
Yazıcı also addressed the government’s “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, reiterating Ankara’s determination to eliminate terrorism from both Türkiye’s domestic agenda and the wider region.
Türkiye is working to advance an initiative to dismantle the PKK, which has waged a four-decade terror campaign that killed over 40,000 people and sowed discord both at home and across the border in Syria and Iraq.
Referring to earlier reconciliation efforts, including the 2012-2014 “solution process,” Yazıcı said the government remained committed to pursuing stability while honoring the sacrifices of martyrs and veterans.
He added that national unity and brotherhood remained the country’s greatest strength and said the government would avoid any steps that could undermine public trust or national sensitivities.
Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif was quoted as saying that his country may expand its strategic mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia to include Türkiye and Qatar.
Islamabad and Riyadh signed the deal in September 2025 in an outreach to the Gulf and cemented their strategic positioning in the international community. Asif, quoted by Pakistan’s Hum News, said their agreement with Saudi Arabia was a regulation for the future.
“If Qatar and Türkiye become a part of this agreement, it will be a good development,” he said.
“This would mean a new order in the economy and defense to minimize dependence outside the region. This initiative aims to create a broader cooperation platform between like-minded states to reinforce regional stability and collective security. The dependence always exists, and all countries depend on other countries for economic and other reasons. But I believe that this agreement does not counter anyone, and it is ultimately for peace. It is crucial to maintain peace in the region,” he said.
Türkiye already maintains good ties with Pakistan and has boosted relations with Saudi Arabia in the past few years. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed earlier this year that they were exploring the formation of a trilateral defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. A defense alliance is crucial for all countries, especially in the wake of the U.S.-Israel-Iran war that threatened already fragile stability in the region.
Pakistan and Türkiye are among the countries playing an active role in the cease-fire in the conflict. Amid the now-frozen conflict, along with Jordan, Iraq and the Gulf countries, states in the region are reconsidering their security strategies, with Türkiye emerging as a potential key partner in defense and military cooperation.
Fidan previously signaled that rising tensions are likely to fundamentally shape the future policies and strategies of Gulf countries, suggesting they may explore new options, particularly in security and defense industries.
Türkiye on Wednesday formally rejected Greece’s objection to the use of the term “Turkish Straits” at the United Nations, describing Athens’ criticism as politically motivated and inconsistent with longstanding international usage.
In a letter addressed to U.N. Security Council President Fu Cong and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Türkiye’s Permanent Representative to the U.N., Ambassador Ahmet Yıldız, said Greece’s reaction to the term during a recent Security Council session was “aimed at serving domestic political interests” and called the move “unfortunate.”
“Türkiye categorically and completely rejects Greece’s unfounded claims,” Yıldız wrote, stressing that efforts to politicize a widely recognized geographical term do not contribute to regional stability or constructive dialogue.
The dispute emerged during an April 29 Security Council meeting on maritime security and the protection of waterways, where Yıldız referred to the Bosphorus and Dardanelles collectively as the “Turkish Straits” while outlining measures Türkiye has taken to ensure freedom of navigation.
The Greek representative objected to the terminology, arguing that the 1936 Montreux Convention does not use the phrase “Turkish Straits” and instead refers specifically to the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus.
In his letter, Yıldız said the term “Turkish Straits” is an established and geographically accurate expression that has long been used in international practice and remains fully consistent with the implementation of the Montreux Convention.
He emphasized that the Bosphorus and Dardanelles are under the sovereignty of Türkiye and noted that states have the authority to determine the official names of geographical areas under their jurisdiction.
Türkiye and Greece are at odds over a range of issues, including disputes in the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean, airspace and maritime jurisdiction claims, the status of demilitarized islands and the Cyprus question.
Despite periodic tensions, the two NATO allies have in recent years pursued a cautious normalization process through high-level diplomatic contacts, confidence-building measures and cooperation on trade, migration and tourism, while continuing to maintain sharply differing positions on sovereignty and regional security matters.
According to Turkish officials, Greece has for years objected to the use of the term “Turkish Straits” in both NATO and U.N. settings despite widespread international usage.
Yıldız underlined that the term has been used consistently in numerous international documents and organizations, including NATO and the International Maritime Organization.
The Turkish envoy argued that the Montreux Convention regulates passage through the Bosphorus, Sea of Marmara and Dardanelles, but was never intended to standardize geographical terminology.
He said Greece’s efforts to promote alternative terminology could “only be justified by historical aspirations” and would not alter “the legal or political status of the Turkish Straits.”
Türkiye, he added, will continue using the term in line with its sovereignty and jurisdiction rights and expects all U.N. member states, including Greece, to respect what it described as established international usage.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will attend the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) Foreign Ministers Council Meeting in Turkistan, Kazakhstan, on Friday ahead of an informal summit of the bloc’s leaders led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The meeting in Turkistan, regarded as one of the spiritual centers of the Turkic world, will mark the third gathering of OTS foreign ministers in three months, underscoring growing cooperation among member states.
The talks follow a decision adopted at the organization’s 12th summit in Gabala, Azerbaijan, in October 2025, where leaders backed Türkiye’s proposal for more frequent meetings among foreign ministers.
Additional informal meetings were later held in Istanbul in March and on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in April.
Foreign ministers from Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, along with the OTS secretary-general, are expected to attend Friday’s meeting.
Discussions are expected to focus on cooperation in trade, energy security, connectivity, digital transformation, culture and education, as well as current regional developments, particularly the situations in Iran and Gaza.
According to diplomatic sources, the ministers are also expected to sign a decision aimed at strengthening the institutional and digital capacity of the OTS secretariat.
During the meeting, Fidan is expected to stress the importance of closer coordination within the Turkic world and reiterate Türkiye’s support for enhancing the international standing of Turkish Cypriots and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
He is also expected to underline the importance of preserving freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and preventing the strategic waterway from becoming a geopolitical tool amid heightened regional tensions.
Fidan is expected to emphasize continued support for diplomatic efforts involving Pakistan and regional partners to achieve lasting stability, while reaffirming Türkiye’s commitment to ensuring uninterrupted humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza and contributing to reconstruction efforts.
The OTS was established in 2009 under the Nakhchivan Agreement signed by Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan as the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States before adopting its current name in 2021.
Headquartered in Istanbul, the organization has five member states, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, and four observers: Hungary, Turkmenistan, the TRNC and the Economic Cooperation Organization.
A great disgrace from the CHP municipality! The reactions are like an avalanche: they opened the tavern with prayers
Türkiye’s MHP to tout drones, race cars in youth convention
Shocking detail in illegal betting operation! 35 Million TL money entered into Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı’s account… Here is the name-by-name detention list – Gallery
A great disgrace from the CHP municipality! The reactions are like an avalanche: they opened the tavern with prayers
Türkiye’s MHP to tout drones, race cars in youth convention
Shocking detail in illegal betting operation! 35 Million TL money entered into Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı’s account… Here is the name-by-name detention list – Gallery
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