Politics
Turkish FM heads to Azerbaijan for talks on security, cooperation
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will travel to Azerbaijan on Sept. 15-16 for high-level talks focused on bilateral ties, trade, energy and transportation cooperation, as well as regional and global developments, ministry sources said Monday.
During the visit, Fidan is expected to hold bilateral and delegation-level talks with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, meet Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov and be received by President Ilham Aliyev.
According to sources, the talks are expected to underline satisfaction with the progress in Türkiye-Azerbaijan relations, which were elevated to the level of an alliance with the signing of the Shusha Declaration in 2021.
Regional peace efforts will be a key item on the agenda. Fidan is expected to announce that a historic opportunity has emerged to establish lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, while reiterating Türkiye’s support for establishing good-neighborly relations between the two countries.
Ankara has welcomed recent progress between Baku and Yerevan and supports efforts to improve infrastructure, restore energy and trade routes and strengthen regional connectivity in Karabakh.
The Turkish minister is also expected to emphasize the need to intensify efforts toward reaching the $15 billion bilateral trade target set by the presidents of the two countries.
Trade between Türkiye and Azerbaijan totaled $7.08 billion in 2025. Around 5,800 Turkish companies currently operate in Azerbaijan, making Türkiye the country with the largest number of foreign-invested companies there, while more than 2,600 Azerbaijani-funded companies operate in Türkiye.
Türkiye’s direct investments in Azerbaijan, including those made through third countries, have exceeded $17.9 billion, while Azerbaijani investments in Türkiye have reached $20.3 billion.
Energy and transportation projects are also expected to feature prominently in Fidan’s meetings, alongside ongoing cooperation between the two allies in the defense industry, security and military fields.
The two sides are also expected to review cooperation within multilateral organizations, particularly the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), and discuss the upcoming 13th OTS summit and COP31, both of which Türkiye is set to host.
Türkiye was the first country to recognize Azerbaijan after it declared independence in 1991. Bilateral ties, often described by officials with the phrase “one nation, two states,” have expanded across political, economic, defense, energy and cultural fields.
The two countries established a High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in 2010, while the Shusha Declaration signed on June 15, 2021, formally elevated relations to an allied level.
The declaration is a testament to the comprehensive cooperation that will be maintained in all strategic fields, particularly national security. It envisions reinforcing partnership in many fields, from the military and defense industry to energy and transportation, from the economy to humanitarian relations. More importantly, the declaration affirmed joint action against threats and attacks against the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and border security of either country.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last visited Azerbaijan in November 2025 for Victory Day commemorations in Baku, while Aliyev traveled to Türkiye in April for the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. The two leaders most recently met on Sept. 1 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek.
Representatives of the Western Thracian Turkish community condemned Monday an attack on the Çınar Mosque in Xanthi (Iskeçe), in Greece’s Western Thrace, after insulting messages targeting Islam and sacred values were written on an exterior wall of the mosque.
The elected Mufti’s Office of Komotini (Gümülcine) condemned the incident, saying the messages disregarded “moral and humanitarian values.”
The office said negative rhetoric targeting the religious and cultural values of the Muslim Turkish minority in Western Thrace has increased recently, warning that such acts undermine social peace and a culture of coexistence.
Xanthi lawmaker Burhan Baran also condemned the attack, saying disrespect toward places of worship was unacceptable and calling on authorities to identify those responsible and take necessary legal action.
Fellow Xanthi lawmaker Hüseyin Zeybek said the incident should not be regarded as ordinary graffiti, describing it as a provocation targeting social peace and coexistence.
Türkiye’s Consul General in Komotini Aykut Ünal visited the mosque following the incident and expressed solidarity with members of the Turkish community. He also voiced hope that those responsible would be identified and brought to justice.
The offensive messages targeting Islam and Allah were written by an unidentified person or persons on a wall near the mosque’s entrance on Sunday, Sept. 13.
The Western Thrace region, located near Greece’s northeastern border with Türkiye, is home to a substantial, centuries-old Muslim Turkish minority numbering around 150,000.
The rights of Western Thracian Turks are guaranteed under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne. But over the decades, the situation has seriously deteriorated for the community, which is also economically one of the poorest in Greece.
The Western Thracian Turkish community often complains of double standards and continuing inequalities in the country, namely socioeconomic discrimination, lack of equal access to quality education for children of minorities, and political rights.
An Israeli business newspaper has highlighted Türkiye’s expanding regional influence under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, describing Ankara as an increasingly consequential actor in the Middle East and a growing rival to Israel.
In an analysis, Israeli financial daily Calcalist said on Sunday that Erdoğan had significantly expanded Türkiye’s influence in Washington and across the Arab world.
“Erdoğan has made Türkiye a player that is difficult to ignore in the Middle East and, for Israel, a rival with growing influence in the areas surrounding it,” the newspaper said.
The report underlined that relations between Türkiye and Israel have continued to deteriorate, pointing to a near-total breakdown in economic, commercial and aviation ties. It cited Turkish Trade Ministry data showing that direct trade with Israel has remained at zero since May 2024.
Calcalist also said tensions between Ankara and Tel Aviv have increasingly extended beyond the Gaza Strip into Syria.
Türkiye has emerged as one of the key backers of Syria following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, the report said, noting Ankara’s security support for Damascus and efforts to deepen economic integration between the two neighbors.
Türkiye has set a target of increasing bilateral trade with Syria to $5 billion within two years.
Meanwhile, speaking during a visit to Syria on Sunday, Fidan said Israeli policies represented the “biggest obstacle” to positive progress in the fight against terrorism and argued that Israeli attacks were damaging joint counterterrorism efforts.
“Israel is trying to destabilize Syria through its attacks,” Fidan stressed, accusing Israel of supporting terrorist groups such as Daesh. “We know that Israel has a hand in the instability here, and they do not deny it.”
The minister reiterated that Türkiye wanted to see a Syria that had fully established its sovereignty and could contribute to stability for its neighbors.
He also highlighted rapidly expanding ties between Ankara and Damascus, saying Türkiye-Syria relations had gained significant momentum over the past two years.
The analysis also pointed to Ankara’s growing diplomatic role in Washington and the Arab world. It cited Türkiye’s participation as a founding member of the Gaza Peace Council at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump and its defense cooperation with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Moreover, Calcalist also highlighted strengthening ties between Ankara and Washington, noting Trump’s participation in the NATO summit held in the Turkish capital on July 7-8.
U.S. President Donald Trump has maintained close ties with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, frequently highlighting his personal relationship with the Turkish leader and praising his leadership.
The relationship was on display during the NATO summit in Ankara, where Trump thanked Erdoğan for hosting what he described as a “very successful” gathering of the alliance.
Trump called Erdoğan “a great leader” and a longtime friend, while praising his strong leadership and Türkiye’s growing role within NATO.
The report further said the developments have reinforced Türkiye’s regional standing while sharpening its rivalry with Israel amid continued disagreements over Gaza and Syria.
Israeli violence continues
Israel continued attacks in the Gaza Strip and neighboring Lebanon despite cease-fire arrangements, with Lebanese authorities reporting artillery fire and other military activity in the country’s south on Monday.
According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency, Israeli troops set fire to several homes in the town of Tayr Harfa in the Bint Jbeil district of Nabatieh province.
Israel launched an intensive air campaign against Lebanon on March 2 and occupied several areas in the country’s south. The Lebanese government said more than 1 million people were displaced during the fighting.
A cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon took effect on April 17 and was later extended several times. The Lebanese Health Ministry has said at least 4,383 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since March 2.
Meanwhile, Israeli attacks continued in the Gaza Strip, where the Palestinian Health Ministry said the death toll since Oct. 7, 2023, had risen to 73,786.
The ministry said two Palestinians were killed and 25 others wounded in Israeli attacks over the past 24 hours.
It said 1,372 people have been killed since a cease-fire took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, while 831 bodies have been recovered from rubble and 4,659 people have been wounded during the same period.
According to the ministry, a total of 174,771 people have been wounded in Gaza since the start of Israel’s attacks on Oct. 7, 2023.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to Syria’s unity, stability and prosperity after a two-day visit to Damascus, where talks also focused on President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s planned visit to the Syrian capital.
In a statement on X, Fidan said he traveled to Syria at a critical time for the region and was received by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the first day of his visit. He also held talks with Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Interior Minister Anas Khattab.
During the meetings, the two sides reaffirmed their shared determination to preserve Syria’s unity and territorial integrity and help the Syrian people achieve the peace and prosperity they deserve, Fidan said.
The talks also addressed Erdoğan’s planned visit to Damascus, which will be his first since the Assad regime collapsed in 2024.
On the second day, Fidan met with members of Syria’s Turkmen community, whom he described as an integral part of the country.
He praised Syrian Turkmens for their role on the front lines of the struggle against the Baath regime and said they were continuing to make significant contributions to building a stable and prosperous Syria.
Fidan also visited several sites reflecting the two countries’ shared historical and cultural heritage, including the tombs of Ibn Arabi, Mawlana Khalid al-Baghdadi and Salahuddin Ayyubi, as well as the Turkish Air Martyrs’ Cemetery and the Suleymaniye Complex.
Reflecting on the two-day visit, Fidan said he saw the streets of Damascus becoming increasingly peaceful and vibrant.
He welcomed the Syrian people’s efforts to build, through their own will, a secure, stable and prosperous country that embraces all segments of society.
“We will continue to stand by Syria throughout this process,” Fidan said.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Monday rejected statements by Greek authorities concerning the period when Greece sought to occupy Anatolia, calling the claims “baseless” and urging Greek officials to act with “seriousness and common sense.”
Ankara also recalled that Greece carried out mass killings and destruction against civilians in Anatolia during the period, saying Athens acknowledged those acts and its obligation to pay reparations under Article 59 of the Treaty of Lausanne.
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry last week released archival documents and photographs that show atrocities committed by Greek forces in Anatolia between 1919 and 1922.
The ministry shared the material on its social media accounts, saying the records document actions carried out by Greek forces during their occupation of Anatolia and subsequent withdrawal.
“During the occupation of Anatolia and while retreating, Greek forces pursued a systematic policy of destruction, as acknowledged by the Treaty of Lausanne and international reports,” the ministry stated.
The ministry said the archival records included evidence from a village near Bursa, describing it as “a painful example of the massacre carried out against Turkish civilians.”
Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias had earlier Monday commented on the wartime period in Anatolia in a post on social media platform X.
In his remarks, Dendias stated the contributions of Greeks who migrated from Anatolia to Greece and offered his account of events during the Turkish War of Independence, prompting a response from Ankara.
Statements from witnesses in a case against Alihan Kuriş, the leader of the Süleymancılar movement accused of running a criminal gang, point to connections between the group and the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ).
The Süleymancılar are a religious movement, much like FETÖ portrayed itself before launching an all-out offensive to topple the government through its infiltrators.
The investigation into Kuriş’s alleged wrongdoings and the suspicious death of former Transportation Minister Arif Ahmet Denizolgun, who led the movement before Kuriş, revealed the connections.
R.Ş., a witness who was part of Süleymancılar for years, told prosecutors that Kuriş was “handled” by FETÖ. M.K., a businessperson, also testified that Denizolgun was opposed to FETÖ. M.K. told prosecutors that Denizolgun told him and a fellow businessperson before FETÖ’s first attempt to topple the government in December 2013 that FETÖ leader Fetullah Gülen sought to cooperate with him “in the near future.”
“He told us that Gülen sent him a letter about cooperation, and he was considering rejecting the proposal. ‘We stand with the state,’ Denizolgun added,” M.K. said.
Y.K., another witness, said Kuriş had always been a greedy man and sought to lead the movement. Y.K. said he believed that Denizolgun’s death was not from natural causes. “Kuriş had been greedier (before Denizolgun’s death). He was ambitious; he wanted to lead. Both he and his mother repeatedly spoke about these ambitions,” he said.
Denizolgun died in Istanbul in 2016 at the age of 60 from a brain hemorrhage. His nephew, Fatih Süleyman Denizolgun, pointed the finger at Alihan Kuriş over his death. Kuriş was arrested last month on corruption charges, along with other top figures of the group. Earlier this month, authorities announced that Denizolgun’s body had been exhumed over suspicions of foul play.
R.Ş. said that Denizolgun was aware of the ambitions of Alihan Kuriş and his mother, Ayşe Gülderen, and feared that they would kill him. “He told his close circle that Alihan and his mother might attempt to poison him,” R.Ş. told investigators.
He stated that Kuriş was a puppet of FETÖ. “He knew he would be removed as leader of the movement if he did not pledge allegiance to FETÖ. FETÖ opposed Arif Ahmet Denizolgun’s leadership because he was loyal to the state,” he said.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek and other dignitaries joined a large crowd Sunday as the 745th edition of the annual Remembrance of Ertuğrul and Yörük Festival came to a close in Söğüt, the town where the Ottoman Empire was launched centuries ago in western Türkiye.
The event is an occasion to remember the father of Osman I, founder of the empire that lasted for more than six centuries, and to celebrate Yörüks, nomadic Turks who trace their roots to fellow Oghuz clans of which Ertuğrul was a member. Representatives of Yörük tribes staged parades in Söğüt, now part of Bilecik province, while guests visited Ertuğrul’s tomb.
Dressed in traditional Yörük garb, Gürlek addressed a fervent crowd in Söğüt and said the “sacred fire” that burned in the town centuries ago had illuminated the path of the Century of Türkiye, referring to Türkiye’s vision for the future in the centenary of the Republic of Türkiye.
Gürlek said the Turks’ march began in a tent in Söğüt and continued toward new goals under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The event’s exact history is not known, but it was inspired by a banquet hosted by Ertuğrul himself more than seven centuries ago after he returned to Söğüt from a campaign in the Domaniç highlands. After Ertuğrul’s death, this “toy” (a Turkic term for a large feast or banquet) became a tradition and evolved into its current form, a three-day festival that starts on a solemn note with prayers for Ertuğrul and the Ottoman ancestors of the nation.
“Shaped by the determination of Ertuğrul Gazi, the courage of Osman Gazi and Sheikh Edebali’s philosophy that ‘Keep people alive so that the state may live,’ these lands became one of the strongest bearers of our civilizational history, placing justice and winning hearts before the sword,” Gürlek said in a speech at the event, referring to Osman I’s father-in-law and the first qadi of the Ottoman Empire.
“Keeping alive today the deep-rooted memory extending from the guild tradition of Ahilik (the tradition of craftsmen in the Ottoman era) to the Horasan saints (ancient spiritual leaders) is our greatest responsibility inherited from our past. The understanding of justice and tolerance that our ancestors brought to the lands they conquered served as a guarantee of regional peace for centuries. The small sapling planted in Söğüt grew into a mighty plane tree of civilization that took deeper and stronger roots throughout history, even when attempts were made to bring it down. It is our duty to protect the children and young people who are the guarantors of our future and who will carry this deep-rooted legacy into tomorrow from the traps of the modern age that hold minds captive and from all threats that seek to distance them from our national and spiritual values,” Gürlek added.
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