Politics
Türkiye extends condolences to Spain over deadly train collision
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry extended condolences to Spain over the tragic train accident that killed dozens of people near the city of Toledo on Wednesday.
In a statement, the ministry said Türkiye was deeply saddened by the loss of life resulting from the train accident.
“We extend our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and to the people of Spain, and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” the ministry said, adding that no Turkish citizens have lost their lives in the accident.
The Turkish Embassy in Madrid is closely following the developments regarding the accident, the ministry added.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also expressed solidarity with Spain following the collision of two high-speed trains. In a social media post, Erdoğan extended his sympathies to those affected by the crash, saying: “On behalf of my country and nation, I sincerely share the grief of those who lost loved ones and convey Türkiye’s message of unity and solidarity to the people and government of Spain.”
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a phone call with his Spanish counterpart, Jose Manuel Albares, to convey Türkiye’s condolences over the deadly train crash near Toledo, diplomatic sources said. Fidan expressed the Turkish people’s deep sorrow over the tragedy and extended condolences to the families of the victims. The two ministers also discussed recent developments in the Middle East.
At least 64 people were killed Wednesday when a high-speed train slammed into the rear of another train in central Spain, derailing two carriages and leaving wreckage scattered across a field as emergency crews raced to rescue survivors. The cause of the collision was not immediately known.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday called for stronger unity across the Turkic world, saying solidarity, mutual respect and brotherhood would help usher in a new era he described as the “Century of Türkiye.”
“I sincerely believe that, as the Turkic world, we will strive to make the coming period the Turkish Century through full solidarity, mutual respect and brotherhood,” Erdoğan said at a dinner reception for leaders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Ankara.
The reception came as Ankara hosted the OTS’ 13th summit on Thursday and Friday under the theme Turkic Century: Unity in Language, Thought and Deed. The summit is expected to address regional cooperation, strengthen solidarity among member states and advance the Turkic World Vision 2040.
Established in 2009, the OTS includes Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan as members, while Turkmenistan, Hungary, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Economic Cooperation Organization hold observer status.
Erdoğan also marked Türkiye’s Republic Day, saying he was excited to celebrate the occasion alongside what he called the organization’s “family council.”
“The Republic of Türkiye, the common achievement and shared roof of 86 million people, continues to move from success to success with its major gains in every field,” he said.
He said Türkiye was determined to overcome those seeking to obstruct its goals, drawing a parallel with the republic’s founding 103 years ago.
“Just as the founding will of our republic brought seven powers to their knees 103 years ago and liberated this homeland from occupation, we are equally determined to eliminate those seeking to stand between us and our goals,” Erdoğan said.
“As a nation, we once again pledge to work with all our strength to raise the Republic of Türkiye, which we established under extremely difficult conditions and at great cost, above the level of contemporary civilizations,” he added.
Erdoğan concluded by wishing a happy Republic Day and expressing hope for lasting “unity and solidarity” among Turkic states.
U.S. President Donald Trump called President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday as he hosted a Republic Day dinner attended by fellow Turkic leaders, with the two discussing the upcoming summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Ankara.
During the phone call, Erdoğan conveyed greetings from the leaders attending the dinner, held as Türkiye marked the 103rd anniversary of the founding of the republic on Oct. 29, according to a statement made by the Communications Directorate.
Erdoğan told Trump that Ankara would host the 13th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the OTS, where participating leaders are expected to adopt decisions aimed at strengthening the organization’s role in regional cooperation.
He highlighted the organization’s growing importance as a pillar of stability and security in Central Asia, representing a combined population of more than 200 million people.
Trump, for his part, extended his best wishes to Erdoğan for the upcoming OTS summit.
This was the second correspondence between the two leaders in less than 24 hours.
On Wednesday, Erdoğan told Trump that Türkiye was working toward a diplomatic resolution to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and Yemen, as Ankara closely monitors developments in the region, the Communications Directorate said.
Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) captured a suspected member of the Daesh terrorist group’s Afghanistan-based affiliate in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region and brought him back to Türkiye, security sources said Friday.
The suspect, identified as Uğur Bahadır, who used the code name “Abdullah,” was allegedly operating within Daesh’s Khorasan Province (ISKP) and carrying out assignments at several terrorist training camps in the region.
According to intelligence gathered by MIT, Bahadır traveled from Türkiye to the Afghanistan-Pakistan region in 2024 and joined the terrorist group, where he underwent training and performed various operational duties.
Following intelligence-gathering efforts, MIT launched an operation targeting Bahadır, capturing him in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region before transferring him to Türkiye.
During questioning, Bahadır reportedly provided information about the group’s recruitment activities, training programs, operational assignments and organizational structure in the region.
He also disclosed details of his connections with Özgür Altun, a Daesh operative known by the code name “Abu Yasir al-Turki,” who allegedly coordinated the transfer of recruits from Türkiye to the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.
Altun, who was captured in early 2025, had played an active role in facilitating the movement of Daesh members from Türkiye to the region and carrying out assignments on behalf of the terrorist group.
Bahadır was also reportedly associated with Ahmet Kazancı, another Daesh operative known by the aliases “Abu Ubeyde” and “Abu Ibrahim,” who was captured in early 2026.
Kazancı had been operating within Daesh’s media unit, a propaganda branch for the group.
According to the intelligence findings, the operation helped disrupt Daesh’s alleged plans to carry out attacks targeting Türkiye, expose its recruitment networks and uncover details of its planned activities.
The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) adopted a 163-point declaration on Friday outlining plans to deepen cooperation in defense, cybersecurity, trade, energy and transportation, as Türkiye assumed the organization’s rotating chairpersonship following its 13th summit in Ankara.
The “Ankara Declaration,” adopted at the summit chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, emphasized strengthening strategic partnerships among Turkic nations and expanding coordination on regional and global security challenges.
The meeting brought together leaders and senior officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
The declaration reaffirmed respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and internationally recognized borders while welcoming progress on a proposed treaty on strategic partnership, eternal friendship and brotherhood among Turkic states.
One of the declaration’s key proposals was exploring the establishment of an OTS Defense Industry College program hosted by Türkiye to strengthen technical expertise, personnel training and knowledge sharing.
The initiative follows the adoption of a defense industry cooperation roadmap during a meeting of OTS defense industry agency heads in Baku on Oct. 1.
Member states also called for accelerating consultations on establishing an OTS Cybersecurity Council and signing a memorandum of understanding on cybersecurity cooperation.
The declaration emphasized closer coordination against terrorism, extremism, separatism, drug trafficking, arms smuggling and transnational organized crime.
Support for Turkish Cypriots
The declaration reaffirmed support for the inherent equal rights of Turkish Cypriots, describing them as an integral part of the Turkic world.
It called for a negotiated, mutually acceptable and sustainable settlement of the Cyprus dispute based on the island’s existing realities.
On Gaza, the leaders urged full implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2803 and the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, while reiterating support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The declaration also reaffirmed support for Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and reconstruction.
Turkic leaders pledged to strengthen the Trans-Caspian International East-West Middle Corridor, improve integration with the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and support development of the Zangezur Corridor and the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway.
The declaration also encouraged cooperation on energy security, including the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Southern Gas Corridor and regional green energy projects.
Member states backed greater investment through the Turkic Investment Fund and efforts to simplify customs procedures and expand digital trade.
In technology, leaders welcomed completion of the production phase of the jointly developed 12U OTS-SAT CubeSat and called for accelerating preparations for its launch.
They also encouraged cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and the Digital Silk Road initiative.
Uzbekistan will host the organization’s 14th summit in 2027, while Kyrgyzstan has offered to host an informal summit the same year.
The Ankara Declaration was signed in Turkish, Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Uzbek.
Sinem Dedetaş, former mayor of Istanbul’s Üsküdar district, was released on Thursday in a corruption case, but the court ordered house arrest as part of judicial control measures.
Dedetaş, who was elected to office in the 2024 elections as the candidate of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), was arrested last July in an investigation into allegations of irregularities in zoning and construction permits issued by the municipality. She was later suspended from office, and a candidate of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) replaced her after a by-election as acting mayor. The new mayor died in a car crash earlier this month, and Muhammed Emin Sarıoğlu, another AK Party candidate, was elected as acting mayor.
The corruption probe was launched months ago over allegations of bribery and other wrongdoings committed by municipal officials. Along with Dedetaş, her deputy mayor, adviser, and heads of municipal subsidiaries were detained on charges of running a criminal ring thriving on illicit gains.
Investigators concluded that despite having no authority in the building permit issuance process at Üsküdar Municipality, officials of Kent Inc., a municipal subsidiary, coordinated the process by instructing municipal personnel through an Excel spreadsheet featuring color-coded plots of land by block and parcel. The spreadsheet was shared via a communications network established through encrypted, closed-circuit email.
According to data from the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), numerous sham “consultancy service” contracts worth a total of more than TL 1 million ($20,000) had been signed between Kent Inc. and contractors. Investigators determined that more than TL 361 million had been unlawfully extorted from contractors seeking to obtain building permits through unofficial channels as part of the activities of a criminal organization operating for financial gain within Üsküdar Municipality and Kent Inc.
Investigators determined, based on telephone traffic (HTS) records, cell tower data and suspects’ statements, that when the total construction volume was substantial, bribes were collected from contractors in cash in dollars under the coordination of Dedetaş’ adviser U.M. and Kent Inc. General Manager N.A. Despite violating regulations, occupancy permits were issued in exchange for the bribes, with the money delivered in installments to U.M., an adviser to Sinem Dedetaş, inside the Üsküdar Municipality building, according to investigators.
Simultaneous raids were conducted at 11 addresses on July 29, and six suspects were taken into custody.
Among the suspects, Sinem Dedetaş, her private secretary Alihan Koçoğlu, architect Burçin Çevik and contractor Bülent Orhan Tozkoparan were remanded in custody by the court. Deputy Mayor Ceyhun Ünlü and fixer Adem Altıntaş were released under judicial supervision.
As part of the investigation, Deputy Mayors Amine Cansu Çelik and Mithat Özdemir were also taken into custody on Sept. 2 to give statements. Özdemir, who was referred to the courthouse, was released under judicial supervision subject to a travel ban.
Çelik, who had been remanded in custody, was subsequently released under judicial supervision, with an order for her house arrest.
As the investigation continued, Burak Aydın, the municipality’s director of permit inspection, and business operator Erdem Koyunyerli were also remanded in custody.
Türkiye and Uzbekistan signed five agreements on Thursday aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, social security and business development following a meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Ankara.
The agreements were signed at the Presidential Complex after Erdoğan held talks with Mirziyoyev, who arrived in the Turkish capital to attend the 13th Organization of Turkic States (OTS) summit.
Erdoğan invited Mirziyoyev to the COP31 Leaders Summit in Antalya during talks in Ankara focused on strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation among Turkic states.
He reaffirmed Ankara’s commitment to deepening its high-level strategic partnership with Tashkent, particularly in trade, investment, mining, transportation and the defense industry.
He also expressed confidence that the OTS would continue to grow stronger through new cooperation initiatives, voicing hope that the upcoming leaders’ summit in Ankara would mark a significant milestone for the organization.
Erdoğan welcomed his Uzbek counterpart at the entrance of the Presidential Complex before their meeting.
The agreements included an additional protocol amending a 2022 arrangement on the advance exchange of information concerning vehicles and goods crossing national borders, signed by Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat and Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov.
A separate protocol amending the preferential trade agreement between the two countries was signed by Bolat and Uzbek Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov.
Turkish Labor and Social Security Minister Vedat Işıkhan and Saidov signed a bilateral social security agreement, along with a separate administrative agreement governing its implementation.
Erdoğan and Mirziyoyev also signed an agreement establishing a high-level council to support the business community and strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.
The agreements come as Ankara and Tashkent seek to expand bilateral trade, which reached $3.1 billion in 2025, toward their shared target of $5 billion.
Earlier Thursday, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz welcomed Mirziyoyev, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov at the airport ahead of the OTS summit.
In a statement shared on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal, Yılmaz expressed hope that the gathering would strengthen solidarity and cooperation among Turkic states.
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