Politics
Türkiye says will remain ‘closely’ interested in BRICS
Türkiye will continue to engage closely with BRICS, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Tuesday following the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Last year, frustrated by a lack of progress in its EU accession, Türkiye voiced interest to be a full member in the BRICS group of emerging economies, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Iran, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While the group offered Türkiye a special status called “partner country” citing a disinterest in further expansion, Ankara has yet to announce its decision regarding the BRICS proposal.
At the Brazil summit, the bloc admitted 10 other countries, including Belarus, Kazakhstan and Cuba, as partner countries.
Reflecting on Ankara’s strategic outlook and evolving role in the international system, Fidan stressed Türkiye’s interest in platforms that advocate for global reform, multilateral cooperation and regional peace.
“Türkiye is heard and sought after on many platforms thanks to its international stance. There is an international community that wants to benefit from our experiences and views,” Fidan told reporters after the two-day summit.
Fidan said the summit had been productive and featured broad discussions on correcting flaws in the global order.
“The most important of these are the efforts to correct the mistakes in the international system and to reform the international system,” he said, referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s long-standing mantra, “the world is bigger than five.”
Linking Türkiye’s reformist vision with BRICS’ goals, Fidan said: “When you say the world is bigger than five, you express the injustice and inequality here in one sentence.”
BRICS aims to amplify the voice of major emerging economies to counterbalance what it considers to be the Western-led global order. Its founding members have called for reforming international institutions like the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
Member nations represent just under half of the world’s population and around a third of the global gross domestic product. As a “platform,” it does not impose binding economic obligations on members as does the EU, at whose door Ankara has been knocking since 1999.
On climate change, Fidan reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to global action. “All the countries around the table are seriously concerned about this issue,” he stated.
“BRICS countries represent half the world’s population and 40% of the global economy. Türkiye is closely following developments on every platform and will continue to be closely interested in BRICS from this perspective,” he said.
Ukraine
Turning to the war in Ukraine, Fidan highlighted Türkiye’s active role in mediation, especially through the Istanbul Peace Talks.
“This has brought about results that have never been achieved in the four-year war so far,” he stated, referring to the exchange of prisoners and repatriation of the remains of soldiers.
Fidan said discussions are underway to determine how a cease-fire, permanent or temporary, can be achieved and whether a leaders’ summit can be held.
“We continue to advise both sides that it’s possible to meet in the middle with more creative solutions,” he added.
On the prospect of a high-level summit, Fidan said that all major leaders, including Erdoğan, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump, are open in principle to meeting. “However, the Russian side wants more groundwork completed by negotiation teams first,” Fidan said.
“The Russians have stated that they are ready for the third round of talks. Now we are waiting for the response of the Ukrainian side,” he said, confirming that diplomatic traffic will continue.
Gaza crisis
Fidan went on to describe Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip as “genocidal” and argued the shift in global rhetoric was telling.
“Since the moment the genocide in Gaza reached its peak, even some actors in the international system that support Israel have prioritized keeping themselves away from Israel. Because standing together with genocidal Israel no longer shows anyone in a good light,” Fidan said.
He noted that only a handful of countries, including the United States, continue to support Israel unconditionally. “The number of countries supporting Israel right now is almost as many as the fingers of one hand in terms of rhetoric.”
Despite widespread condemnation, Fidan criticized the lack of tangible action: “The fact that no concrete result has yet emerged is exactly what we call a ‘fault’ in the system.”
Türkiye, he emphasized, has remained actively involved in cease-fire negotiations and peace diplomacy. “We conveyed our views and the suggestions of President Erdoğan to the relevant parties,” Fidan said. “Our stance has always been in favor of the cease-fire, peace, and humanitarian aid to be implemented as soon as possible.”
“Although Israel is increasingly turning this into a war and systematic genocide, we have stated that we are ready to do our best to resolve this diplomatically,” Fidan said.
Israel and Hamas began their latest round of negotiations in Qatar on Sunday, with representatives of the two sides seated in different rooms in the same building. “The discussions are still focused on the mechanisms for implementation, particularly the clauses related to withdrawal and humanitarian aid,” a Palestinian official close to the talks told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Trump on Monday voiced confidence that a deal could be reached.
“I don’t think there is a holdup. I think things are going along very well,” the U.S. leader told reporters when asked what was preventing a peace deal.
Sitting on the opposite side of a long table from the Israeli leader, Trump also said Hamas was willing to end the war in Gaza, which is entering its 22nd month.
Fidan said he observed growing optimism among mediating countries. He revealed that he met with the Qatari prime minister earlier on Monday and discussed the situation in Gaza, noting that Ankara is receiving daily feedback from Doha on the ongoing negotiations.
Türkiye views the PKK’s disarmament in Iraq as an irreversible turning point to build a future free from terror, a senior Turkish official said Friday after the group handed over their weapons in a symbolic ceremony in Sulaymaniyah.
“The laying down of arms by PKK militants in Sulaymaniyah, a milestone of the third stage of the ongoing disarmament and decommissioning process, marks a concrete and welcome step toward ending the group’s decadeslong campaign of violence,” the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
“We view this development as an irreversible turning point – an opportunity to protect innocent lives and build a future free from terror. Türkiye remains committed to supporting all efforts that prioritize disarmament, stability and lasting reconciliation in the region,” the official added.
Next steps are now awaited in the terror-free Türkiye initiative that culminated in the landmark development.
The PKK’s senior members are not expected to be allowed into Türkiye, but the lower cadres could be admitted after necessary legal procedures.
Friday’s development is part of a broader five-stage process toward sustainable peace, according to the official, ranging from political to socio-psychological integration.
“The disbandment and decommissioning process will include the supervised and irreversible disarmament and dissolution of the PKK’s armed structures, as seen today in Sulaymaniyah,” the official said.
Legal reintegration will include a mechanism for lawful return and justice, ensuring both accountability and stability.
“Socio-psychological integration will include long-term efforts to heal affected communities, promote reconciliation and support full reintegration into society,” the official noted.
PKK terrorists began laying down their arms at a ceremony in northern Iraq on Friday, two months after the terrorist group ended its violent campaign against the Turkish state.
The move comes in response to a historic call by jailed PKK founder Abdullah Öcalan in February, urging them to end their decadeslong attacks.
The PKK has long exploited the Kurdish community in Türkiye, brainwashing Kurdish youth to join it to conduct terrorist attacks for “Kurdistan.”
Here are five key dates in the history of Öcalan and the PKK, whose violence left more than 40,000 dead in Türkiye:
1978-1984: PKK formed
With Marxist-Leninist roots, the PKK was formed in 1978 by Ankara University students, with the ultimate goal of forming a separatist Kurdish state in southeastern Türkiye. They chose Öcalan, a political science student, as leader.
A Turkish military coup in 1980 forced the PKK and its leader to flee to Syria and Lebanon. The group then took up arms against the state in 1984. Its members trained in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley, east of Beirut, while attacking Turkish military posts and convoys.
The group’s attacks intensified in the 1990s, showing no discrimination between security forces and civilians.
Türkiye hit back, in response to which the terrorist group upped its terrorist attacks, especially in the Kurdish-majority southeast, that left the region in a state of near-civil war.
1999: Öcalan’s arrest
Öcalan was forced to leave Syria in 1998 after Ankara threatened Damascus over its backing for the PKK, with the terrorist leader fleeing between several European states.
He was eventually arrested in Kenya on Feb. 15, 1999, flown back to Türkiye and sentenced to death.
There, he was placed in solitary confinement on the Imralı prison island, off the coast of Istanbul.
In 2002, his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment when Türkiye started the process of abolishing the death penalty as part of reforms backed by the European Union.
2013-2015: Fragile truce
Öcalan urged the PKK to lay down their arms in a letter on March 21, 2013, as part of talks with the government of then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is now president.
Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) had also held talks with the PKK in Oslo.
But the truce collapsed in July 2015 after the PKK’s deadly bomb attack in Suruç, a town near the Syrian border.
2015-2016: Clashes in southeast
Türkiye struck PKK targets in Iraq and led a vast military offensive at home. The PKK responded with what they called “urban warfare.”
There were fierce daily battles in the southeast, including in the city of Diyarbakır.
Efforts for peace deteriorated after a failed 2016 coup.
Türkiye also deployed troops in northern Syria to protect its frontier.
2024-2025: PKK ends campaign
After a decade of status quo marked by occasional attacks, a hardliner ally of Erdoğan extended Öcalan an olive branch, urging him to renounce violence in a shock move backed by the Turkish leader.
Indirect talks facilitated by the pro-PKK Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) began, and on Feb. 27, Öcalan made a historic call, urging his PKK to disband and his terrorists to lay down their weapons.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is set to hold its 32nd consultation and evaluation meeting beginning Saturday in Ankara, where top party officials, lawmakers and leaders will gather to assess Türkiye’s current trajectory and define the party’s road map for the upcoming term.
AK Party Secretary-General Eyyüp Kadir Inan and Deputy Chairperson Faruk Acar held a press conference Friday at the hotel where the camp will be held, emphasizing the strategic importance of the annual meeting. Inan noted that the three-day event will open with a keynote address by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Inan said the camp will not only shape the party’s new-term road map but also signal its strategic vision to both Türkiye and the international community.
Deputy Chair Faruk Acar revealed that the camp has been organized with a fresh approach this year, including a carefully chosen theme designed to reflect the party’s current vision and Erdoğan’s leadership.
“The environment here reflects the spirit of the AK Party and our president’s leadership,” said Acar. “Even the slogans on the pillars around you are not random, they echo the AK Party’s legacy. This year, we’ve embraced a new theme: ‘Leadership that transcends borders with the power of the nation.’ It symbolizes how Erdoğan’s leadership is now recognized across the globe.”
Acar also announced that the party is preparing a documentary to mark the AK Party’s 24th anniversary next month, adding that they are focused on carrying the movement’s traditions into the future while incorporating the vision of modern Türkiye.
Erdoğan address
When asked about the content of Erdoğan’s anticipated speech, Acar noted that it will offer a comprehensive overview of the government’s efforts toward achieving a terror-free Türkiye.
“For several days, our party spokesperson has shared developments about the disarmament process related to terrorism. Tomorrow, Erdoğan will deliver a historic evaluation of this process, outlining what’s been accomplished and what steps lie ahead,” Acar said.
He emphasized that the president’s address will also include perspectives on national unity, security and regional leadership, reinforcing Türkiye’s broader strategy in combating terrorism.
As part of the weekend’s agenda, the AK Party aims to promote greater synergy among members, reinforce the tradition of consultation, and set the tone for future policy directions. Acar said continuous updates will be shared throughout the event to inform the public and the party’s base.
“We are building a foundation where collective wisdom and shared vision will shape the future,” Acar concluded.
Yiğit Bulut, chief advisor to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and a member of Türkiye’s Economic Policies Board, died after a long battle with cancer on Friday.
Bulut, 53, who was receiving treatment at a private hospital in Istanbul, passed away this morning, according to a statement from former Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu.
Now an Istanbul representative for the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Soylu announced the news of Bulut’s death on X.
“Our Chief Advisor to the President, Member of the Economic Policies Board, journalist, author, and economist, my dear friend Yiğit Bulut, passed away this morning after a painful illness. I offer my condolences to his grieving family, relatives, and loved ones. May God have mercy on him and grant him rest in peace,” Soylu said.
AK Party spokesperson Ömer Çelik also confirmed the news, offering his condolences.
Separately, Erdoğan issued a message on X.
“I learned with deep sorrow that one of our Chief Advisors to the President, a member of the Economic Policy Board, and my valued colleague, Yiğit Bulut, passed away. I offer my condolences to Yiğit’s family, relatives, and all colleagues, and may God have mercy on him,” Erdoğan said.
Bulut had served as chief advisor to Erdoğan since August 2014.
He is survived by his spouse, Burcu Bulut.
After dozens of PKK terrorists destroyed their weapons in northern Iraq, the terror-free Türkiye goal has passed a critical threshold, ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) spokesperson Ömer Çelik said Friday.
In a statement on X, Çelik stressed that the disbandment and disarmament process must be completed “as soon as possible.”
Çelik emphasized that this marks the first concrete step toward dismantling the PKK in line with Turkey’s strategic objective.
“With Mr. Devlet Bahçeli’s historic call and the state’s will manifested by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the determination to turn a historic page in Türkiye’s liberation from the burden of terrorism is progressing stronger,” he stated.
Highlighting cross-party cooperation, Çelik said the frequent consultations between political parties, particularly with the PKK-affiliated Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), reflect the growing sensitivity and consensus needed to support the disarmament process.
“Parliament’s will and the contributions of all political parties will have a tangible impact,” he added.
Çelik also assured that state institutions are engaged in coordinated efforts across diplomacy, intelligence and security to ensure the success of the initiative.
He praised the sacrifices of Türkiye’s martyrs and veterans, saying their efforts have preserved national unity and sovereignty under the principle of “one homeland, one nation, one state, one flag.”
“A critical threshold has been crossed,” he said, while warning against provocations that could undermine the process. He stressed that Türkiye remains vigilant against attempts to exploit terrorism for proxy wars or imperialist designs in the region.
“The goal of a ‘terror-free Türkiye’ is not only essential for our nation, but it also inspires the establishment of a broader ‘terror-free zone’ in our immediate region,” Çelik concluded
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Friday urged stronger collaboration with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), highlighting common challenges and mutual strategic interests between Türkiye and the Asia-Pacific region.
“Türkiye stands ready to support ASEAN’s 2045 vision for a resilient, inclusive and sustainable community,” he said.
The Turkish foreign minister also reaffirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening ties under all three pillars of the ASEAN community and called for support to elevate Türkiye’s status to a full dialogue partner.
Speaking at the 7th Türkiye-ASEAN Trilateral Meeting on Sectoral Dialogue Partnership in Kuala Lumpur, Fidan said the gathering offered a “timely opportunity” to assess the current state of relations and reflect on common goals.
“The Asia-Pacific region stands at a critical crossroads,” he said, pointing to ongoing geopolitical tensions, economic volatility and environmental disruptions. “Security perceptions have changed as a result of great power competition.”
Fidan noted that countries in the region are adjusting national security strategies, increasing defense spending and placing greater emphasis on economic security. He argued that Türkiye faces similar dynamics in its neighborhood and that current global governance mechanisms are failing to address overlapping crises, with Gaza being a prime example.
“These crises speak to a deeper truth: Our governance mechanisms are fragmented, reactive and often hostage to geopolitical deadlock,” he said. “This is the moment to act collectively and build bridges based on regional ownership.”
Fidan underscored the importance of cooperation with ASEAN, describing both Türkiye and ASEAN as strategically located and economically significant actors in their respective regions.
“ASEAN ranks among the world’s top five largest economies and is a model of regional integration,” he said. “Türkiye is the 17th largest economy globally and one of the fastest-growing among OECD countries.”
Bilateral trade between Türkiye and ASEAN surpassed $15.7 billion last year, according to Fidan, highlighting what he called the “scale of existing potential.”
Türkiye established institutional relations and signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, one of ASEAN’s founding documents, in 2010, before becoming a sectoral dialogue partner in 2017.
Fidan also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Laos on the sidelines of the meeting.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry shared an update on the social media platform X, detailing Fidan’s diplomatic engagements during his visit to the Malaysian capital.
Fidan separately met Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad bin Hasan, Brunei’s Second Foreign Minister Dato Erywan Yusof, Laos’ Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko.
Fidan also held a meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Last minute | Yiğit Bulut is sent off on his last journey! The funeral program has been announced
Turkish president hails the start of disarmament by militant Kurdish separatists
They said ‘300 students in Diyarbakir received full points in LGS’ but see what the real thing came out!
Last minute | Yiğit Bulut is sent off on his last journey! The funeral program has been announced
Turkish president hails the start of disarmament by militant Kurdish separatists
They said ‘300 students in Diyarbakir received full points in LGS’ but see what the real thing came out!
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