Politics
Greece arms itself while lobbying against fighter jet sale to Türkiye
Athens is reinforcing its defenses while hoping its allies in the United States will prevent neighboring Türkiye from strengthening its military, pursuing a key defense deal with Israel while opposing the sale of fighter jets to Türkiye.
Turkish-Greek relations have been on the right track for the past couple of years, but tensions remain palpable, especially in light of Athens’ escalating defense spending. This is tied to what Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described as an “open threat of war” from Türkiye during the NATO summit in Ankara earlier this month.
Weeks after his remarks, Greece’s Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA) convened on Thursday to give final approval for the purchase of a multilayered air defense system from Israel worth up to 3.5 billion euros ($4 billion), along with several types of drones, two sources told Reuters. KYSEA gave its initial approval earlier this year and is expected to finalize the procurement contracts, an official familiar with the deal told Reuters.
Greece wants to build a multilayered anti-ballistic, anti-aircraft and anti-drone system called the “Achilles Shield.” The system will be built around Israeli radars and missiles manufactured by Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The Greek government has said it plans to spend about 28 billion euros by 2036 to modernize its armed forces, including purchasing up to 40 new F-35 fighter jets from the United States and frigates from France and Italy.
Greece spends nearly 3.5% of its gross domestic product on defense, a higher proportion than many of its NATO allies. Reflecting their close economic and diplomatic ties, Greece and Israel operate an air training center in Greece, conduct annual joint military exercises, and cooperate on anti-drone systems and cybersecurity. Last year, Greece approved the purchase of 36 Israeli-made rocket artillery systems for about 650 million euros. “KYSEA will also approve the purchase of drones from the U.S. and Israel,” the official said. A second official confirmed the details regarding the Israeli air defense system and the drone purchases. Greece currently relies on U.S.-made Patriot systems and Russian-made S-300 systems to protect its airspace.
Thousands of miles away, Athens is hoping one NATO ally will help it counter another. The International Coordinating Committee-Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA), a Greek American grassroots organization, is campaigning to block the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed clear support for the sale during his visit to Türkiye for the NATO summit earlier this month. Standing alongside President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the joint news conference in Ankara, Trump said the U.S. was prepared to lift sanctions imposed under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and would consider Türkiye’s return to the F-35 fighter jet program. The sanctions were imposed after Türkiye purchased the Russian-made S-400 air defense system, prompting Washington to remove Ankara from the multinational F-35 program in 2019.
Earlier this week, PSEKA announced that it had sent letters to Congress warning of what it described as the “clear and present danger” posed by the sale of F-35s to Türkiye. The organization argued that such a sale would increase the vulnerability of its allies, Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration, to Türkiye’s threats.
Türkiye and Greece have pursued a rapprochement after decades of hostility, but longstanding disputes continue to complicate relations. Chief among them is the disagreement over maritime boundaries in the Aegean Sea. Greece’s attempts to expand its territorial waters led Türkiye to declare a casus belli, or cause for war, in the 1990s, and that declaration remains in force.
In an interview with Greece’s ERT earlier this month, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said the casus belli had been a “huge burden” on bilateral relations and that it was “long overdue” for Türkiye to revoke the declaration it made in the 1990s.
The two countries, which came close to war over the Aegean during that decade, remain vigilant. While Türkiye has focused on developing its domestic defense industry, Greece has continued to rely on foreign partners to strengthen its military capabilities. Pursuing a doctrine centered on maintaining an effective and powerful navy, Türkiye has spent the past two decades building an indigenous defense industry capable of operating in blue-water environments, shifting regional geopolitical dynamics in its favor. Its navy plays a critical role in securing maritime trade routes in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea while supporting regional stability.
Dündar Ziya Gültekin, a municipal council member from Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), was elected acting mayor of Istanbul’s Üsküdar district Tuesday in a rerun vote following a court decision suspending the previous election.
Gültekin secured 23 of the 42 votes cast in the fourth round of voting at the Üsküdar Municipal Council, defeating Republican People’s Party (CHP) council member Sibel Tan Çetinkaya, who received 19 votes.
The council convened under the chairmanship of First Deputy Chair Ali Aral to elect the acting mayor.
The CHP/New Party group nominated Çetinkaya, while the People’s Alliance nominated Gültekin.
After neither candidate secured the required majority in the first three rounds, the election proceeded to a fourth round, in which the candidate receiving the highest number of votes would win.
In the secret ballot, Gültekin received 23 votes to Çetinkaya’s 19.
The election was repeated after Istanbul’s 2nd Administrative Court issued a stay of execution concerning the Municipal Council’s decision in the previous acting mayor election held Aug. 5.
The Istanbul Governor’s Office had said an appeal against the ruling was rejected by the Istanbul Regional Administrative Court and that the district council would reconvene to elect an acting mayor.
The council was initially scheduled to hold the election Saturday, Sept. 5, but the meeting was postponed after it failed to reach the required quorum.
The council reconvened Tuesday, resulting in Gültekin’s election in the fourth round.
Last week, four municipal council members in Istanbul’s Üsküdar district resigned from the main opposition CHP and joined the ruling AK Party.
The four defections leave the CHP with a two-seat advantage over the People’s Alliance in the council, raising the stakes ahead of the election.
Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş was arrested on July 31 as part of an investigation involving allegations of establishing a criminal organization, bribery and extortion. She was subsequently suspended from office by the Interior Ministry.
On Aug. 5, the municipal council elected CHP council member Sibel Tan Çetinkaya as acting mayor.
The election was later challenged in court, and Istanbul’s 2nd Administrative Court suspended the implementation of the council decision.
Following the court decision, the Istanbul Governor’s Office announced that the municipal council would reconvene on Sept. 5 to elect a new acting mayor under Article 45 of Türkiye’s Municipal Law.
The First Muslim Diaspora Forum of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states was held in Ankara on Tuesday. Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz was among the speakers at the forum, which brought together representatives of the states of the international Islamic body. His speech focused on solidarity and standing against Israeli oppression of Palestinians.
Yılmaz lashed out at Israel’s attempt to brand any opposition to its oppression of Palestinians as “antisemitism.” “(Israeli Prime Minister) Netanyahu himself has left Jews across the world in a hard place because of his actions. The Netanyahu government has put Jews who do not want to be a part of the oppression in a difficult position,” he said, while noting that the Republic of Türkiye has never been antisemitic, as the Netanyahu administration has claimed.
Türkiye champions the Palestinian cause, and under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, it has launched diplomatic efforts to end the genocide in Gaza. Erdoğan has been a staunch opponent of the Netanyahu administration and often likens Netanyahu to Hitler.
The Turkish vice president said solidarity in the face of the tragedy in Gaza was precious, while describing what is happening in the Palestinian enclave as unprecedented.
Yılmaz noted that the inability to implement United Nations resolutions, the weakening of international law, and the protection, in a sense, of perpetrators demonstrate that the existing global order has an extremely limited capacity to deliver justice. He recalled that President Erdoğan’s call that “The world is bigger than five,” arose precisely from this context.
Yılmaz said a dangerous mindset has emerged based on the idea that, “If I am powerful, I can do whatever I want.” In response, he said, Türkiye has made it clear: “We are not living in a period when we can rely on anyone’s mercy. We are living in a period of deepening geopolitical rivalry. We will be both strong and in the right. Despite everything that has happened, we will continue working for a more just world without losing our hope in humanity.”
“Under the leadership of our President, Türkiye will continue to stand by the right, the truth, and the oppressed, whatever the cost, to deliver humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza; and to defend the Palestinian cause on international platforms. The thing tyrants fear most is the light of truth. And at precisely this point, we will continue to proclaim the truth in a loud and clear voice,” he said.
Yılmaz said Muslim diasporas have great power in the countries where they live to bring Gaza’s voice to the public and decision-makers and to mount an effective social response to narratives that distort the truth. “The framework that we could call an ‘Alliance of the Virtuous’ or an ‘alliance of humanity’ is very important here,” he said.
He stressed that it is necessary to fight against this oppression in solidarity with all people, institutions and organizations that are aware that what is happening in Gaza constitutes a crime against humanity. “By mobilizing this power through a common narrative and continuous coordination, we must turn solidarity with the Palestinian people into a more effective, visible and results-oriented struggle,” he said.
The government’s ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), laid out a list of incentives as Türkiye faces the threat of a growing population decline. The proposals cover everything from free baby food and diapers to discounts for families with three or more children.
Party Deputy Chair Özgür Bayraktar said the proposals were included in a report entitled “Türkiye’s Population Vision,” which they presented to MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli.
Türkiye ranked as the world’s 18th most populous country in 2025, with a population of 86.1 million, while its fertility rate remained below the global average and its population continued to show signs of gradual aging, according to data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) in August.
Türkiye declared 2025 the “Year of the Family,” signaling urgent concern over the country’s declining fertility rates. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan characterized the current demographic trend as a “disaster.”
The report put forward 11 policy recommendations, including restructuring maternity insurance by incorporating it into the long-term insurance branches. It also noted that the premium-day and age requirements for mothers to qualify for retirement should be gradually reduced based on the number of children they have.
Other proposals include a 50% discount on utility bills, covering everything from electricity and natural gas to internet subscriptions, for families with three or more children, flexible and remote working models for mothers, free diapers and baby formula and incentives for young couples seeking to move from big cities to rural areas.
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who retook the top post in the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) in May, may anger and cheer up Ekrem Imamoğlu at the same time. Opposing a narrative that the former Istanbul mayor was arrested to curb his political rise, Kılıçdaroğlu said Imamoğlu is not “a political prisoner.”
“I also voted for his (future) presidential candidacy, but we have to separate the trials he faced from the presidential candidacy,” he was quoted by Euronews on Tuesday.
Imamoğlu was arrested last year on corruption charges, about two years after he campaigned to oust Kılıçdaroğlu from the CHP’s top post. Özgür Özel succeeded Kılıçdaroğlu in a November 2023 election, but a court ruled that the election should be nullified amid allegations that Özel’s associates in the CHP bribed delegates to vote for him. Özel left his post in May but vowed to appeal the court ruling, only to change his mind two months later and go on to establish New Party (YP) with fellow CHP lawmakers.
In the interview, Kılıçdaroğlu also said that his party may ally with the YP in the next election. The veteran politician, who was branded a “traitor” by YP supporters after he was reinstated to his post by a court ruling, told Euronews that they were open to supporting the YP’s presidential candidate, Imamoğlu, if he is eligible to run in the next election.
“Twenty-four hours is a very long time in politics,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, quoting former President Süleyman Demirel. “Political relations should be based on the country’s interests. Politics have no room for hostility,” he said, on the possibility of an alliance with the YP, whose members fiercely resisted Kılıçdaroğlu’s return to CHP chairpersonship.
Kılıçdaroğlu returned to the CHP with a promise to “clean up” the party of “corruption,” and in the following months, the party parted ways with mayors and others indicted in corruption investigations. Imamoğlu soon joined them. Kılıçdaroğlu said the arrest of Imamoğlu was “not right” but his presidential candidacy should not be linked to the trials against him.
Imamoğlu faces thousands of years in prison for allegedly running a criminal gang that thrived on bribery and corruption at Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), while Özel has claimed that he was jailed to prevent his future candidacy in the 2028 elections. Imamoğlu is currently ineligible to run for office because his university diploma was annulled on charges of forgery.
The CHP leader said people accused of corruption should be able to defend themselves and “account for every penny they are accused of stealing.”
Türkiye and Czechia are seeking to expand cooperation in defense, technology and other sectors while increasing their bilateral trade volume to $10 billion (TL 484.21 billion), Turkish Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Fuat Oktay said Tuesday during an official visit to Prague.
Oktay, an Ankara lawmaker from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), traveled to the Czech capital with members of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee at the invitation of the Czech Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security.
The visit is aimed at strengthening interparliamentary ties, exploring new areas of bilateral cooperation and exchanging views on regional and international developments.
Oktay said the Turkish delegation was scheduled to hold talks with Czech officials, including the industry and trade minister, members of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, the Türkiye-Czechia parliamentary friendship group and officials dealing with European Union affairs.
Economic and defense cooperation are expected to feature prominently in the talks.
Oktay said bilateral trade had already surpassed an earlier target of $5 billion and reached about $6.5 billion, with the two countries now seeking to raise that figure to at least $10 billion.
“We have a trade volume that has reached $6.5 billion, but we now have a target of bringing it to the $10 billion level and beyond,” Oktay said. “We see that relations are progressing very rapidly toward exceeding that level.”
Defense ties in focus
Oktay said defense industry cooperation was among the areas offering significant potential for expanding ties between the two NATO allies.
He pointed to an agreement involving Turkish defense company Aselsan and a Czech group, saying there was scope to turn existing cooperation into more concrete projects, including potential investment involving Aselsan.
Talks are also continuing on cooperation in air defense systems, particularly short-range and low-altitude air defense capabilities, Oktay noted.
He added that Türkiye’s state-owned Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE) as well as private-sector companies could also become part of broader defense cooperation.
Beyond defense, the two sides are looking at cooperation in engineering, innovation and research and development.
Oktay stated that Czechia had advanced capabilities in those fields, while Türkiye had significantly expanded its technological and innovation infrastructure over the past decade.
The two countries would examine how that potential could be transformed into concrete projects and how lawmakers could help remove barriers facing businesses and investors, he said.
Oktay also pointed to aviation and tourism as areas with room for further growth, citing an agreement reached in 2025 between two airline companies.
He said stronger air links could contribute not only to tourism but also to cultural and commercial ties.
Türkiye currently hosts about 400,000 Czech tourists, while roughly 100,000 Turkish tourists travel to Czechia, according to Oktay.
Ukraine, Middle East on agenda
Regional security and international developments are also expected to form a major part of the talks in Prague.
Oktay said the delegation would discuss the Russia-Ukraine war, noting Czech concerns about security threats stemming from Russia and Türkiye’s ability to maintain dialogue with both Moscow and Kyiv.
Türkiye has sought to position itself as a diplomatic intermediary in the conflict, maintaining political and economic ties with Russia while supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Oktay said Ankara’s communication channels with both sides could contribute to efforts to find diplomatic solutions and that parliamentary diplomacy could complement those initiatives.
The talks are also expected to cover developments involving Iran, the Strait of Hormuz and Gaza, as well as Israel’s policies in the region, Oktay said.
The officials also discussed the developments in the Balkans, European security architecture, trans-Atlantic relations and NATO’s future posture following decisions taken at the alliance’s latest summit.
Oktay said the Prague meetings followed talks held between the two countries’ parliamentary committees in Türkiye in May, the first such committee-level meeting after a lengthy break.
He said both sides had concluded after that meeting that the range of potential cooperation was broad enough to warrant more frequent and detailed consultations.
“This is the second meeting,” Oktay said, adding that the two sides hoped to continue with third and fourth rounds without lengthy intervals.
Oktay also thanked the Turkish ambassador to Prague and embassy staff for their work and hospitality, saying the delegation had observed the services provided to Turkish citizens in Czechia during the visit.
Türkiye plans to introduce new legislation addressing indefinite alimony payments as part of a judicial reform package expected to be presented in October, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said Monday.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the opening of the 2026-2027 judicial year in Ankara, Gürlek said the government was preparing the second part of the 12th Judicial Package, which is expected to contain between 24 and 25 provisions.
“Following the Constitutional Court’s annulment decision, we plan to implement the necessary legal regulations regarding indefinite alimony as part of the package in October,” Gürlek noted.
In a landmark ruling on June 4, Türkiye’s Constitutional Court annulled a legal provision that allows indefinite alimony payments following divorce, paving the way for a new legal framework on spousal support.
Under Article 175 of Türkiye’s Civil Code, titled “alimony for poverty,” a spouse who is expected to fall into poverty as a result of divorce may seek financial support from the other spouse in proportion to that spouse’s financial means, provided the applicant is not more at fault in the breakdown of the marriage.
The provision explicitly allows such support to be awarded on an indefinite basis, meaning Turkish law does not set a fixed time limit for alimony payments.
The minister said the package would also seek to address problems faced by lawyers and improve the functioning of judicial proceedings.
Gürlek noted that the first part of the 12th Judicial Package had already been enacted and entered into force, adding that the government aimed to bring the second part onto the agenda in October.
The event was also attended by Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) officials, Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor, Ankara Bar Association No. 2 President and members of the judiciary.
Gürlek said a strong legal system was essential to achieving Türkiye’s broader development goals and reiterated the government’s commitment to drafting what he described as a civilian, democratic and inclusive constitution.
“As we implement our vision for the ‘Century of Justice,’ we will continue our determination to advance the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights without abandoning our goal of a civilian, democratic and inclusive constitution,” he said.
Turning to international affairs, Gürlek criticized double standards by many Western countries in responding to human rights violations, saying they had undermined confidence in international law.
He said people in Türkiye’s surrounding region had faced displacement, genocide and massacres for decades while international institutions had often failed to respond effectively.
Gürlek argued that international legal principles were increasingly applied differently depending on the interests of powerful states and said Türkiye would continue advocating for the effective implementation of international law.
“The Turkish nation will continue to stand wherever and whenever justice and law are needed.”
Gürlek also stressed the importance of domestic unity, arguing that a stable and cohesive Türkiye would be better positioned to contribute to regional stability, global justice and peace.
“A Türkiye that is strong, peaceful and united within itself will make much greater contributions to humanity’s peace, regional stability and global justice,” he said.
He concluded that justice and legal certainty would remain the strongest foundation for a more powerful Türkiye.
-
Politics3 days agoDaesh suspect accused of planning terrorist attack killed in Istanbul
-
Politics3 days agoEmergency call records deepen probe into former Turkish minister’s death
-
Economy1 day agoOpenAI probed in EU over AI agents’ takeover of German site
-
Economy2 days agoAdidas Arabia apologizes after ad featuring ex-Israeli soldier
-
Economy2 days agoTürkiye plans child care, flexible work to boost labor participation
-
Economy2 days agoTürkiye sticks to disinflation despite higher near-term outlook
-
Economy2 days agoUAE says building alternative trade, energy routes after Iran attacks
-
Economy2 days agoSyria-Türkiye crossing sees 1.2M travelers, nearly 46,500 trucks in 8 months