Politics
MIT chief Kalın discusses regional coordination with Syrian president
The head of Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT), Ibrahim Kalın, met Syrian President Ahmad al‑Sharaa in Damascus on Monday as Türkiye and Syria continue efforts to strengthen coordination on regional developments and bilateral cooperation.
The meeting, held at the People’s Palace in the Syrian capital, was attended by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and General Intelligence Director Hussein al-Salamah, according to Syrian officials.
Discussions focused on recent regional developments and ways to deepen cooperation and coordination between Ankara and Damascus amid ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two neighboring countries.
Kalın, a key figure in Türkiye-Syria relations, became the first senior Turkish official to visit Damascus under the new administration. On Dec. 12, the Turkish spymaster prayed at the historic Umayyad Mosque amid heavy security measures.
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry on Monday condemned events and statements held in Greece on May 19 over so-called “Pontus” allegations, criticized Athens for distorting history and exploiting historical grievances for political purposes.
In a statement marking the anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s arrival in Samsun in 1919 – the beginning of Türkiye’s War of Independence against occupying powers, including Greece – the ministry said Greece continues to promote “groundless claims lacking any legal basis” through legislation adopted in 1994 and educational programs taught in schools nationwide.
The ministry said Greece was attempting to cover up “its own atrocities and war crimes” committed during the occupation of western Anatolia after the failed pursuit of the “Megali Idea,” referring to the expansionist vision that sought to unite former Byzantine territories under Greek rule.
Türkiye stressed that crimes committed by the Greek army during the occupation were documented in Allied investigation commission reports and recorded in Article 59 of the Lausanne Peace Treaty.
Calling on Greek authorities to stop “abusing history for political concerns,” Ankara urged Athens to remember massacres committed against Turks and other ethnic groups, beginning with the Tripolitsa massacre in 1821 and continuing during the Greek occupation of Izmir and western Anatolia after May 15, 1919.
The ministry also urged Greece to abandon rhetoric that fuels hostility and instead adopt a constructive approach aimed at improving bilateral ties through peace and cooperation.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a phone call Tuesday that escalating regional tensions have once again demonstrated the strategic importance of relations between Türkiye and the European Union.
The call covered Türkiye-European Union relations alongside regional and global developments, the Turkish Communications Directorate said on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal.
During the call, Erdoğan said Türkiye has been working to maintain a cease-fire and ensure peace in the ongoing conflict in the region, adding that the Strait of Hormuz should also be reopened as soon as possible.
He added that Israel seeks the continuation of conflicts in the region and continues to violate international law, including acts described as piracy, stressing the need to boost international pressure on Israel.
Erdoğan also underlined that Türkiye’s inclusion in Europe’s security strategy initiatives would be beneficial, that the Turkish-EU Customs Union needs to be updated, and that cooperation should be expanded across all fields in order to strengthen economic integration and advance shared interests.
Burhanettin Duran, head of communications for the Turkish Presidency, said Tuesday that access to 1,352 additional social media accounts linked to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) had been blocked, bringing the total number of restricted accounts to 1,731.
In a statement posted on the social media platform NSosyal, Duran said Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications continued to carry out “comprehensive digital monitoring and analysis” efforts aimed at countering online propaganda and disinformation activities linked to terrorist groups.
Duran recalled that authorities had previously identified and restricted access to 379 accounts affiliated with FETÖ. Following further technical analysis and digital network investigations, authorities determined that 1,352 more accounts were connected to the group, he noted.
He also said legal action and access restrictions had been imposed on 361 additional social media accounts accused of “praising terrorism, encouraging extremist propaganda and conducting psychological operations against Türkiye.”
According to Duran, the measures were implemented in coordination with the Justice Ministry, Interior Ministry and other state institutions.
“The analyses clearly revealed that these digital structures systematically produced disinformation, carried out coordinated propaganda activities and acted in an organized manner to manipulate public opinion,” Duran said.
Duran stressed that Türkiye is continuing its fight against terrorism not only in the physical sphere but also across digital platforms under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
“No terrorist organization, its affiliates or any digital operation targeting our national security will be tolerated,” he said, adding that Turkish institutions remained on alert against online threats.
Türkiye seeks to expand cooperation with Japan in defense, technology, trade and reconstruction projects in third countries as regional instability and shifting global dynamics push the two nations toward closer strategic coordination, a senior Turkish lawmaker said Tuesday.
Fuat Oktay, chairperson of the Turkish Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and a lawmaker from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), spoke during an official visit to Japan by a parliamentary delegation including AK Party, Republican People’s Party (CHP), and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) members.
The delegation traveled to Japan at the invitation of Konosuke Kokuba, chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Japan’s House of Representatives.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Oktay said the visit aimed to strengthen relations between Türkiye and Japan, not only at the governmental level but also through parliamentary diplomacy as both countries confront increasingly complex regional and global developments.
“Recent developments are progressing extremely rapidly both in our own region, in the region where Japan is located, and globally,” Oktay said.
The Turkish delegation includes AK Party lawmakers Oğuz Üçüncü and Ziya Altunyaldız, CHP lawmaker Talih Özcan and MHP lawmaker Kamil Aydın.
Historical roots
Oktay noted the two countries’ longstanding friendship should be reflected more strongly in investment, trade, defense cooperation, technology, tourism and joint projects in third countries.
He pointed to the 19th-century sinking of the Ottoman frigate Ertuğrul off the coast of Japan as a symbol of the historic ties between the two nations.
“This friendship has continued to develop until today,” Oktay said, noting recent visits by members of the Japanese Imperial Family to Türkiye as further signs of close relations.
Economic ties
Türkiye is also seeking to increase Japanese investment and rebalance bilateral trade, which Oktay said currently stands at between $6.5 billion and $7 billion annually.
“We believe the level of $10 billion and $15 billion should now be surpassed,” he said.
Oktay said Japanese investment in Türkiye remains relatively limited despite decades of economic cooperation. According to Oktay, Japan has invested approximately $3.1 billion in Türkiye over the past 20 years, accounting for roughly 1.5% of Türkiye’s total foreign investment inflows.
He cited Toyota as one of the strongest examples of successful Japanese investment in Türkiye, describing the automaker’s Turkish factory as one of the company’s most efficient production facilities worldwide.
Türkiye currently hosts 278 Japanese companies, Oktay said, adding that Ankara wants the number to grow significantly.
The Turkish official said parliamentary diplomacy could help remove legal and bureaucratic obstacles facing businesses and accelerate approval processes for bilateral agreements.
Beyond bilateral economic ties, Oktay emphasized the potential for cooperation in reconstruction and infrastructure projects in countries such as Syria and Ukraine.
“We see that stability is beginning to emerge in Syria and that the reconstruction process is coming onto the agenda,” he remarked.
Oktay said Türkiye’s strength in construction and contracting services could complement Japan’s financial capabilities in rebuilding efforts abroad, adding that discussions were also underway regarding potential joint projects in Africa.
One of the most significant new areas of cooperation between the two countries, Oktay said, is defense industry collaboration.
Japan’s defense policies remained relatively constrained for decades after World War II, but Turkish officials now see growing Japanese interest in defense partnerships as regional security concerns intensify.
“Türkiye’s recent achievements in the defense industry are drawing attention from all over the world,” Oktay said, referencing growing military contacts between the two countries, including recent visits by Japanese defense officials and military representatives.
He said Türkiye hopes the increased dialogue will quickly evolve into concrete joint projects.
Oktay also highlighted motor technologies and advanced manufacturing as strategic sectors for future cooperation.
“Japan has very strong expertise in this field,” he noted, referring to engine technologies. “Its design and manufacturing capabilities, especially stemming from the automotive industry, can contribute to many sectors, including aviation.”
Turkish and Japanese defense and technology companies are examining possible cooperation in aviation, automotive production, advanced manufacturing and engine systems, he added.
Tourism was another major topic discussed during the visit.
According to Oktay, around 160,000 Japanese tourists visited Türkiye in 2025, with destinations such as Cappadocia, Şanlıurfa and Göbeklitepe attracting strong interest due to their historical and cultural significance.
Türkiye hopes to increase the number of Japanese visitors to between 300,000 and 400,000 in the coming years, Oktay said.
“Tourism is not only about revenue,” he said. “It is also a very important tool for strengthening cultural ties between the two peoples.”
The visit also includes discussions on regional security issues, including Iran, Iraq and broader geopolitical tensions across Asia and the Middle East.
Oktay said Turkish and Japanese officials would exchange views on reducing tensions, strengthening regional stability and supporting peace efforts amid ongoing global conflicts.
Fifty nations are gathered in Seferihisar as Türkiye’s largest combined joint live-fire exercise enters its final days, with autonomous drone swarms, carrier-launched unmanned combat vehicles and a homegrown layered air defense system taking center stage on Tuesday.
EFES 2026, which has been running since April 20 in the Doğanbey region of Izmir’s Seferihisar district, is set to conclude on May 21 following the Distinguished Observer Day on May 20, where defense ministers and military chiefs from all 50 participating countries will observe the final live-fire maneuvers.
With 10,388 personnel in the field, including 1,305 from allied and partner nations, the exercise has drawn one of the most geographically diverse participant rosters in its history. NATO allies, including the United States, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, are training alongside Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Malaysia, while Japan, Sweden, Somalia and Rwanda are also among the 50 countries taking part. Highlights in terms of participation were Syria and Libya. For the first time since the fall of the decadeslong Baathist regime, the Syrian army joined the exercise. The exercise also brought together rival military forces in Libya’s west and east for the first time.
Baykar’s Bayraktar TB3 unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) conducted sorties directly from TCG Anadolu, Türkiye’s light aircraft carrier, in what officials described as a milestone for the country’s naval aviation program. The heavy-payload Bayraktar Akıncı drone provided intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) support throughout the joint operations.
The exercises also featured a live demonstration of Türkiye’s Steel Dome, known in Turkish as “Çelik Kubbe,” and integrated air and missile defense architecture.
Developed entirely by Aselsan, the system brings together the long-range Siper platform alongside Hisar-A, Hisar-O and Sungur in a layered configuration designed to intercept threats ranging from cruise missiles to commercial-grade drones.
Defense Technologies Engineering and Trade Inc. (STM) demonstrated its KARGU loitering munition swarm capability during the exercise. The system, already operationally deployed across 15 countries on four continents, was operated by a single operator controlling a swarm of 20 units simultaneously, following a landmark live-fire test conducted in January 2026 that STM described as a world first.
Running alongside the live-fire phases, the Defense Industry Exhibition has drawn procurement officials and military delegations to stands hosting more than 50 Turkish defense firms. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is displaying its Kaan fifth-generation fighter jet, Hürjet advanced jet trainer and Anka-3 stealth unmanned combat aircraft. Aselsan is presenting its Toygun and Karat electro-optical and infrared targeting systems, developed indigenously following foreign embargoes on previously imported optics technology.
For the governments represented at EFES 2026, the exercise offers a direct look at a defense industry that has moved from dependency to self-sufficiency within a decade, and that is now competing for export contracts across Central Asia, Africa and Europe. The exercise concludes on May 21.
Turkish authorities detained five suspects on bribery and money laundering charges as part of an investigation targeting Istanbul’s Beşiktaş Municipality, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office announced Tuesday.
In a statement, prosecutors said the investigation was being carried out in coordination with the Istanbul Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit.
Among those detained were former Beşiktaş Deputy Mayor Cevdet Çalı and current municipal council member İlker Uluer of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). Former CHP municipal council member Oylum Işık was also among the suspects taken into custody.
The other suspects were identified as Beşiktaş Municipality Personnel Services Manager Bülent Karakaş and Sarbel Organization office employee Özlem Demir Karakaş.
Authorities said searches conducted at the suspects’ homes and offices led to the seizure of numerous digital materials, along with $90,000 (TL 4.1 million) and 5,000 euros ($5,809) believed to be proceeds of crime.
The investigation is ongoing.
The main opposition CHP is under mounting scrutiny as a wave of corruption, bribery and terrorism-related investigations sweeps across its municipalities, with dozens detained in coordinated raids across several cities.
More than 20 mayors governing CHP municipalities were detained or arrested in the past two years on charges of corruption, along with dozens of municipal bureaucrats in Istanbul, Antalya, Bursa, Bolu and Uşak.
High-profile cases include Istanbul’s suspended mayor, Ekrem Imamoğlu, and Antalya’s ousted mayor, Muhittin Böcek, whose cases have drawn national attention following their arrests late last year and trials that began earlier this month.
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