Politics
Turkish defense chief receives Syrian military counterpart in Ankara
Defense Minister Yaşar Güler on Tuesday received Syrian Chief of General Staff Nureddin Ali Nasan in Ankara, the ministry announced.
Na’san was in the Turkish capital at the invitation of Chief of General Staff Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, who also attended the meeting. The talks were held as part of ongoing military-level contacts between Türkiye and Syria, though no further details were disclosed.
The meeting comprehensively focused on the Türkiye-Syria relations over the past year across political, economic and security dimensions, following the first anniversary of the overthrow of the Bashar Assad regime.
Turkish and Syrian officials also discussed the progress of the implementation of the March 10 agreement, which is closely linked to Türkiye’s national security priorities. Turkish media outlets have reported earlier that Damascus gave a deadline by the end of this year to the YPG, the Syrian wing of the PKK, to honor the deal. The agreement involves the integration of the group into the new Syrian army.
The interim Syrian government has sent a proposal to the YPG, the PKK terrorist group’s Syrian offshoot that controls the country’s northeast, according to five of the sources.
Türkiye’s defense industry has introduced an armed unmanned surface vehicle designed to address evolving maritime security threats, as naval domains face increasingly complex risks alongside advances in military technology.
Developed by HAVELSAN, the SANCAR Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle (AUSV) is equipped with engagement capability, mine detection systems and autonomous mission functions. The platform is fully integrated with the ADVENT Combat Management System, also developed by HAVELSAN, making it the first and only Turkish AUSV capable of operating in complete coordination with the network-centric warfare system.
SANCAR is designed to operate both independently and as part of a swarm architecture, enabling coordinated missions with other autonomous vehicles.
The vessel is differentiated by its mine countermeasure capability and has been engineered to deploy from next-generation minehunter ships to conduct off-board operations, expanding operational flexibility in contested waters.
The AUSV can be controlled through a mobile land-based control station equipped with the ADVENT C4ISR mission system, allowing interoperability in line with NATO standards. Software enhancements compliant with NATO interoperability requirements enable integration with various naval platforms, facilitating mission transfers between ships and joint operations involving both manned and unmanned assets.
Designed to carry out a wide range of missions, including port and base protection, search and rescue, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, patrol, surface warfare and mine countermeasures, SANCAR aims to reduce risks to personnel while enhancing maritime situational awareness.
Officials say the system also holds export potential as demand grows for advanced unmanned naval solutions.
Moreover, the Turkish defense industry is diversifying its export successes in USVs this year through new contracts.
The most striking part is the export of payloads for unmanned surface vessels. Through experience gained from projects like MARLIN, SANCAR and ULAQ, Türkiye is opening up not just with platforms, but also with critical subsystems and payloads that constitute the “brains” and “operational power” of these vehicles.
A major portion of the economic and strategic value of a USV lies in its onboard sensors, communication and weapon systems. Türkiye’s ability to export these payloads directly to the Asia-Pacific region proves that these systems are globally competitive.
Most recently, the Turkish defense industry has achieved another significant milestone in naval aviation during the maritime phase of Steadfast Dart 2026, NATO’s largest and most comprehensive exercise of 2026. The Bayraktar TB3 UCAV, deployed aboard Türkiye’s largest warship and drone carrier TCG Anadolu, once again proved its capabilities with its short-runway autonomous takeoff ability and strike power.
Military personnel from participating countries gave high praise following the national UCAV’s successful engagement of maritime targets. After striking the targets with full precision, the Bayraktar TB3 safely landed back on the TCG Anadolu, successfully completing the mission.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Türkiye will continue to speak out for justice and defend what is right wherever needed, stressing that the nation’s strength is rooted in its history, conscience and the legacy of past struggles.
Speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara, Erdoğan said Türkiye’s firm, sincere and principled stance in the face of global challenges is being recognized across the international community. At a time when the world is undergoing sharp geopolitical fractures, he noted, Türkiye aims to expand friendships rather than create new hostilities.
The president emphasized that Ankara is not interested in escalating disagreements or deepening disputes, but instead seeks constructive dialogue and new partnerships. He underlined that while Türkiye respects the sovereign rights of all nations, it also expects the same respect for its own rights and legal interests.
Blending diplomacy, humanitarian action and culture, Türkiye is positioning itself as a key global actor amid rising conflicts and uncertainty. Over the past decades, Türkiye has expanded its public diplomacy efforts beyond traditional communication, positioning a wide range of institutions and nonstate actors as key tools in shaping its international image. Türkiye has intensified its use of humanitarian diplomacy to position itself as a global peace broker, delivering not only humanitarian and development assistance but also acting on moral and ethical principles across the world during crises.
The president also stressed that Türkiye, together with relatives of the fallen soldiers, strongly supports the ongoing effort to permanently end PKK terrorism as part of the “terror-free Türkiye” initiative. Despite those who seek to exploit terrorism for political gain, Erdoğan said the process is moving forward steadily toward its goal. He added that the government is committed to staying within legal boundaries and respecting public sensitivities as it works to bring the process to a successful conclusion.
In its 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the U.S., and the EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, infants and the elderly.
Türkiye has made progress in the disarmament of the terrorist group PKK after a parliamentary committee agreed upon the guidelines for Parliament in the terror-free Türkiye initiative earlier this week. Government officials say the initiative builds on years of counterterrorism operations that significantly weakened the PKK’s operational capacity inside Türkiye and across its borders.
Recently, officials have argued that Türkiye’s coup-era Constitution has become outdated and have called for a new, civilian charter, while experts stressed the need for a constitution that fully addresses the needs of the Turkish people, safeguards their rights and freedom, and ensures that state institutions serve the public.
“Debates over a new or civilian constitution continue to remain on the agenda in Türkiye, though the work is progressing slowly due to its complex nature. There is no doubt that the process will be challenging. If completed and a new constitution is drafted and adopted, it would mark a first for the country. All previous constitutions of the Republic of Türkiye were prepared during extraordinary periods, and some, including the one currently in force, were drafted following military coups,” Yasin Şamlı, a lawyer and the president of the Istanbul No. 2 Bar Association, told Daily Sabah.
The government has been pushing to overhaul the Constitution for over a decade now, which was adopted in 1982 following a military coup that led to the detention of hundreds of thousands of people along with mass trials, torture and executions, which still represents a dark period in Turkish political history.
“Constitutions drafted during extraordinary periods or under military rule are widely regarded as lacking legitimacy,” Şamlı said, emphasizing that democratic systems require that state authority be exercised on behalf of the people and rooted in popular will.
He asserted that coup-era constitutions are illegitimate in several respects: first, because the initiative to draft a new charter does not stem from the electorate but from those who seize power; second, because such texts are prepared without broad consultation across all segments of society; and third, because referendums held under conditions of political pressure make it unclear whether voters are endorsing the constitution itself or simply seeking an end to military rule. Fourth, these constitutions lack legitimacy in substance, as their content is not grounded in the will of the people.
Over the years, Erdoğan and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) officials have repeatedly called for a new civilian constitution to replace it, describing the current one as “outdated.”
The AK Party has long campaigned for a new constitution, including a declaration announced during its 2023 election campaign. The “New Constitution for the New Century of Türkiye” declaration, which refers to the second century of the Republic of Türkiye, underlined the need for a new constitution. “Establishing a constitutional order based on human dignity for the prevalence of developments in the field of rights and freedoms is necessary,” the 2023 declaration said.
The declaration also said the constitution would preserve democratic gains acquired during the AK Party’s governance and would ensure a high-standard democracy, guarantees for freedoms and the supremacy of law.
Arguing that both the 1961 and 1982 Constitutions lack legitimacy, Şanlı emphasized, “Türkiye has effectively been governed for at least 66 years under constitutions not grounded in popular will.”
“It does not befit our nation for a coup-era constitution, one that suppresses the will of the people and restricts the rights and freedoms it is meant to protect, to remain in force,” he added.
Earlier this week, Deputy Parliament Speaker and former Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ said that although Parliament made radical changes and reforms to the 1982 Constitution, this did not remove the existence of the Constitution, and on the contrary, those changes only fueled the need for a wholly new constitution. He underlined that developments in Türkiye and the world, and political shifts, took this need to the next level. “History forces us to draft a new constitution,” he stressed.
According to Şamlı, the political will driving the drafting of a new constitution in Türkiye would be decisive, but public ownership of the process would be even more critical. Citizens should demand a constitution that guarantees their rights and freedoms and ensures state institutions serve the public, while actively monitoring their legislative passage.
He continued, “If such a collective will is demonstrated, it would mark the first time in the country’s history that a constitution is shaped by the people through their elected representatives rather than by military intervention, giving the process historic importance.”
The 11-member AK Party Constitutional Commission, chaired by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, has held around 20 meetings so far as part of efforts to lay the groundwork for a new civilian constitution. The commission last convened on Dec. 29.
The commission plans to engage in broad consultations with lawmakers, academics, civil society representatives and other segments of society. Existing constitutional studies, accumulated experience and previously expressed ideas will be taken into account, and contributions from experts in various fields may be sought when needed.
Moreover, Ferhat Küçük, a lawyer and a Ph.D. holder in constitutional law, emphasized that with the exception of the 1921 Constitution, previous constitution provisions significantly curtailed individual fundamental rights and freedoms, as those were heavily shaped by the ruling regimes of their time.
“Including the system of government, the model of judicial independence, the framework for limiting fundamental rights, the relationship between local administrations and the central government, and the definition of citizenship and identity became particularly problematic due to the legacy of military rule,” he asserted.
In this regard, Küçük said, drafting a civilian constitution would inevitably open the way for far-reaching reforms in these five areas.
Most recently, the AK Party’s deputy chair in charge of political and legal affairs and the party’s Constitutional Commission member, Hayati Yazıcı, stated that the commission is evaluating what provisions should be included in a new constitution, which current articles may no longer be necessary, and how fundamental rights and freedoms should be framed. Once the work is completed, the commission will submit an executive summary to Erdoğan, who also serves as AK Party’s chairperson, before moving to a broader consultation phase.
He remarked that drafting a constitution is the right of the nation. “The constitution is made by the people, but up to now the people have never been able to exercise this right,” he said, referring to the 1961 and 1982 Constitutions.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday will convene his Cabinet, the first meeting of ministers in Ramadan and the first such meeting for the two newly appointed ministers of justice and interior.
The meeting will focus on several critical items on the Turkish state’s agenda, mainly the terror-free Türkiye initiative and regional developments.
A report prepared by the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Committee of Parliament, set up for the terror-free Türkiye initiative, will be discussed at the meeting, Turkish media outlets reported on Sunday. The framework of steps planned in the coming days, in line with the report adopted by Parliament, will be evaluated. The meeting will focus in particular on proposed reforms and anticipated amendments to the Turkish Penal Code and counterterrorism laws to move forward the initiative.
The Cabinet will also devote significant time to regional developments and rising tensions in the Middle East stemming from the Iran-U.S. dispute. At a time when the possibility of U.S. intervention against Iran remains on the agenda, the repercussions of Türkiye’s ongoing diplomatic contacts with both Iran and the United States will be assessed.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which remains under Israeli attacks, is among the Cabinet’s top priorities. Delivering humanitarian aid to the region during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan will be discussed. Türkiye’s diplomatic initiatives, cease-fire efforts and the latest status of humanitarian assistance will also be reviewed.
On the economy, the Cabinet will assess progress in the fight against inflation. Inspections aimed at curbing excessive price increases during Ramadan will be evaluated, along with steps taken and oversight mechanisms implemented to ensure price stability. Meanwhile, millions of retirees are awaiting approval of a TL 4,000 ($91.26) Ramadan bonus. Whether the bonus will be increased is also among the issues to be discussed by the Cabinet.
As the opposition pushes for an early election, Erdoğan has hinted that he intends to run again in the 2028 elections. Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AK Party) says the president should continue “serving the people.”
Ahmet Büyükgümüş, deputy chair of the AK Party, said in an interview with broadcaster Kanal 7 on Sunday that Erdoğan should be nominated for the presidency. Büyükgümüş said an early election is only technically possible if Parliament decides upon it with the votes of 360 lawmakers.
AK Party officials earlier noted that an election may be planned just months before the original date, not this year or next, as the main opposition called for. “The date can be rescheduled. Parliament, as a representative of political will, will decide on it,” Büyükgümüş said.
Rescheduling the election will also pave the way for Erdoğan’s eligibility for the presidency if he is nominated before ending his tenure, which began in the 2023 elections. The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is a proponent of an early election and, at one point, called for the vote to be held in the spring of 2026. The party is overly confident of a win, especially after an unprecedented victory at the 2024 municipal elections.
Under Türkiye’s current election law, the next general election is scheduled for May 2028, while local elections are due in March 2029. An early election can be approved only by Parliament. The AK Party, even with its ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), falls below the number of members in the assembly required for an early election call.
Erdoğan has been largely quiet on his future candidacy, though he admitted he’d be open to running again if the public supports him. As for the early election, he said last May that an early election may disrupt Türkiye’s stability.
The U.S. envoy in Israel, Mike Huckabee, was the target of criticism by Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party). The party’s vice chair and spokesperson Ömer Çelik said Huckabee’s remarks in support of the Netanyahu administration’s killing of children in Gaza were “horrible and inhumane.”
Fourteen countries and three regional organizations on Sunday condemned remarks by Mike Huckabee, who said “it would be acceptable for Israel to exercise control over territories belonging to Arab states, including the occupied West Bank.”
In a joint statement, the Foreign Ministries of Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Indonesia, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar, Oman, Pakistan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) expressed “strong condemnation and profound concern” over the comments.
The statement was also issued with the participation of the secretariats of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the League of Arab States, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The ministries described the U.S. envoy’s remarks as “dangerous and inflammatory,” saying they constitute “a flagrant violation of the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations” and pose a grave threat to regional security and stability.
They said the comments directly contradict the vision put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump and the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, which is based on containing escalation and creating a political horizon for a comprehensive settlement that ensures the Palestinian people have their own independent state.
The signatories said “the plan is grounded in promoting tolerance and peaceful coexistence,” warning that attempts “to legitimize control over the lands of others undermine these objectives, fuel tensions,” and amount to incitement rather than advancing peace.
The ministries “reaffirmed that Israel has no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory or any other occupied Arab lands,” the statement noted. “They reiterated their firm rejection of any attempts to annex the West Bank or separate it from the Gaza Strip, their strong opposition to the expansion of settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and their categorical rejection of any threat to the sovereignty of Arab states.”
The statement warned that “the continuation of Israel’s expansionist policies and unlawful measures will only inflame violence and conflict in the region and undermine prospects for peace.”
The signatories called for an end to what they termed “incendiary statements” and reiterated their “commitment to the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent state” along the June 4, 1967 lines, as well as to ending the occupation of all Arab lands.
Huckabee, named U.S. ambassador to Israel in April 2025, is an evangelical Christian who has previously spoken of expansionist claims based on what he described as a “divine right” for Israel in the West Bank.
He argued that Israel has a “biblical right” to the land stretching from the Nile to the Euphrates rivers, saying on a podcast released Friday: “It would be fine if they (Israel) took it all.”
Huckabee made the remarks in an interview with U.S. journalist Tucker Carlson, during which he defended Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip and voiced support for the idea of “divine providence” giving control of the region to Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told news channel i24 last August that he feels “very attached” to the vision of a Greater Israel. He said he considers himself “on a historic and spiritual mission,” including “generations of Jews that dreamt of coming here and generations of Jews who will come after us.”
Greater Israel is a term used in Israeli politics to refer to the expansion of Israel’s territory to include the West Bank, Gaza, and Syria’s Golan Heights, with some interpretations also including Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and parts of Jordan.
In his social media post released on Monday, Çelik said Israel had no right or sovereignty on Palestinian and Arab lands it occupied, and any threat by Israel to “our brotherly Arab states” was “illegitimate.” Çelik reiterated his earlier remarks on Israel’s attempts to annex the West Bank, which he defined as “a spatial genocide.”
In the same interview with Carlson, Huckabee has defended the use of lethal force by Israel against Palestinian children. Çelik described these statements as “horrible.” He argued that the ambassador’s remarks ran against most basic principles of law and humanitarian values, as the latter defended the “Greater Israel project” and “theft of land from Arab states.” “Replacing theological, fanatical claims with international law may have dire consequences in the region. We reject Israel’s threatening approach based on claims of sovereignty across the region,” he said.
Çelik reiterated that AK Party chairperson, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, repeatedly questioned Israel’s moves at U.N. General Assemblies, recalling how Erdoğan warned the world against Israel’s aggressive and expansionist mindset. “Every development demonstrates that Mr. President was right in his warnings,” he said.
Çelik also stated it was itself murder and genocide to defend the killing of children. He pointed out that Israel’s policy of genocide also included the occupation of Palestinian homes in Gaza and the West Bank, and these constituted an attack on humanitarian values. “Fighting against this mindset is a fight for humanity. Resisting these barbaric acts should be the first and foremost action in the name of humanity,” he said. He pledged that they would continue their struggle to defend the establishment of a sovereign State of Palestine based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital, and against enemies of humanity who committed genocide in the Palestinian territories.
“Fighting this gang of genocide is a fight to defend humanity and civilization. Our president, Türkiye are at the forefront of the alliance of humanity against this gang; they are on the right side of history,” Çelik also said.
Joint statement from Türkiye, Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and 18 countries
Türkiye showcases SANCAR USV with swarm and mine-hunting capabilities
New parts were found from the wreckage of THY’s plane that crashed 51 years ago
Joint statement from Türkiye, Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and 18 countries
Türkiye showcases SANCAR USV with swarm and mine-hunting capabilities
New parts were found from the wreckage of THY’s plane that crashed 51 years ago
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