Politics
Turkish lawmakers seek to build on positive agenda with US
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish Parliament, led by ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) lawmaker Fuat Oktay, embarked on a U.S. trip this week. Oktay spoke to journalists in Washington, D.C. after a meeting with the Turkish community at the embassy on Wednesday. He explained how, as lawmakers, they strived to enhance ties with the U.S. with a “positive agenda.”
Turkish-U.S. relations were somewhat strained under the Biden administration, but the election of Donald Trump appears to be adding momentum to the ties, especially toward a resolution of outstanding issues between the two countries, including sanctions.
Oktay said their visit primarily focused on moving the developing positive agenda between the two countries on the presidential or governmental level to the Congress. “The U.S. Congress, on a bipartisan aspect, is slower to catch up with these developments. This is an election year for the House of Representatives and the Senate, and they will concentrate more on domestic politics. Before this happens, we came here to build upon the positive agenda at the Congress as well. We will hold talks with our counterparts at the Senate and House of Representatives, where we will voice Türkiye’s views on relations. But beyond that, we are trying to establish a healthy communication channel. Rather than relying on lobbies for communication, we want a more structural relationship between the governments,” he said.
He stated that the sanctions would also be discussed, noting that Congress had a major role in lifting sanctions. “Lifting of the sanctions will reflect well on Turkish-U.S. relations and will have a good impact on developing a comprehensive cooperation in multiple fields, from the economy to the defense industry. We aim to take our relations to the next level,” he said, adding that this would also contribute to the regional peace.
The thorny issue of the Armenian “genocide” figured in U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s first visit to Armenia this week. The Armenian lobby in the United States was irked when Vance deleted a social media post about visiting an Armenian memorial.
Vance went to a memorial in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, on Monday and posted about the visit on social media before deleting the message. His press secretary, Taylor Van Kirk, subsequently shared photos from the memorial visit without referencing the so-called genocide. Asked about the deleted post, a U.S. official said it was shared in error by staff not part of the delegation. “This is an account managed by staff that primarily exists to share photos and videos of the vice president’s activities,” a spokesperson for Vance said in a statement. When asked, the White House referred to its “message that was issued on Armenian Remembrance Day,” where it labeled the 1915 events as “one of the worst disasters of the 20th century.” “There’s been no change of policy at this time,” said spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), the largest Armenian lobby organization in the U.S., criticized Vance’s office for removing the reference in its reposted message.
The organization leads efforts advocating for official U.S. recognition of Armenian claims regarding the events of 1915 and potential sanctions against Türkiye, representing one of the most prominent anti-Turkish groups in the U.S. Türkiye objects to the presentation of the 1915 incidents as “genocide,” describing them as a tragedy in which both sides suffered casualties. Ankara has repeatedly proposed the creation of a joint commission of historians from Türkiye and Armenia, as well as international experts, to tackle the issue.
More transparency in municipalities and improvement of public services are on the agenda of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party). A draft paper on municipal reforms was discussed at the party’s central executive board meeting, chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, on Monday.
Erdoğan has earlier called for a better inspection on how municipal funds are utilized, as municipalities run by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) face numerous investigations for rampant corruption, including bribes to mayors.
According to a study presented by the party’s Local Governments Directorate to the central executive board, mayors will be required to disclose the assets they acquire during their terms in office.
Municipal tender information, the number of contracts and detailed spending items will be shared with the public on a monthly basis. The draft proposal also scrutinizes the practice of mayors appointing relatives to municipal positions. The initiative aims to make service-oriented and efficient governance a mandatory component of the system.
The reform package also includes various measures to ensure the regular collection of municipalities’ growing debts to the Social Security Institution (SGK). The goal is to strengthen fiscal discipline and prevent public losses.
During the meeting, Erdoğan drew attention to what he described as opposition-run municipalities’ shortcomings in delivering services. Emphasizing that water management is a core municipal responsibility, Erdoğan said, “They say, ‘Let the State Hydraulic Works (DSI) handle it.’ We will do the work and deliver the water, but we must explain to the public that this is their responsibility. Water is the source of civilization, production, energy and life. Managing water requires experience and vision.”
Referring to his tenure as mayor of Istanbul, Erdoğan said, “I come from a mayoral background. We brought water to Istanbul from the Istranca Mountains, 180 kilometers (111.85 miles) away. We took over the municipality from the CHP mentality. CHP-run municipalities cannot deliver the water they have to the people. Our citizens are waiting in tanker lines with plastic containers. That is the difference between us,” he said, referring to recent water shortages in the opposition-run cities.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appointed new justice and interior ministers under a decree published in the Official Gazette, with the incoming officials formally taking office during separate handover ceremonies on Wednesday in Ankara.
Akın Gürlek assumed the post of justice minister from Yılmaz Tunç at a ceremony attended by senior ministry officials and bureaucrats.
Tunç said reforms to the Constitution and legislation over the past two decades had aimed to reinforce Türkiye’s democratic legal framework.
Calling public office “a trust from the nation,” Tunç wished Gürlek success in his new role. He noted that he had previously worked alongside Gürlek during his tenure as deputy minister.
In his remarks, Gürlek thanked Erdoğan for appointing him and expressed appreciation to Tunç for his efforts. He said judicial reform strategies, human rights action plans and investments in digital justice infrastructure had contributed to strengthening the justice system.
Gürlek pledged to continue reforms in line with what he described as a “strong state, strong justice” vision. He said efforts would focus on accelerating judicial processes, reinforcing legal certainty and maintaining a firm stance against crime. Gürlek added that he would work in consultation with members of the judiciary, academia, bar associations and civil society organizations.
In a separate ceremony at the Interior Ministry, Mustafa Çiftçi took over as interior minister from Ali Yerlikaya following his appointment by presidential decree.
Yerlikaya congratulated Çiftçi and said he believed the new minister would continue efforts to safeguard public security and order. He thanked ministry staff for their service during his tenure.
Çiftçi, who previously served as governor of Erzurum, said he was aware of the challenges of the position and pledged to carry out his duties with dedication. He thanked Yerlikaya for his work and said he would seek to build on ongoing efforts in areas including combating crime and addressing irregular migration.
The appointments mark the latest changes in Erdoğan’s Cabinet as Türkiye continues to pursue judicial reforms and security policies under his administration.
Türkiye extended condolences to Canada Wednesday after a shooting in the British Columbia town of Tumbler Ridge killed 10 people, including the suspected gunman.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of life resulting from the shooting that took place yesterday (Feb. 10) at a school in the province of British Columbia, Canada,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“We extend our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this heinous attack and to the people of Canada, and we wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” it added.
Earlier, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said nine victims and one suspect died in the shooting, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
Six people were found dead inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, one person died while being transported to the hospital, and two others were found dead at a residence in the community believed to be connected to the shooting, it reported.
Police said the suspect was found dead inside the school from “a self-inflicted injury.”
The attack is the second-deadliest school shooting in Canada’s history, after a December 1989 shooting at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal that left 14 people dead.
Tumbler Ridge, a town of about 2,400 people in western Canada, is located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, roughly 680 kilometers (422 miles) from the U.S. border.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Kyrgyzstan’s parliament speaker on Tuesday praised Türkiye’s political, military and economic influence, describing the country as a close strategic partner, during talks with the speaker of Türkiye’s Parliament in Ankara.
Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu, speaker of Kyrgyzstan’s parliament, made the remarks at a joint news conference with Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM).
Turgunbek uulu said his visit marked the first official foreign trip of Kyrgyzstan’s newly elected eighth parliament, adding that Türkiye was chosen because of its status as what he called the country’s “closest strategic partner.”
“Türkiye is today one of the most important countries in the world,” Turgunbek uulu said. “With its military and economic strength, it is a country we are proud of in every respect.”
He highlighted the growing role of the Turkic world in an era of globalization and pointed to organizations such as the Organization of Turkic States and the Turkic Parliamentary Assembly as increasingly influential platforms in international affairs.
Turgunbek uulu said his talks with Kurtulmuş focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and parliamentary ties. He also underlined the close relationship between Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, saying their engagement had elevated relations between the two countries to a new level.
He described Erdoğan’s official visit to Kyrgyzstan in 2024 as historic, noting that it helped deepen high-level cooperation and led to the signing of multiple agreements. Kyrgyz lawmakers, he said, are now working on how those agreements will be addressed and implemented by parliament.
Erdoğan presented a locally made Togg electric vehicle to his Kyrgyz host Zhaparov during this visit in Bishkek, as the latter gifted the Turkish leader a horse.
Turgunbek uulu emphasized that Türkiye and Kazakhstan are Kyrgyzstan’s two closest partners within the Turkic world. He referred to a shared goal set by the two countries’ leaders to raise bilateral trade volume to $5 billion, acknowledging that the target has not yet been reached but expressing confidence that it would be achieved.
“We believe we will reach this goal with the strength of brotherhood,” he said, adding that activating parliamentary friendship groups and exchanges among lawmakers would be essential.
The Kyrgyz speaker also voiced strong support for the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA), describing it as a body built on solidarity rather than temporary or limited interests. He said Uzbekistan is expected to become a full member of the assembly, while Hungary is nearing full membership, with a decision on Uzbekistan anticipated at a summit in Bishkek in October.
Turgunbek uulu also noted that Kyrgyzstan will host the 6th World Nomad Games later this year, saying Turkic states have shown strong interest in the event.
Turkic world ties
Over the recent months, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan pointed out that lasting peace and long-term stability across the Turkic world can only be achieved through constant coordination and strengthened partnership among members of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).
The minister noted that the Turkic world’s growing role in shaping regional balances requires greater solidarity and institutional alignment. Fidan reiterated that mutual trust, political dialogue and practical cooperation are the key drivers of the OTS’s increasing influence, calling for collective steps to address regional and global challenges.
“The greatest strength of our organization lies in the deepening mutual trust and cooperation among its members,” he said.
Member nations highlighted the group’s growing weight in Eurasian politics, positioning it as not only a cultural community but also a strategic actor. That ambition is anchored in the bloc’s “Turkic World – 2040 Vision Document,” which sets long-term goals for political solidarity, economic expansion, and greater international influence.
Kürşad Zorlu, deputy chair of Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and head of relations with Turkic states, emphasized the bloc’s growing economic and strategic importance.
He noted that initiatives within the Organization of Turkic States have strengthened economic and strategic ties, with the total share of Turkic states in global trade rising to 2.43%. “Our foreign trade volume, which was $540 billion in 2009, reached $1.2 trillion in 2024, and trade among Turkic states is expected to reach $70 billion by the end of this year,” he said.
Originally launched as the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States by Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the group evolved into the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) at its landmark Istanbul summit in November 2021. The rebranding was widely interpreted as the start of a new era for the Turkic integration process, signaling an ambition to translate cultural bonds into geopolitical clout.
On Oct. 3, 2025, Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs celebrated the 16th anniversary as “Turkic States Cooperation Day,” calling the bloc a manifestation of shared values, and vowed it “will continue to serve peace, prosperity and stability in its region and beyond.”
The TURKPA also launched two major digital initiatives, “Qanun” and “Qamus,” to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy and promote linguistic unity across the Turkic world.
Developed to enrich linguistic harmony among the Turkic states, the projects are expected to support coordination among member Parliaments, facilitate translation of official documents and legislation and boost linguistic consistency in academic and administrative texts.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres discussed ongoing global developments over the phone, diplomatic sources said Tuesday.
During the call, developments related to the West Bank and Gaza and the ongoing talks between Iran and the U.S., as well as the latest situation regarding the Cyprus issue, were discussed, the sources said.
Blending diplomacy, humanitarian action and culture, Türkiye is positioning itself as a key global actor amid rising conflicts and uncertainty. 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, including Syria, Palestine and more.
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