Politics
US to reduce military bases, change policy in Syria: Envoy
The United States will scale down its military bases in Syria while changing its policy toward the country due to previous failures, the new U.S. ambassador to Türkiye and Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack said on Tuesday.
Barrack, who was named special envoy last month shortly after Washington unexpectedly lifted U.S. sanctions on Syria, made the comments in an interview with broadcaster NTV late on Monday.
The U.S. military has about 2,000 troops in Syria, mostly in the northeast. They are working with local forces including the PKK’s Syrian wing, the YPG, to prevent a resurgence of Daesh, which in 2014 seized large swathes of Iraq and Syria but was later pushed back.
Since opposition forces ousted Syria’s former President Bashar Assad in December, the U.S. and other countries are re-engaging with Damascus under new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Barrack raised the American flag over the ambassador’s residence in Damascus last week for the first time since 2012.
When asked how the Trump administration will shape its Syria policy and whether the U.S. is considering troop withdrawal from Syria, Barrack said: “What I can assure you is that our current Syria policy will not be close to the Syria policy of the last 100 years, because none of these have worked.”
Reducing the number of bases to one from eight was an important part of that shift, he said, according to an interview transcript.
Two security sources in bases where U.S. troops are deployed told Reuters in April that military equipment and vehicles had already moved out of eastern Deir el-Zour and were being consolidated in the province of Hasakah.
One of the sources said the consolidation plan involved pulling all U.S. troops out of Deir el-Zour province.
A U.S. State Department official said separately that the military presence would be reduced “if and when appropriate” based on conditions, adding troops are routinely calibrated based on operational needs and contingencies.
Barrack said that the YPG-dominated SDF were a U.S. ally and a “very important factor” for the U.S. Congress, and that directing them to integrate into a new Syrian government was also very important.
“Everyone needs to be reasonable in their expectations,” he said.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said last week that the SDF was using “stalling tactics,” despite a deal with the Syrian government to integrate into Syria’s armed forces.
The deal was signed in March by Syria’s interim president and Ferhat Abdi Şahin, code-named “Mazloum Kobani,” the ringleader of the YPG. Damascus shunned an open conflict with the YPG and sought a deal for their integration into the new Syrian army.
The YPG currently occupies one-third of Syria’s territory, including most of the country’s oil and gas fields. The YPG uses the name SDF to give itself an air of legitimacy. Türkiye, which suffered from cross-border attacks by the YPG, supported the Syrian opposition through military offensives in Syria’s north in the past decade and liberated parts of northern Syria from the YPG’s grip.
Türkiye has urged Syria’s interim administration to address the YPG’s control over large parts of northern Syria and is currently closely monitoring the integration of the SDF into the Syrian government. Ankara is a major supporter of the al-Sharaa-led administration and also backs the March deal.
The issue strains Turkish-U.S. ties as Ankara warns its NATO ally against aiding terror elements that threaten its national security, something Washington continues to do despite promising to remove the group from the Turkish border area.
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has rejected the European Parliament’s controversial 2025 Türkiye Report, saying it ignores the inherent rights, sovereign will and current realities of the Turkish Cypriot people.
In a written statement released on late Thursday, the TRNC Foreign Ministry criticized the report, which was adopted by the European Parliament’s General Assembly on June 17.
“We completely reject the baseless accusations directed at our motherland Türkiye, as well as the assessments that disregard the inherent rights, sovereign will and existing realities of the Turkish Cypriot people on the island,” the ministry said.
The statement said the sections of the report concerning Cyprus once again revealed the European Union’s “biased and detached” approach to the Cyprus issue.
It stressed that the TRNC is a sovereign and independent state that continues to exist through its institutions, democratic structure and the free will of its people.
“The report’s description of the Turkish Cypriot people merely as a ‘legitimate community of the island,’ and its call on Türkiye to ‘open political space’ for Turkish Cypriots, clearly disregards the TRNC, which was founded through the democratic will of our people, as well as our people’s right to determine their own future,” the ministry said.
The statement said the EP’s continued attempt to impose a federation-based settlement model as the only option does not correspond to the political and practical realities on the island.
It added that reviving a negotiation model that has been exhausted due to the Greek Cypriot side’s uncompromising stance would not contribute to efforts to reach a settlement.
The ministry said a lasting and just agreement could only be achieved through the recognition of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people.
It also rejected what it called “baseless claims” in the report regarding Akyar, Pile and Maraş, as well as property issues, missing persons, cultural heritage matters, buffer zone violations and Türkiye’s legitimate presence in Cyprus.
“All of these biased and unfounded assessments are entirely one-sided and null and void from our perspective,” the ministry said.
The ministry also criticized the report’s call for the European Commission to appoint a new special representative for Cyprus, calling the proposal “unwarranted.”
“It is not credible for the EU, which has ignored the fundamental rights of the Turkish Cypriot people for years, to claim that it can contribute to a settlement as a ‘neutral’ actor,” the statement said. “EU intervention will never be accepted.”
The statement said the EU had failed to fulfill its 2004 commitments to lift the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people, while rewarding what it described as the uncompromising stance of the Greek Cypriot side.
It also criticized what it called attempts to obstruct the TRNC’s developing ties with the international community through the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
“These developments have once again revealed the EU’s biased position on the Cyprus issue,” the ministry said.
The TRNC called on EU institutions to abandon what it described as one-sided political approaches favoring the Greek Cypriot administration and instead adopt a constructive and balanced position based on the realities on the island.
The ministry said such an approach should respect the inherent rights, sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people.
The statement added that the TRNC, in full harmony and solidarity with Türkiye, would continue to protect the sovereignty, security and welfare of its people.
It also said Turkish Cyprus would resolutely continue its struggle for the international recognition of its sovereign equality and equal international status.
The Cyprus issue has remained one of the world’s longest-running political disputes and continues to be a major point of tension between Türkiye and the EU.
The island has been divided between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots for decades despite repeated diplomatic efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement. The issue frequently resurfaces in regional geopolitics and in relations between Türkiye and European institutions.
The peace process has seen several on-and-off attempts in recent years, including a failed 2017 initiative in Switzerland held under the auspices of the guarantor countries, Türkiye, Greece and the U.K.
The Greek Cypriot administration joined the EU in 2004, the same year Greek Cypriots rejected the U.N.-backed Annan Plan, which aimed to end the long-standing dispute.
Turkish Cyprus now supports a settlement based on the sovereign equality and equal international status of the two states on the island. The Greek Cypriot side, backed by the EU, continues to advocate a federation-based solution.
For Ankara and Turkish Cyprus, the EU’s stance has long been viewed as one of the key fault lines in Türkiye-EU and TRNC-EU relations. Turkish officials argue that Brussels has failed to adopt a balanced position, while using the Cyprus issue as political leverage against Türkiye and overlooking the rights and political will of the Turkish Cypriot people.
Defense Minister Yaşar Güler said Friday that Türkiye views the upcoming NATO leaders’ summit in Ankara as a critical milestone that will help shape the alliance’s strategic direction amid an increasingly complex global security environment.
Speaking to Turkish journalists on the sidelines of a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels, Güler said the July 7-8 summit in the Turkish capital would be more than a gathering of allied leaders.
“We do not see the Ankara summit merely as a leaders’ meeting,” Güler said. “We believe it will be a significant turning point demonstrating NATO’s determination to adapt to the evolving security environment and shaping its strategic orientation for the future.”
The defense minister meeting, held ahead of the NATO summit, focused on the alliance’s deterrence and defense posture, support for Ukraine and broader security challenges facing member states, Güler said.
He noted that Türkiye had briefed allies on its contributions to NATO, progress toward defense spending commitments, preparations for the Ankara summit and its support for Ukraine.
Güler remarked that NATO currently faces one of the most challenging security environments in its history, citing conventional military threats alongside cyberattacks, hybrid warfare, terrorism, energy security risks and regional instability.
“Türkiye is not only one of NATO’s geographical centers but also an inseparable part of its strategic thinking and operational capacity,” he said.
The minister described Türkiye’s hosting of the summit as a reflection of its military contributions, operational experience and ability to generate security within the alliance. He also highlighted President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s diplomatic efforts, saying Türkiye has maintained a unique position within NATO through its emphasis on dialogue, crisis management and regional stability.
“Our goal is to strengthen NATO’s unity and solidarity, underline our shared commitment to Euro-Atlantic security and contribute to a strategic vision that will make the alliance better prepared for future threats,” Güler stressed.
He added that Ankara expects the summit to reinforce collective defense principles and reaffirm allies’ commitment to Article 5, NATO’s cornerstone mutual defense clause.
Güler also emphasized the growing role of Türkiye’s defense industry in supporting NATO capabilities.
“The success achieved by our defense industry contributes not only to Türkiye’s national security but also to NATO’s collective defense,” he said. “Strong defense industries mean stronger deterrence and a stronger NATO.”
He said a Defense Industry Forum scheduled to take place during the summit would help deepen cooperation among allies and noted that several NATO defense ministers had recently expressed interest in expanding collaboration with Türkiye’s defense sector.
Türkiye, which possesses NATO’s second-largest military, remains one of the alliance’s most active contributors, Güler said, highlighting the country’s involvement in military training, exercises, operations and command-and-control missions.
He noted that Türkiye will assume command of the Allied Reaction Force, one of NATO’s key force structures, in the coming period, describing the move as a sign of Ankara’s reliability and strategic importance within the alliance.
“Türkiye is not merely a country contributing to NATO’s security,” Güler said. “With its military capacity, operational experience and leadership responsibilities, it is among the leading nations shaping the alliance’s deterrence, resilience and future.”
Regional developments
Addressing the war between Russia and Ukraine, Güler said the conflict continues to affect European security architecture, energy security, global trade routes and NATO’s agenda.
He reiterated Türkiye’s support for regional stability in the Black Sea and stressed Ankara’s commitment to implementing the Montreux Convention.
“The stability of the Black Sea is an inseparable part of Euro-Atlantic security,” he said.
Güler also highlighted security challenges affecting NATO’s southern flank, including terrorism, irregular migration, energy-related risks, regional conflicts and hybrid threats.
“Türkiye is among the allies that directly confront regional threats while also making critical contributions at the center of the alliance,” he said.
Turning to developments in the Middle East, Güler welcomed the recently announced agreement aimed at ending hostilities involving Iran, the United States and Israel. He said Türkiye was prepared to support mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz if necessary and remained committed to safeguarding maritime security and freedom of navigation under international law.
The minister said Ankara continues to advocate dialogue and diplomacy as the preferred means of resolving regional disputes while taking necessary measures to protect its national security.
Güler also criticized a recent defense-related agreement signed between France and the Greek Cypriot administration, describing it as a step that could undermine regional balances and contradict international law.
“Actors that are expected to produce security should avoid actions that deepen regional tensions and instead prioritize dialogue, cooperation and a shared understanding of security,” he said.
He reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to protecting the rights and security of Turkish Cypriots and said any initiative targeting the interests of Türkiye or the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus would have little chance of success.
Concluding his remarks, Güler said Türkiye had become one of the central pillars of regional and trans-Atlantic security.
“There is now a very clear reality,” he said. “Türkiye is not on the periphery of the security architecture; it is at its center. As NATO’s future is shaped, Türkiye will continue to be among the allies that contribute to decisions, assume responsibilities and generate security.”
Türkiye and Spain’s constitutional courts signed a cooperation agreement Tuesday aimed at deepening judicial dialogue, expanding exchanges of expertise and strengthening institutional ties between the two countries.
The agreement was signed in Ankara by Constitutional Court President Kadir Özkaya and Spanish Constitutional Court Vice President Inmaculada Montalbán Huertas following bilateral and delegation-level meetings held during the Spanish delegation’s two-day visit to Türkiye on June 15-16.
The visit followed a working trip by Türkiye’s Constitutional Court to Spain in February, during which both sides agreed to continue reciprocal exchanges and enhance cooperation in the field of constitutional justice.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Özkaya welcomed the growing ties between the two courts, describing them as a reflection of the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Türkiye and Spain.
He said joint efforts carried out within international platforms, including the World Conference on Constitutional Justice and the Conference of European Constitutional Courts, had played an important role in reinforcing cooperation and strengthening mutual relations.
Özkaya also highlighted Spain’s influence on Türkiye’s constitutional complaint mechanism, noting that the Spanish Constitutional Court’s model served as one of the key references during the establishment of Türkiye’s individual application system, which was introduced in 2012.
“The individual application mechanism has become one of the fundamental pillars of Türkiye’s constitutional order,” Özkaya said, adding that it has contributed significantly to the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms and the strengthening of the rule of law.
He praised Spain’s Constitutional Court as a respected institution in the field of constitutional adjudication and said its contributions to human rights protection, democratic constitutional order and the rule of law were widely recognized internationally.
Özkaya also pointed to ongoing global conflicts and humanitarian crises, saying they underscored the importance of safeguarding human rights and international law. Referring to the humanitarian situation in Palestine, he said it was essential for the international community to continue voicing support for the protection of civilians and universal legal principles.
“We closely follow and appreciate Spain’s sensitivity, as well as that of Spanish legal circles, regarding the protection of international law and human rights,” he said.
For her part, Huertas expressed appreciation for the hospitality shown by the Turkish Constitutional Court and said reciprocal visits would further strengthen the existing friendship and institutional bonds between the two courts.
She said exchanges of experience and judicial dialogue would contribute to the development of constitutional justice and voiced confidence that the newly signed agreement would elevate bilateral cooperation to a higher level.
Huertas added that Spain remained committed to maintaining constructive dialogue with Türkiye and expanding cooperation through joint projects and future visits.
The deployment of SAMP/T air defense system by Italy in central Türkiye’s Konya was completed on Thursday, the Ministry of National Defense announced. The ministry said it was part of NATO’s permanent defense plan for reinforcing the alliance’s air defense.
The SAMP-T (Sol-Air Moyenne Portée/Terrestre) is a next-generation medium- and long-range air and missile defense system jointly developed by Italy and France. It is designed to counter a broad range of aerial threats, including aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and tactical ballistic missiles.
The system employs advanced Aster 15 and Aster 30 interceptor missiles and provides 360-degree air defense coverage. Considered as a cornerstone of Italy’s air defense network, the SAMP-T is mounted on highly mobile wheeled platforms, allowing for rapid deployment and operational readiness.
Equipped with multifunction radar systems such as the Arabel radar or the newer Kronos radar, the system can simultaneously track and engage multiple targets. It is also designed to maintain high effectiveness in electronic warfare environments while protecting military units and critical infrastructure from air and missile threats.
NATO stepped up security on its southwestern flank in light of the U.S.-Israel-Iran war and the alliance’s defense systems intercepted several missiles during the conflict which began in February. In March, an additional Patriot missile battery was deployed in a military base in southern Türkiye’s Adana by NATO.
SAMP/T is deployed at Third Main Jet Base in Konya, a major base of the Turkish Air Forces at the heartland of Türkiye.
The ministry said that at the same time, the country was working on development of local air defense systems “given the changing threat environment.”
The statement said Siper air defense system of the Turkish Air Forces launched a test on June 12 in the northern province of Sinop and successfully destroyed Super Lightning drone, a locally-made unmanned vehicle with high speed and maneuvering ability. The ministry pointed out that it was part of the work to further enhance the Steel Dome project, “to boost our country’s multi-layered air and missile defense capacity, deterrence and ensure that our national security measures are at their highest level.”
The ministry’s weekly news briefing was held in the Ankara headquarters of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) on Thursday, on the occasion of the 53rd anniversary of the defense giant. Speaking there, the ministry’s spokesman Brigadier Admiral Zeki Aktürk said authentic platforms and high-tech products developed by TUSAŞ made significant contributions to the Turkish Armed Forces, to development of defense power. Aktürk stated that TUSAŞ’ engineering capabilities, production capacity and innovative approach reinforced Türkiye’s standing in global defense industry.
TUSAŞ’ compound in Ankara’s Kahramankazan district is home to several strategic projects, from the fifth-generation fighter jet KAAN, first locally-made training jet Hürjet, first next-generation training plane Hürkuş, unmanned aerial vehicles ANKA, Aksungur and Super Lightning to Gökbey and Atak helicopters.
Aktürk said Hürkuş and Gökbey were expected to be commissioned by the Turkish Air Forces later this year.
Türkiye’s National Security Council (MGK) on Thursday called on the international community to take a principled stance against Israel’s actions in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and Lebanon, while reaffirming Ankara’s commitment to a “terror-free Türkiye” and welcoming the recent agreement reached between Iran and the United States, according to a statement issued by the Presidential Communications Directorate.
The council, which met under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, evaluated efforts toward achieving the goals of a “terror-free Türkiye” and a “terror-free region,” stressing Ankara’s determination to free both the Turkish nation and neighboring countries from the burden of terrorism.
The statement also addressed regional developments, particularly the situation in the Middle East. The MGK said Israel’s continued cease-fire violations in Gaza, settler violence in the occupied West Bank, attacks targeting the status of East Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as actions undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, were negatively affecting efforts to establish peace and stability in the region.
The council called on the international community to adopt a principled position against what it described as Israel’s persistent disregard for universal humanitarian values and international law.
On Cyprus, the MGK emphasized that Türkiye, as a guarantor state, remains both capable of and determined to take all necessary measures within the framework of international law to ensure the security, prosperity and well-being of Turkish Cypriots. It added that no fait accompli undermining the rights and interests of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) or damaging peace in the Eastern Mediterranean would be allowed.
The council also welcomed progress toward peace and stability in Syria, reaffirmed support for the country’s unity and reconstruction efforts, and expressed satisfaction over the agreement reached between Iran and the United States, stressing the importance of preserving the process. The statement added that Ankara would continue supporting initiatives aimed at achieving durable peace and long-term stability in the region.
The statement further highlighted Türkiye’s support for stability in Iraq, efforts to strengthen peace in the South Caucasus, and continued backing for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of African nations.
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay announced that he was leaving the CHP with “great sadness,” arguing that recent developments within the party had caused serious damage to the political movement founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
In a statement shared on social media, Tugay pointed to the fallout from the controversial “absolute nullification” ruling, as well as a string of disciplinary measures and dismissals within the party structure.
A recent court ruling effectively restored former CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu to the party leadership, triggering an escalating power struggle between rival factions competing for control of the party’s organization, parliamentary group and future direction. Kılıçdaroğlu, who lost a 2023 election to Özel, returned to his former tenure in May when a court ruled that Özel’s election was the result of a vote-buying scheme in the intra-party vote. In the wake of an “absolute nullification” verdict for the Özel administration, Kılıçdaroğlu has pledged to clear the CHP of all “corruption and wrongdoings it is associated with.” This “cleansing” as Kılıçdaroğlu branded involves parting ways with lawmakers, mayors and other influential names in the party, mostly those implicated in corruption probes and sex scandals.
Several Turkish media outlets reported that figures close to Özel have accelerated preparations for a possible breakaway movement and could announce details of a new political formation soon.
Tugay described the removal of Izmir’s provincial chair, alongside other party officials, as an unacceptable decision that disregarded the political will of the city.
Tugay said he had supported calls for an extraordinary party congress and had signed efforts aimed at restoring what he described as a democratic management environment within the CHP. However, he argued that those efforts had failed to produce results and warned that party members would continue to face what he characterized as unjust treatment.
The mayor said Türkiye needs a CHP that operates free from manipulation, tutelage and political engineering, adding that he would continue to support those principles despite leaving the party.
Tugay also announced that he will remain in office as mayor and continue serving Izmir as an independent politician.
“With the hope that I may one day return, I am resigning from my membership in the Republican People’s Party,” he said.
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