Turkey

Turkey, officially the Republic of Turkey, is located partially in the continent of Asia and partially in Europe. It shares borders with Greece and Bulgaria to the Northwest, Iran to the east and Iraq to the southeast. It also shares various borders with Syria, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

70%-75% of Turkey's population are Turks, and 19% are Kurds, making them the country's largest minority group. The country's capital is Ankara, and the largest city and financial city is Istanbul.

As of November 2021, the President of Turkey is Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has served in this position since 2014. Prior to that, he served as Prime Minister of the country from 2003-2014.

Since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, an estimated 3.6 million Syrian refugees have taken up residence in Turkey, most of them living with temporary residence permits.

US boots on the ground in Iran could lead to widespread regional conflict, experts say

US forces operating on Iranian soil could trigger an unstoppable chain reaction across global shipping lanes, energy markets, and political fault lines.

APRIL 6, 2026|ByGIORGIA VALENTE / THE MEDIA LINE

US Army Soldiers conduct low-light, live fire training with M240B machine guns in the US Central Command area of responsibility.

Iran and Iraq map. Ilustration.

Turkey the new Iran? Ankara's growing challenge to Western interests - opinion

Turkey’s growing regional influence and ties to Hamas challenge NATO and US security.

APRIL 6, 2026|BySINAN CIDDI, NATALIE ECANOW

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) in Damascus, April 5, 2026.

Zelensky’s Syria visit symbolizes new future for Middle East diplomacy - analysis

Ukrainian President Zelensky’s visit to Syria marks a symbolic step toward a peaceful future, fostering cooperation between Syria, Turkey, and Ukraine despite regional conflicts.

APRIL 6, 2026|BySETH J. FRANTZMAN

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff speaks at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, May 28, 2025

Egypt, US, and Iran discuss regional de-escalation as Mideast violence continues to flare up

Egypt pushed fresh de-escalation efforts on Sunday, with Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty holding calls with US envoy Steve Witkoff, Iran’s Abbas Araghchi, and other regional officials.

APRIL 5, 2026|BySHOSHANA BAKER

Erdogan: Turkey working hard to prevent new Middle East war over US-Iran tensions

Speaking to reporters on a return flight from a visit to Egypt, Erdogan added that talks at the level of the US and Iranian leadership would be helpful after lower-level nuclear negotiations.

FEBRUARY 5, 2026ByREUTERS

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to MPs at his party's group meeting in the Turkish parliament on January 21, 2026 in Ankara, Turkey.

Why America's Western lens fails to understand Middle East dynamics - opinion

The Middle East rewards power, clarity, and patience, and the US must learn to play by those rules. If they act desperate for deals and photo opportunities, then that is all they will get.

FEBRUARY 5, 2026ByERIC R. MANDEL

US President Donald Trump seen over an illustrative image of American-Iranian ties (illustrative)

Erdogan arrives in Cairo after Riyadh talks, raising concerns in Israel - analysis

Turkish President expected to discuss regional developments, including Gaza and Libya.

FEBRUARY 4, 2026BySETH J. FRANTZMAN

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Fourteen migrants die off Greece after boat collides with coast guard

A coastguard official said they spotted a dingy transporting migrants towards Chios, which lies a few miles off the coast of Turkey, and ordered them to turn back.

FEBRUARY 4, 2026ByREUTERS

Greek emergency personnel wait to transfer bodies of dead migrants, following migrant’s boat collision with coast guard off the island of Chios, in the port of Chios, Greece, February 3, 2026.

The Top 5 Dental Clinics in Turkey for 2026

FEBRUARY 3, 2026ByHANNAH SCHWARTZ

Benjamin Netanyahu, US envoy Steve Witkoff meet in Israel as US looks to revive talks with Iran

The visit comes ahead of reported talks between the United States and Iran in Istanbul scheduled for later this week, aimed at avoiding conflict and de-escalating tensions between the two sides.

FEBRUARY 3, 2026ByMIRIAM SELA-EITAM, IDAN KWELLER

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Israel, July 31, 2025

From rivals to partners: What does Erdogan’s Saudi visit mean for the Middle East? - analysis

Saudi Arabia welcomed Erdogan for talks highlighting closer Ankara-Riyadh ties as the kingdom reconsiders its regional priorities.

FEBRUARY 3, 2026BySETH J. FRANTZMAN

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to MPs at his party's group meeting in the Turkish parliament on January 21, 2026 in Ankara, Turkey.

Witkoff, Araghchi to meet as Iranian general warns ‘no American will be safe’ if conflict erupts

A meeting between US and Iranian officials in Istanbul is seen as a best-case scenario, sources familiar with the plans said.

FEBRUARY 2, 2026ByLARA SUKSTER MOSHEYOF, JAMES GENN

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (R) and US Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff (L); illustrative.

Senators seek assurance with Save the Kurds Act as Sharaa regime, SDF agree to integration deal

The Save the Kurds Act calls for snapback sanctions if the Syrian regime recommences attacks on Kurds and demands that HTS be redesignated as a terrorist organization

FEBRUARY 1, 2026ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD

Syrian Kurds demonstrate to demand their rights in the Syrian constitution and in support of Kurdish unity, in Qamishli, Syria February 1, 2026.

Israeli woman arrested in Turkey on charges of anti-Palestinian rhetoric, denouncing Erdogan

The Foreign Ministry confirmed that it was aware of an Israeli citizen who was detained in Istanbul. N12 reported she has been held for 10 days.

FEBRUARY 1, 2026ByJAMES GENN

Turkish police arresting an Israeli woman in Taksim Square, Istanbul, January 2026.