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Türkish influence in Asia: promoter of peace or supplier of weapons?

by Martin Aslan Türkiye’s relationship with Asia is a dynamic blend of cultural, religious, and economic ties shaping Türkiye’s foreign policy and regional influence. These multifaceted connections reveal how cultural and religious bonds intersect with Türkiye’s paradoxical roles as both a peacemaker and arms supplier and raises questions about its real commitment in fighting fitna (division) within the Muslim world. This ambiguous position also raises questions about the effectiveness of Ankara’s influence. Cultural and religious connections Asia has long held historical and cultural importance for Türkiye. The Turkish people originally migrated from regions around present-day Mongolia, a heritage President Erdogan often recalls. This historical memory partly explains Türkiye’s continuing interest in the Uyghur people of China. While Ankara occasionally criticizes Beijing’s repression of Uyghurs, it offers little tangible support. Türkiye’s cultural resonance extends to South Asia, pa...
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Türkiye–PKK: new era or illusion of peace?

by Martin Aslan After decades of conflict between the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Turkish government, a political “black swan” emerged in early 2025. Jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan issued a historic call for disarmament and the dissolution of the group. In March 2025, following Öcalan’s appeal, the PKK declared a unilateral ceasefire with Türkiye. On May 12, it officially announced its intention to disband and end its armed struggle. In July, thirty PKK militants symbolically destroyed their weapons in a ceremony in northern Iraq — a remarkable gesture after forty years of insurgency against Türkiye. Yet the question remains: does this moment mark the beginning of a genuine new era of peace between Turks and Kurds, particularly in Iraq, or is only the illusion of a reconciliation? No sign of peace from Türkiye Despite Öcalan’s call, Ankara has taken no reciprocal steps. The PKK founder remains imprisoned, serving a life sentence after 26 years behind bars. His continued d...
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Türkiye’s unlikely soft approach to Europe: what’s behind the change?

  by Martin Aslan Despite years of political clashes and stalled negotiations, Türkiye is quietly moving closer to Europe—but not in the way most might expect. What has prompted this shift, and what does it mean for both Türkiye and the European Union (EU)? The relationship between Türkiye and the EU has long been contentious, but recent developments over the past few months, suggest a shift in strategy that could reshape the future of European security and Türkiye’s role on the global stage. This article explores why Türkiye is pursuing closer ties with Europe, particularly in the area of defense industry, and what it hopes to gain from this change in approach. Indeed, this calculated rapprochement could lead European countries to become more dependent on the Turkish defense industry and, as a result, enhance Ankara’s influence over the EU. Türkiye and the EU: a candidacy in crisis Since Türkiye applied for EU membership in 1987 and gained official candidate status in 1999, it has...
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The renewal of Panturkism or when nationalists collide

by Martin Aslan Since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a new wave of far-right Turkic solidarity has been rising amongst Turkish volunteers and lead to the creation of the Turan battalion. Their involvement, while not endorsed by any Ankara officials, highlights the complex dynamics of foreign volunteerism in the conflict and the rise of a renewed Panturkism, fueled by far-right ideology. The Turan Battalion: A Panturkic Initiative Established on November 20, 2022, the Turan Battalion is a unit of volunteers enlisting individuals from Turkic-speaking nations, including Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, amongst others. Founded by Aidos Sadyqov, a Kazakh opposition activist, the battalion is led by Almaz Kudabek Uulu, a Kyrgyz national who previously worked as a hairdresser in Kyiv. The name ‘Turan’ refers to the ancient mythical homeland of Turkic populations in Central Asia. The battalion embraces a Panturkist ideology that is dating back to ...
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Calculated chaos: How Türkiye exploits Libya’s division for strategic gain

by Martin Aslan Türkiye is playing a dangerous diplomatic game with its Libyan partners and places itself in the middle of a potentially explosive situation. Türkiye-backed western Libya is in the edge of internal conflict due the tensions rising between armed groups related to the Government of National Unity (GNU). Instead of resolving this problem by diplomatic means, Türkiye is moving closer to the clan of Marshal Khalifa Haftar, which had previously opposed the GNU. Ankara appears to be attempting a change of alliance. This rapprochement is all the more hazardous because Marshal Haftar's presumed successor is his own son, General Saddam Haftar, who is particularly known for embezzling funds and violating human rights. While claiming to be dealing with Libya's fundamental problems in the general interest, Türkiye is actually driven by its economic ambitions. The benefits of a divided Libya Since the 2011 uprising during the Arab Spring, which culminated in the overthrow of ...
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Humanitarian action, a tool of Turkish propaganda in Africa

by Martin Aslan With the arrival in power in 2002 of the AKP and its leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a new strategy was put into place to enable Türkiye to develop its ties with Africa. The Gülen movement, an ally at the time, was the first non-governmental organization to invest massively in Africa. This opportunistic alliance enabled Türkiye to strengthen its influence on the continent. However, this alliance broke in 2013, leaving a very significant pro-Gülen imprint to the detriment of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan 's power. Turkish soft power has been transformed and strengthened by TIKA (Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency), which became a state agency in 2018, and by the creation of the MAARIF foundation (a state-run organization focused on international education) in 2016. Numerous humanitarian NGOs gravitate around these two major organizations. The difference from before is that the government has now much tighter control over these institutions. TIKA, a multi-skilled state a...
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Relations between Türkiye and Latin America

by Martin Aslan Türkiye has established a real presence in regions such as Africa, especially in Libya and Somalia, as well as in Central Asia. Yet, one part of the world remains relatively under the radar in Turkish foreign policy: Latin America. Despite the geographical distance, it seems Ankara has been quietly working to expand its defense footprint in the region. Interestingly, the roots of Türkiye’s connection to Latin America stretch back to the 19th century, when immigrants from the Ottoman Empire, mostly Arabs, settled in South America. Locals called them "Los Turcos" (The Turks), a nickname that still stucks despite their actual ethnic origins. High-level visits and diplomatic expansion Türkiye launched an “Action Plan for Latin America and the Caribbean” in 1998. It was revised in 2006, when Türkiye declared that year as the “Year of Latin America and the Caribbean”. The plan served as a formal roadmap for engaging more seriously in the region. The first Turkish pr...
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