Today, we spoke with Aaron Stein, president of the US-based Foreign Policy Research Institute and author of the book: “US War Against ISIS: How America and its Allies Defeated the Caliphate”.

Topics covered include Iran, Israel, the US and Turkey’s place in the conflict now unfolding on NATO’s eastern border. We also discussed the potential implications of the Syria transition and the Turkey-PKK peace process on Ankara-Washington relations.

And, of course, we addressed the many security architecture questions regarding Turkey’s weapons industry, European defense needs and the prospects for Ankara’s return to the F-35 fighter jet program.

Reports referenced in this talk include:

“The Time is Right to Sell F-35 to Turkey” by Aaron Stein

“Turkey’s New Foreign Policy: Ankara’s Ambitions, Regional Responses, and Implications for the United States” by Aaron Stein and Nicholas Danforth

Other ways to watch & listen: Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.

Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: [email protected].

Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.

Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.

Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chief

Emily Rice Johnson, Deputy editor

Günsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editor

Ceren Bayar, Parliament correspondent

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Here’s our live webcast with Berk Esen, an associate professor of political science at Sabancı University in İstanbul and co-author of the book, Türkiye'nin Yeni Rejimi: Rekabetçi Otoriterlik.

We discussed the mounting trials faced by Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), including investigations against imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, who faces a political ban for corruption charges that he denies.

We also covered the CHP Congress case, which could lead to government intervention on the management structure of Turkey’s founding party, raising questions about the future of Özgür Özel’s leadership, the potential return of former chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the health of Turkish democracy.

Other ways to watch & listen: Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.

Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: [email protected].

Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.

Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.

Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chief

Emily Rice Johnson, Deputy editor

Günsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editor

Ceren Bayar, Parliament correspondent

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Watch our live webcast with Alexander McKeever, a researcher based in Amman, Jordan, and author of the newsletter This Week in Northern Syria.

We discussed developments in Syria six months after regime change and took questions from the audience.

Topics covered include SDF-Damascus negotiations, domestic security, repatriation and internal migration, impacts of the Turkey-PKK peace process and the influence of foreign actors, such as the United States, Israel, Russia, the Gulf states and more.

Other ways to watch & listen: Our webcasts are also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or where ever you get your podcasts.

Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: [email protected].

Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for discount options). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.

Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.

Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chief

Emily Rice Johnson, Deputy editor

Günsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editor

Ceren Bayar, Parliament correspondent

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Watch our live webcast with Ezgi Başaran, author of the book Frontline Turkey: The Conflict at the Heart of the Middle East and the newsletter Angle, Anchor, and Voice.

We put the Turkey-PKK peace process in context and discussed what to expect next. We also took audience questions.

Other ways to watch & listen:1. Visit turkeyrecap.com or the Substack app

2. Make sure you are logged in and subscribe to Turkey recap

3. Check our Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube

Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: [email protected].

Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for a student discount). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.

Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.

Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chief

Emily Rice Johnson, Deputy editor

Günsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editor

Ceren Bayar, Parliament correspondent

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Watch our live webcast with Selim Koru, writer of Kültürkampf and author of the book New Turkey and the Far Right, and Diego Cupolo, editor-in-chief of Turkey recap.

We discussed the PKK’s decision to dissolve today as well as implications for Turkey and the region.

We also took audience questions, and Selim took a few delivery packages while on air.

Other ways to watch & listen:1. Visit turkeyrecap.com or the Substack app

2. Make sure you are logged in and subscribe to Turkey recap

3. Check our Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube

Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: [email protected].

Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for a student discount). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.

Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.

Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chief

Emily Rice Johnson, Deputy editor

Günsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editor

Ceren Bayar, Parliament correspondent

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

Turkish Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Rome Tuesday for a Turkey-Italy intergovernmental summit, highlighting fast-developing trade and defense ties between the two NATO allies.

In recent months, Turkish defense firm Baykar acquired Italy’s Piaggio Aerospace and announced a joint venture to produce drones with Italy’s defense giant, Leonardo.

To make sense of bilateral relations and what they mean for European security, we hosted a livestream with the authors of the recent analysis: “Europe’s defense awakening and its strategic partners: Any place for Turkey?”

The above is our recording with Riccardo Gasco, foreign policy program coordinator at the IstanPol Institute and doctoral researcher at the University of Bologna, and Samuele Abrami, a Mercator-IPC Fellow and researcher at the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs.

They also host the Cose Turche News podcast with Eleonora Masi.

Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: [email protected].

Subscribe here on Substack (or on Patreon for a student discount). Paid subscribers get full access to our recaps, reports, members-only chat and news tracking tools.

Turkey recap is produced by our staff’s non-profit association, KMD. We are an affiliate of the Global Forum for Media Development and aim to create balanced news that strengthens local media by supporting journalists in Turkey.

Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chief

Emily Rice Johnson, Deputy editor

Günsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editor

Ceren Bayar, Parliament correspondent

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.turkeyrecap.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.turkeyrecap.com

With long tractor convoys and high attendance, the CHP’s mass rally in the conservative Yozgat province on April 19 looked like a potential turning point for the opposition movement in Turkey. But was it?

To gauge where the CHP stood one month after the arrest of İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu (and more), we hosted a live video chat with Michael Sercan Da…