Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has proposed that Russia can build two nuclear power plants in addition to the one it is already building near Turkey's southern coast. The discussion occurred during Erdogan and Putin’s meeting in Sochi last month. A relative new comer to the nuclear energy game, Turkey has ambitious plans to diversify its sources of electricity and to reduce its emissions.

Guests

Ivan Starodubtsev

Political Analyst

Gloria Shkurti Ozdemir

Researcher at SETA

Tensions between Iran and Azerbaijan have risen after Iranian ground forces took part in military drills close to Azerbaijan’s border earlier this month. Much of the trouble between the two countries is rooted in last year’s Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which resulted in Azerbaijan gaining new access to areas close to Iran. Iran has since claimed that Azerbaijan is stationing Israeli troops near its border. Adding to the tension is Azerbaijan’s newly imposed customs taxes on Iranian trucks. Will this latest flare-up die down, or escalate?

Guests

Farid Shafiyev

Chairman of the Centre of Analysis of International Relations

Mehrdad Khonsari

Former Iranian Diplomat

Turkey has plans to increase nuclear co-operation with Russia in order to diversify energy sources and reduce emissions. There is already one Russian nuclear power plant under construction near Turkey’s southern coast and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has discussed the possibility for two more. Ludovica Brignola reports.

The $11 billion Nord Stream 2 pipeline that will transport natural gas between Russia and Europe has been completed. While it will bring necessary relief to Europe's rising energy demands, the United States doesn't seem to be entirely on board. The US is opposed to Europe relying more on Russia for energy needs, while Ukraine is warning of the potential weaponisation of the pipeline by Moscow. Is Russia gaining too much influence in Europe?

Guests:

Thomas O'Donnell

Lecturer at Hertie School of Governance

Aura Sabadus

Energy Analyst and Journalist

Skyrocketing energy prices in Europe have provided Russia with an opportunity to step in. The Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project is expected to bring some relief to the continent's energy demands, but there are fears the project could give Moscow too much leverage over Europe. Strait Talk's Ludovica Brignola reports.

Continued US support to the YPG terror group in Syria is further alienating its old NATO ally Turkey. Recent photos showed the YPG with Bradley armored vehicles, the same type US troops have been using across Syria. Turkey has long called for the US to end its military support for the group, which began back in 2015 to fight Daesh. Last month, the US House also passed its defence budget which will provide even more aid. Are tensions between Ankara and Washington set to worsen?

Guests:

Helin Sari Ertem

Associate Professor at Medeniyet University

Rich Outzen

Former US Diplomat

Greece has recently inked defence deals with France for the purchase of six Rafale fighter jets and three advanced warships, potentially raising tensions with neighbouring Turkey. The Greek prime minister has said his country has no intention to go into an arms race with its neighbour, but Turkey has voiced concern about the deal saying it threatens to harm the NATO alliance. The two NATO allies are involved in several maritime disputes and talks have been ongoing to reduce tensions. So, what will Greece's signing of defence deals mean for its relations with Turkey?

Guests:

Giray Sadik

Director of EU Research Centre at AYBU

Dimitris Tsarouhas

Visiting Associate Professor at Virginia Tech University

Turkey is set to ratify the Paris Agreement next month as a part of the country's push to invest more in green technology. The Paris Agreement came into effect five years ago when the world got together to limit the temperature increase of the planet. The agreement's main goals were to limit the earth's temperature to counter the effects of climate change and to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by the middle of this century. So what will be next for Turkey after ratifying the Paris Agreement? And what are the country's plans for sustainable development and growth?

Guest:

Ziya Altunyaldiz

Turkish MP

A no-confidence vote against Libya's interim government is a new blow to the UN-backed peace efforts in the country. The situation has taken a complex turn since last year's ceasefire agreement and the forming of a transitional government to prepare for elections. But now with protests in Tripoli, it remains unclear whether Libya would be able to stick to its deadline of holding elections later this year. Moreover, the US House of Representatives recently passed a bill that could enable sanctions against foreign actors backing rival Libyan factions has added to the turmoil.

Guests:

Anas El Gomati

Director of Sadeq Institute

Umberto Profazio

Associate Fellow at IISS

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Sochi. The situation in Syria was high on agenda, where Turkey and Russia stand at the opposite sides of the ongoing war. As a new wave of violence has engulfed the Idlib province – the last remaining opposition stronghold – Turkey is pressing for a return to ceasefire agreed between Ankara and Moscow last year. How can Turkey and Russia enhance their co-operation to maintain status quo in Idlib?

Guests:

Omer Ozkizilcik

Researcher at SETA

Sergey Markov

Director of Institute of Political Studies