The United States is facing criticism for its chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Analysts warn its hasty exit could pave the way for other regional powers, like China and Russia, to fill the power vacuum left behind. We discuss how the US exit from Afghanistan could affect Central Asia and the wider region as a whole.

Guests:

Raffaello Pantucci

Senior Associate Fellow at Royal United Services Institute

Theresa Fallon

Director at Centre for Russia Europe Asia Studies

The sudden takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban has opened a new race for influence across Central Asia. As the US withdraws, could two of America’s adversaries – China and Russia – look to fill the power vacuum left behind? Strait Talk’s Ludovica Brignola reports.

Turkey recently unveiled its latest military hardware at an international arms fair in Istanbul. Showcasing its drones, radars, and helicopters, Turkey’s defence companies are hoping to become major players in the global arms industry. Already the 13th largest defence exporter, and 4th biggest drone producer, Turkey also has big ambitions to become a self-sufficient military force. We look at the steps it is taking.

Guests:

Serdar Demir

Vice President of Turkish Aerospace Industries

Elisabeth Braw

Senior Fellow at American Enterprise Institute

Turkish officials have rejected claims made in the UK media that an Afghan refugee processing centre will be set up inside Turkey. Already hosting the world’s largest refugee population, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is urging European countries to take responsibility for migrants fleeing Afghanistan. He adds his country has no intention of becoming Europe's ‘refugee warehouse’. To prevent any further illegal crossings, Turkey is bolstering security along its eastern border with Iran. But will that be enough to stem the flow of migrants? And how will a potential refugee crisis affect Iran?

Guests:

Mehmet Celik

Managing Editor at Daily Sabah

Abas Aslani

Senior Fellow at the Centre for Middle East Strategic Studies

Turkey has its eyes set on becoming one of the world's military powerhouses. The country's booming defence industry has laid the foundation to produce some of the world’s most effective weapons. And that’s translating into rising exports. Between 2015 and 2020, its defence exports grew by 86 percent, making Turkey the 13th largest arms exporter in the world. Strait Talk's Ludovica Brignola reports.

Turkish officials have rejected claims made in the UK media that an Afghan refugee processing centre will be set up inside Turkey. Already hosting the world’s largest refugee population, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is urging European countries to take responsibility for migrants fleeing Afghanistan. He adds his country has no intention of becoming Europe's ‘refugee warehouse’. To prevent any further illegal crossings, Turkey is bolstering security along its eastern border with Iran. But will that be enough to stem the flow of migrants? And how will a potential refugee crisis affect Iran?

Guests:

Mehmet Celik

Managing Editor at Daily Sabah

Abas Aslani

Senior Fellow at the Centre for Middle East Strategic Studies

Two decades after being thrown out, the Taliban shocked the world by regaining the control of Afghanistan in a swift blitz. In its first interaction with the press, the group's spokesperson assured the international community of maintaining stability and upholding women's rights. But the world remains sceptical about the group's assurances given their past. So has the Taliban changed over these years, and what should the world expect from them this time around?

Guests:

Omar Samad

Former Afghan Ambassador

Richard Outzen

Former US Diplomat

Ahmet Uysal

Director at the Centre for Middle Eastern Studies

The 20-year war in Afghanistan led by the United States and its allies has ended with the Taliban returning to power. Since the group's return, there are fears about how it will rule the country. The group says it will return the war-torn country to stability and has called for peaceful international relations. So how did the Taliban take over and will it live up to its promises?

The Taliban has declared the war in Afghanistan over 20 years after the US invasion of the country. Hours after the Taliban took control of the capital Kabul, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, saying his decision was made to prevent bloodshed. The group is calling for peaceful international relations.

Strait Talk sits with Pakistani President Arif Alvi to discuss what Pakistan can do to bring stability to neighbouring Afghanistan.

Turkey's fast-paced COVID-19 vaccination drive has seen it administering more than 75 million jabs. So far at least 31 million people have been fully vaccinated. But like other countries around the world, there are people who are not sure about getting the vaccines, despite the easy availability. So what needs to be done to convince people to get vaccinated?

Guests:

Alexandra Sicotte Levesque

Team Lead of Community Engagement at IFRC

Serhat Unal

Professor at Hacettepe University