Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias clashed at a joint news conference in Ankara. It was the first visit by a Greek Foreign Minister to Turkey since 2015. The tension-raising meeting began with hopes of improved relations but descended into an exchange of accusations from both sides. Although Turkey and Greece are NATO allies, they have found little common ground when it comes to the issues of competing claims in the Mediterranean, air space, energy resources, the treatment of refugees and Cyprus. The two countries also clashed over the identity issue of the Turkish minority in Greece’s Western region, Thrace. So how will the relations look moving forward?

Guests:

Ali Huseyinoglu

Associate Professor at Trakya University

Tudor Onea

Assistant Professor at Bilkent University

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Istanbul amid escalating tensions between Kyiv and Moscow. The meeting came amid concerns that Russia was massing troops in Russian-annexed Crimea and around the eastern Ukraine conflict zone. Erdogan has called for a diplomatic resolution of tensions between Kyiv and Moscow over the long-running conflict in Donbass. He also stressed that Turkey’s primary goal is to make the Black Sea region a basin of peace. So what exactly is happening in eastern Ukraine and is a diplomatic solution possible?

Guests:

Mehmet Ali Ugur

Assistant Professor at Yalova University

Alexander Titov

Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast

Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul amid rising tensions with Russia over Ukraine's eastern Donbass region. While reiterating Turkey’s stance of not recognising the annexation of Crimea, Erdogan called for a peaceful end to the tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Also, the new Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh and a delegation of ministers made their first visit to Turkey and met President Erdogan. The two leaders discussed many aspects from Turkey's continued support for Libya's reconstruction, to trade deals in energy and defence, and showed signs of solidarity.

Guests:

Mehmet Ali Ugur

Assistant Professor at Yalova University

Alexander Titov

Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast

Ramazan Erdag

Associate Professor at Eskisehir Osmangazi University

Guma El Gamaty

Head of Libya's Taghyeer Party

Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah paid his first official visit to Ankara. Accompanied by large delegations, Dbeibah and Turkish President Erdogan held broad talks and negotiations to further strengthen bilateral relations. The two leaders also renewed their commitment to the maritime demarcation deal in the eastern Mediterranean, signed with Libya’s previous Government of National Accord. Libya’s new unity government was sworn in on March 15 from two rival administrations in the east and west, completing a smooth transition of power after a decade of chaos. So will the shaky ceasefire between the warring sides in Libya continue to hold and will the country be able to hold national elections in December?

Guests:

Ramazan Erdag

Associate Professor at Eskisehir Osmangazi University

Guma El Gamaty

Head of Libya's Taghyeer Party

Leaders of the Turkic Council member countries, while supporting Azerbaijan’s Karabakh victory, have agreed to work towards the rehabilitation of the liberated territory. Central Asia, a region of high strategic importance with its unexplored natural resources and significant geo-strategic location, continues to face threats of terrorism and conflict. The Turkic Council comprises of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan and aims to strengthen co-operation in all areas like security, trade, energy and tourism. So what will be the roadmap for the Turkic Council's increased co-operation in the future?

Guests:

Cengiz Tomar

Rector at Akhmet Yassawi University

Cavid Veliev

Political Analyst

After years of strained relations, Ankara and Riyadh appear to be on track to repairing the ties. However the unofficial Saudi boycott of Turkish goods is still casting a shadow over the relations between the two countries. After record-low trade figures in recent months, Turkey raised its concerns regarding the kingdom’s informal embargo at the World Trade Organisation. Also, the Turkic council, comprising Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan, held a virtual meeting focusing on issues like security, terrorism and conflict across Central Asia. The member countries aim to promote a sense of unity and strengthen co-operation in many fields from security, trade, energy and tourism.

Guests:

Vehbi Baysan

Political Analyst

Giorgio Cafiero

CEO at Gulf State Analytics

Cengiz Tomar

Rector at Akhmet Yassawi University

Cavid Veliev

Political Analyst

The relationship between Turkey and Saudi Arabia has seen improvements in recent months. But the unofficial Saudi boycott of Turkish goods is still casting a shadow on these relations. Ankara raised the issue at a World Trade Organisation Goods Council meeting in Geneva in an attempt to seek a resolution to the issue. The kingdom’s informal embargo has significantly harmed Turkish trade, with exports to Saudi Arabia falling by 93.7% year-on-year in March. Relations between the two countries have been strained for many years over a series of diplomatic disputes. But the recent end of the Qatar blockade created an opening. So is this unofficial trade row here to stay, or can this issue be resolved and the once prosperous trade relationship be revived?

Guests:

Vehbi Baysan

Political Analyst

Giorgio Cafiero

CEO at Gulf State Analytics

Turkey is set to begin construction of a huge canal on the edge of Istanbul soon, aimed at easing traffic in the Bosphorus. The nearly 10-billion-dollar canal will link the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea and is estimated to be completed in seven years. Many have described the plan to build a 45-km canal through Istanbul, as risky as it is ambitious. But the Turkish government argues that diversified trade routes are crucial in keeping global trade flowing. So do the benefits of the canal outweigh the risks?

Guests:

Taha Meli Arvas

Financial Analyst

Guido Cozzi

Professor at St Gallen University

The top EU diplomat has called for stronger ties between Turkey and the bloc, days after EU leaders stressed the need for a positive agenda and deepening trade ties. Ankara has cautiously welcomed the rhetoric, highlighting that the EU needs to take concrete steps to meet its own positive expectations. Relations between the two sides have not been ideal, especially when it comes to sensitive issues like disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean. So what sticking points remain and where does trust need to be re-established most?

Guests:

Izzet Selim Yenel

Former Turkish Ambassador

Zoltan Egeresi

Political Analyst

The top EU diplomat has called for stronger ties between Turkey and the bloc, days after EU leaders stressed the need for a positive agenda and deepening trade ties. Ankara has cautiously welcomed the rhetoric, highlighting that the EU needs to take concrete steps to meet its own positive expectations. Meanwhile, Turkey has approved development plans for the Istanbul canal on the edge of Istanbul that will join the Black Sea to the Marmara.

Guests:

Izzet Selim Yenel

Former Turkish Ambassador

Zoltan Egeresi

Political Analyst

Taha Meli Arvas

Financial Analyst

Guido Cozzi

Professor at St Gallen University