Iran's envoy to Baghdad Iraj Masjedi recently called on Turkey to withdraw troops from Iraq, where the latter is carrying out an operation against the PKK terror group. Turkey condemned the remarks and summoned the Iranian ambassador to Ankara, rejecting the accusation that Turkish presence is violating Iraqi sovereignty. Despite this latest diplomatic dispute, both Turkey and Iran share similar goals when it comes to battling terrorism. So how will the two countries overcome this latest hurdle?

Guests:

Talha Kose

SETA Brussels Director

Mehrdad Khonsari

Former Iranian Diplomat

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he wants to enhance ties with the new US administration based on common interests. The relations between the two countries have been strained, and Erdogan recently criticised the US for its support to the YPG, the Syrian affiliate of the PKK terror group. So what are these common interests and can the two countries overcome their disagreements? Plus, Turkey has unveiled a 10-year space programme that includes a mission to the moon by 2023 and building a Turkish spaceport. So what challenges will the Turkish Space Agency face in achieving the ambitious goals set out in the programme?

Guests:

Ali Demirdas

Political Analyst

Michael Doran

Senior Fellow at Hudson Institute

Serdar Huseyin Yildirim

President of Turkish Space Agency

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said his country’s common interests with the United States outweigh their differences. The relationship between Washington and Ankara haven’t always been at ease, and issues such as Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 defence system and the US support for the YPG terror group have led to serious differences. But the two countries have managed to overcome their disagreements to achieve mutual strategic goals. Can the two countries strengthen co-operation under the presidency of Joe Biden?

Guests:

Ali Demirdas

Political Analyst

Michael Doran

Senior Fellow at Hudson Institute

Turkey has recently unveiled a 10-year national space programme, aiming not only to develop homemade launch capabilities, but even to go as far as the moon by 2023, when the country will celebrate its centennial. Also in the works is a spaceport, that could be a stepping stone into making Turkey a launch hub for commercial satellites. So what needs to be done to achieve these goals?

Guests:

Serdar Huseyin Yildirim

President of Turkish Space Agency

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that a two-state solution is the only option to resolve the decades-old Cyprus issue. Following the recent discovery of ample energy reserves on the island, the seemingly unresolvable peace process has come to the fore again. New UN-sponsored talks are planned for next month, but will the parties involved agree on a solution? Plus, the execution of 13 Turkish citizens by the PKK terror group in Iraq caused a diplomatic rift between Turkey and the US. Erdogan criticised Washington for backing the terror groups YPG and PYD, forcing the US to clarify its position on the latest act of terror. Will this latest atrocity be a wake-up call for the Biden administration about addressing its direct support to terror groups that are attacking a NATO ally?

Guests:

Ersin Tatar

President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Murat Aslan

Assistant Professor at Hasan Kalyoncu University

Matthew Bryza

Former US Ambassador

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asserted the need for a two-state solution to resolve the decades-old Cyprus issue. The island has been divided into a Turkish Cypriot government in the north, and a Greek Cypriot administration in the south since 1974. Following the recent discovery of ample energy reserves in its rich waters, the issue of a divided Cyprus just got more complicated. With a peace process stuck at an impasse, international negotiators are planning to meet next month in an attempt to resolve the issue.

Guests:

Ersin Tatar

President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Next month, another international conference is planned to try to resolve the decades-old Cyprus problem. The island has been divided between Greek and Turkish Cypriots since 1974. But now Turkey and the new Turkish Cypriot president want a two-state solution - something that has never been seriously discussed before.

Andrew Hopkins reports

A UN-led Libya forum has elected a new interim government, which is tasked with leading the war-torn country to national elections at the end of the year. Will this new attempt at a political solution succeed in ending a decade of chaos in the country? Plus, many countries in Europe and North America are facing bottlenecks in COVID vaccine supplies. These countries have signed deals with companies like Pfizer and Moderna, but have been reluctant to use the vaccines developed in China and Russia. Does the reluctance stem from a mistrust rooted in political bias?

Guests

Ahmet Uysal

Director of Middle Eastern Studies Center at ORSAM

Anas El Gomati

Director of Sadeq Institute

Serhat Unal

Professor at Hacettepe University

Oksana Pyzik

Lecturer at UCL School of Pharmacy

The high demand and low supply of COVID-19 vaccines had led to shortages in many Western countries. While Turkey and many countries across the Middle East, South America and Asia have approved the use of both the Russian and Chinese variants, Western countries have been reluctant to use vaccines developed by the two countries? Considering the critical shortages, is this a wise choice?

Guests

Serhat Unal

Professor at Hacettepe University

Oksana Pyzik

Lecturer at UCL School of Pharmacy

A UN-led forum has elected a transitional government for Libya, with former diplomat Mohammed Menfi chosen to lead the Presidency Council. The new government has been tasked with holding national elections in the war-torn country. Libya has been engulfed in conflict and violence for the last decade and political power has been divided with two rival administrations in the east and west. So, will the new transitional government be able to lead a reconciliation process and take the country to parliamentary and presidential elections on December 24?

Guests

Ahmet Uysal

Director of Middle Eastern Studies Center at ORSAM

Anas El Gomati

Director of Sadeq Institute