Europe’s role and what Türkiye should do. Following Trump’s reelection, Washington and Moscow initiated contacts aimed at achieving peace in Ukraine. Trump’s team worked not only with the Russian side but also engaged in talks with both Europe and Ukraine. From the Munich Security Conference to Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House, from meetings in Europe to gatherings held in ...

The country sits at the center of Beijing’s vision of a secure, integrated southern rim in the region. By Mehmet Enes Beşer As the global interest remains captivated by great power competition and regional fault lines in the Indo-Pacific, one underappreciated actor remains a quietly salient factor in Chinese strategic thinking: Myanmar. Conventional wisdom had it that Myanmar sat at ...

Interview to Sputnik Türkiye. By Onur Sinan Güzaltan UWI author and political scientist Onur Sinan Güzaltan shared his analysis with Sputnik Türkiye on the Russia–Ukraine negotiations held in Istanbul. The interview also included Europe’s stance on the matter, and the recent phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. We present the interview translating into English. ...

A coordinated approach involving Türkiye and Russia may thus present a viable pathway for Syria. By Erkin Feyyaz Eşli On the night of 19 May 2025, a military installation of the Syrian Arab Army located at the Tishrin Dam in eastern Aleppo province came under a significant attack. According to sources affiliated with the 76th Division, the assault involved the ...

A Strategic Balancing Act By Mehmet Enes Beşer As the world hurtles towards a green energy, electric mobility, and high-technology future, rare earth elements (REEs) have emerged as the unsung cornerstone of the global green economy. These metals—vital to wind turbines, EV motors, semiconductors, and military uses—have emerged as a valuable asset on which economic and geopolitical competition is increasingly ...

From the PKK’s declaration targeting the Turkish state to US and NATO military exercises at Türkiye’s border. In our previous article, we talked about the new US Ambassador to Türkiye, Tom Barrack, and the “carrot and whip” policy he brought with. While Barrack extends various carrots to lure Türkiye away, he also speaks about whipping Türkiye into line. Now, the ...

Thailand must think regional and global. By Mehmet Enes Beşer Thailand is reentering the semiconductors game with a newfound sense of purpose. In an era of tech nationalism, supply chain reboot, and mounting pervasiveness of microelectronics everywhere from automobiles to artificial intelligence, Bangkok proclaimed that it aims to be a serious player. With incentives for foreign investment, incentives for domestic ...

Success in the joint anti-terror fight led to schools reopening and new factories being established. The global tendency may be towards protectionism and building walls around countries. But three African states, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso went the opposite direction and founded the Alliance of Sahel States, effectively uniting their states. We asked Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, foreign minister of Burkina ...

Embargoes against Türkiye have motivated the country to develop further its own defense industry, which serves successfully the purpose of fighting terrorism and changes regional dynamics. By Adem Kılıç, Political Scientist/Author In the defense industry, Türkiye has evolved from a structure that was 80% foreign-dependent just 20 years ago to a point where it has reduced its foreign dependency to ...

Balancing Principle and Pragmatism By Mehmet Enes Beşer Myanmar’s foreign policy, as with so much of its post-colonial foreign relations, exists in the periphery of paradox: bound by core dicta of non-alignment, sovereignty, and non-interference and dictated more and more by necessity, isolation, and flexible allegiances. Following the February 2021 military coup, when the democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi ...