Turkey

Turkey, officially the Republic of Turkey, is located partially in the continent of Asia and partially in Europe. It shares borders with Greece and Bulgaria to the Northwest, Iran to the east and Iraq to the southeast. It also shares various borders with Syria, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

70%-75% of Turkey's population are Turks, and 19% are Kurds, making them the country's largest minority group. The country's capital is Ankara, and the largest city and financial city is Istanbul.

As of November 2021, the President of Turkey is Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has served in this position since 2014. Prior to that, he served as Prime Minister of the country from 2003-2014.

Since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, an estimated 3.6 million Syrian refugees have taken up residence in Turkey, most of them living with temporary residence permits.

Peace in the Middle East? Kurdish PKK leader discusses regional ‘third world war’

Kamal Chomani, with The Amargi news outlet, spent ten days in caves waiting to interview the PKK chief in an exclusive interview about the region, Kurds, Turkey, and the world today.

OCTOBER 12, 2026|BySETH J. FRANTZMAN

Murat Karayilan co-leader of the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) and leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Confederalism Council (KKK) poses during an interview with AFP in a camp near Arbil in the Sinena mountains, northern Iraq, 11 August 2005.

Israelis from Kurdish origin take part in a rally in support of the Kurdish referendum outside the American consulate in Jerusalem September 24, 2017

Israel, Kurdistan, and the hopes for a strong political alliance - opinion

In a twisted way, the closer Kurds and Jews get, and the more visible that becomes, the more people start seeing Kurds as another kind of Jew: in how they frame the Kurdish political struggle.

OCTOBER 12, 2026|ByMEM HUSEDIN

Supporters of the Houthi authorities gather during a protest against the Saudi intervention in Yemen, in Sanaa, on October 9, 2026.

Pakistan pledges full military backing to Saudi Arabia under Mecca pact after deadly Houthi strikes

“Pakistan will not tolerate any kind of aggression. Our agreements demand it, and so do our bonds of brotherhood.”

OCTOBER 12, 2026|ByTHE MEDIA LINE STAFF

Smoke and flames rise from King Khalid Airport, after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis said they attacked the airport, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 8, 2026, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video.

Saudi Arabia, Israel have shared interests at stake, Houthi escalation highlights - editorial

Saudi Arabia's defense pact with Turkey and Pakistan faces growing scrutiny as the Houthi conflict escalates, with questions remaining over military deployments and the allies' roles.

OCTOBER 12, 2026|ByJPOST EDITORIAL

International Jewish-Kurdish conference kicks off in London

Jewish and Kurdish leaders gathered in London for a two day conference aimed at turning 2,700 years of shared history into stronger political, cultural, academic, and diaspora cooperation.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2026ByALEX CARSON

Jewish–Kurdish Relations in a Changing Middle East: History, Identity and Future Cooperation, London, UK

Ankara raises defense spending by 229%, aiming to develop own technologies

The plan was announced during a presentation of Turkey’s new Medium-Term Program (MTP), which sets out the country’s economic roadmap for 2027-2029.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2026ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD

Turkey's servicemen stand at attention on a Turkish submarine as they participate in the live-fire phase of the "Blue Homeland-2026" (Mavi Vatan) tactical military exercises in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, in Antalya on April 9, 2026.

PKK warns disarmament process at risk unless Turkey links surrender to political reforms

Bayik said the National Solidarity and Social Integration Law does not clearly connect the surrender of weapons with a transition to democratic politics.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2026ByTHE MEDIA LINE STAFF

Fighters with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) line up to put their weapons into a pit during a ceremony in Sulaimaniyah, in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region.

Not a zero-sum game: How to prevent an Israeli-Turkish clash in Syria - opinion

Israel must balance its security concerns over Turkey’s role in Syria with the need to preserve dialogue and stability.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2026ByELIE PODEH, EITAN YISHAI

Taken before his appointment as Mossad Chief, Roman Gofman attends a ceremony marking the lighting of the first Hanukkah candle of the 7th Armored Brigade at the National Library in Jerusalem, on December 14, 2025.

Turkey and Pakistan are growing closer, but where does China fit in? - opinion

Turkey, Pakistan and China are forging a new security triangle. The Middle East should pay attention.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2026ByPAUSHALI LASS

China's Information Support Force (ISF) personnel march during a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China, September 3, 2025.

Over 20 Stone Age turtle figurines used in ancient rituals found within Turkish cave - report

The figurines are “roughly shaped,” according to Anadolu Agency, lending weight to the researchers’ theory of them being used during ritualistic practices.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2026ByMIRIAM SELA-EITAM

Stone turtle figurine found at the Gedikkaya Hill archaeological site in Turkey, September 4, 2026.

IDF soldiers targeted by Turkish 'state mechanism' of false accusations, Diaspora Ministry says

Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Director-General Avi Cohen Scali accused Erdogan of "leading an antisemitic policy toward the State of Israel."

SEPTEMBER 2, 2026ByYOAV ETIEL

IDF soldiers in the West Bank.

Erdogan says Turkey would consider full membership of China-Russia-led security bloc

Erdogan attended a summit of the SCO, of which Turkey is a "dialog partner," in Bishkek on Tuesday.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2026ByREUTERS

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin (not pictured) on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, September 1, 2026.

Erdogan, Putin agree to continue Turkey's nuclear development, improve economic relations

"With the opening of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, we will also take steps together to open some new power plants," Erdogan said after his meeting with Putin.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2026ByTOBIAS HOLCMAN

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, September 1, 2026.

From critic to ally, Israel and Greece grow closer amid regional shifts - editorial

Greece, once among Israel’s harshest European critics, is turning to Israeli technology for its defense in a landmark NIS 10 billion air-defense deal, highlighting a dramatic shift in bilateral ties.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2026ByJPOST EDITORIAL

CYPRIOT PRESIDENT Nikos Christodoulides (C) holds a trilateral summit with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the presidential palace in the Cypriot capital Nicosia on September 4, 2023.