Erdoğan, Sudani discuss trade expansion and counterterrorism in phone call

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani held a telephone conversation Friday focusing on strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in trade and security cooperation. Erdoğan affirmed Ankara's commitment to deepening relations with Baghdad across multiple sectors.

Trump suggests regime change in Iran 'would be the best thing'

President Donald Trump endorsed regime change in Iran as the optimal outcome, criticizing decades of Tehran's governance while warning of massive military force if nuclear negotiations collapse. Speaking in North Carolina, Trump reiterated that "tremendous power" has arrived in the region as the USS Gerald R. Ford deploys to bolster US presence.

Serbian president hails Erdoğan as 'great world leader' after Ankara talks

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as "a great world leader" following productive talks in Ankara, describing Türkiye as one of Belgrade's most important partners. Erdoğan accepted an invitation to visit Serbia in May or June with a large delegation.

Munich Security Conference day 2: Rubio, Wang Yi, Zelenskyy take center stage

The Munich Security Conference enters its second day Saturday with high-profile addresses from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Discussions span the international order, Ukraine support, transatlantic security, and interconnected challenges from the Indo-Pacific to Sudan.

Bangladesh's Tarique Rahman calls for national unity after landslide election win

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman delivered his first post-election address Saturday, urging national unity to rebuild Bangladesh following the party's two-thirds parliamentary majority. Set to become prime minister by February 18, Rahman acknowledged challenges including a fragile economy and weakened institutions inherited from the ousted Awami League government.

Somalia urges direct Türkiye shipping link as trade surpasses logistics capacity

Somalia's ports minister called for establishing direct maritime routes with Türkiye as a "strategic necessity" amid expanding bilateral trade. Speaking at an OIC transport conference in Istanbul, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur emphasized that current logistics cannot accommodate growing commercial exchanges between the two nations.

Türkiye dismisses European Parliament resolutions as 'baseless' interference

Ankara has strongly rejected European Parliament resolutions containing what it termed "baseless allegations" regarding Syria policy and claims about journalists and Christians in Türkiye. The Foreign Ministry urged EU lawmakers to pursue constructive engagement rather than attempting to interfere in Türkiye's internal affairs.

African Union summit opens in Addis Ababa with water security as flagship theme

African leaders convened in Ethiopia's capital Saturday for the 39th AU Assembly, launching 2026 as the year of sustainable water availability and sanitation. UN chief Antonio Guterres, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa joined discussions on climate resilience, peace, security, and institutional reform.

Türkiye hails Bangladesh's peaceful elections, vows deeper bilateral ties

Türkiye welcomed the peaceful conduct of Bangladesh's parliamentary elections and constitutional referendum, expressing hope the results would advance democracy and prosperity. Ankara reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening relations across all sectors following the BNP's landslide victory.

IMF: Türkiye's disinflation program succeeds as growth remains resilient

The International Monetary Fund has endorsed Türkiye's economic program, confirming that tight monetary policy, fiscal consolidation, and prudent income measures have reduced inflation while maintaining steady growth. The IMF projects 4.2% growth for 2026 and urged continued structural reforms to entrench gains.

Aliyev: Peace treaty possible 'next day' if Armenia removes constitutional claims

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared readiness to sign a final peace treaty with Armenia immediately following constitutional amendments in Yerevan. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Aliyev emphasized that peace has been de facto achieved since last August's Washington summit, but formalization requires removing territorial claims from Armenia's basic law.

Merz calls for EU to build strategic partnerships with Türkiye, India, Brazil

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged the European Union to forge global partnerships with Türkiye, India, Brazil, and other key nations to address contemporary economic and security challenges. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Merz emphasized that closer integration alone is insufficient without expanding strategic cooperation.

Trump warns of 'very big force' against Iran if nuclear talks collapse

President Donald Trump threatened a significant military buildup if negotiations with Iran fail, confirming deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East. "In case we don't make a deal, we'll need it," he stated, signaling heightened pressure as USS Gerald R. Ford prepares to join the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group.

Bulgaria's ex-PM hails Türkiye partnership as 'extremely important' for regional peace

Former Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov described cooperation with Türkiye as strategically vital for establishing peace, highlighting joint diplomatic initiatives on the Middle East. He also clarified that proposed "two-speed" EU integration focuses on capital markets and poses no threat to European unity.

Turkish-US ties stabilize through leader-level diplomacy, says senior Turkish official

Turkish parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Fuat Oktay attributed improved stability in Türkiye-US relations to direct engagement between Presidents Erdoğan and Trump. Following Washington meetings, Oktay reported a more positive congressional atmosphere, progress on defense issues, and reaffirmed the $100 billion bilateral trade target.

EU's Kallas: UN Security Council dysfunctional, fails to reflect today's world

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas declared the UN Security Council "not working the way it was meant to be," calling for systemic reforms ensuring no state stands above international law. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, she stressed accountability gaps undermine the multilateral system and urged restructuring to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities.

Germany's Merz declares rules-based international order 'no longer exists'

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered a stark assessment at the Munich Security Conference, declaring the postwar rules-based international order effectively destroyed. Citing Russia's Ukraine war, China's assertiveness, and transatlantic strains, Merz renounced German hegemonic ambitions while pledging strengthened EU cooperation and new global partnerships.

Von der Leyen: A stronger Europe bolsters NATO's collective defense

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared Friday that increased European defense spending strengthens NATO's European pillar, addressing US criticism of burden-sharing. She highlighted a tenfold increase in defense investment, noting Europe allocated €800 billion last year compared to €8 billion over the previous seven-year budget.

BNP to form Bangladesh government by Sunday after landslide election win

Bangladesh Nationalist Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the party will establish a new administration by February 15, following its decisive victory in Thursday's parliamentary elections. The BNP secured 209 seats, a commanding two-thirds majority, with Tarique Rahman expected to become prime minister.

Fidan holds talks with Slovenia's parliamentary speaker in Ankara

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Urska Klakocar Zupancic, president of Slovenia's National Assembly, in Ankara on Friday. Diplomatic sources confirmed the meeting, though no details were disclosed. Fidan also held a separate phone conversation with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi focusing on regional issues including Palestine.

Türkiye FDI inflows jump 12% to $13.1 billion in 2025, defying global trend

Foreign direct investment into Türkiye surged past $13 billion last year, growing 12.2% despite a global slowdown in developing economies. E-commerce growth, manufacturing, and tech startups drove inflows, with the Netherlands leading investor countries.

UN establishes global AI scientific panel; US votes no, Türkiye secures seat

The UN General Assembly approved a 40-member international panel to assess AI risks and impacts, with 117 nations in favor. The United States and Paraguay voted against, while Türkiye's Melahat Bilge Demirkoz was named among the experts.

Fidan's calculated silence: Strategic ambiguity and Türkiye's nuclear threshold

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's deliberate non-response to a question on Türkiye's nuclear weapons policy signals Ankara's adoption of strategic ambiguity. Echoing Israel's amimut doctrine, this calibrated silence creates diplomatic maneuvering room and reinforces deterrence without triggering international non-proliferation sanctions.

Outgoing Malaysian envoy: Ties with Türkiye strongest in history

Ambassador Sazali Bin Mustafa Kemal, concluding his five-and-a-half-year Ankara posting, says bilateral relations have never been stronger. He highlighted coordinated positions on Palestine, defense cooperation, and growing people-to-people ties.

UK court rules Palestine Action ban unlawful in free speech victory

A British High Court has ruled that the government's proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organization was unlawful, finding the ban disproportionate to the group's activities. However, the designation remains temporarily in place pending a government appeal.