Latest news with #TuvanGumrukcu
The Star
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Turkey backs NATO's 5% defence spending goal, plans nationwide air shield, source says
ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkey supports NATO's decision to more than double its defence spending target to 5% of GDP by 2035 and is already exceeding the previous 2% benchmark, a Turkish defence ministry source said on Thursday. NATO allies on Wednesday agreed to raise their collective spending goal to 5% of gross domestic product over the next decade, citing the long-term threat posed by Russia and the need to strengthen civil and military resilience. 'Turkey is above the 2% target criterion under the Defence Spending Pledge,' the source said. 'As NATO's second-largest army, Turkey is among the top five contributors to the alliance's operations and missions.' The source said Turkey had fulfilled all its NATO capability targets and was continuing to invest in defence industry development and research. It plans to expand a layered air defence network across the country, centred around its national "Steel Dome" project. 'We are investing in air defence systems, hypersonic, ballistic and cruise missile capabilities, unmanned land, sea and air systems, as well as next-generation aircraft carriers, frigates, and tanks,' the source said. The new NATO target includes at least 3.5% of GDP for core defence spending, with the remainder to be spent on security-related infrastructure to improve civil preparedness and resilience. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Writing by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Daren Butler and Alison Williams)
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Exclusive-Turkey backing Syria's military and has no immediate withdrawal plans, defence minister says
By Tuvan Gumrukcu ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey is training and advising Syria's armed forces and helping improve its defences, and has no immediate plans for the withdrawal or relocation of its troops stationed there, Defence Minister Yasar Guler told Reuters. Turkey has emerged as a key foreign ally of Syria's new government since rebels - some of them backed for years by Ankara - ousted former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December to end his family's five-decade rule. It has promised to help rebuild neighbouring Syria and facilitate the return of millions of Syrian civil war refugees, and played a key role last month getting U.S. and European sanctions on Syria lifted. The newfound Turkish influence in Damascus has raised Israeli concerns and risked a standoff or worse in Syria between the regional powers. In written answers to questions from Reuters, Guler said Turkey and Israel - which carried out its latest airstrikes on southern Syria late on Tuesday - are continuing de-confliction talks to avoid military accidents in the country. Turkey's overall priority in Syria is preserving its territorial integrity and unity, and ridding it of terrorism, he said, adding Ankara was supporting Damascus in these efforts. "We have started providing military training and consultancy services, while taking steps to increase Syria's defence capacity," Guler said, without elaborating on those steps. Named to the post by President Tayyip Erdogan two years ago, Guler said it was too early to discuss possible withdrawal or relocation of the more than 20,000 Turkish troops in Syria. Ankara controlled swathes of northern Syria and established dozens of bases there after several cross-border operations in recent years against Kurdish militants it deems terrorists. This can "only be re-evaluated when Syria achieves peace and stability, when the threat of terrorism in the region is fully removed, when our border security is fully ensured, and when the honourable return of people who had to flee is done," he said. NATO member Turkey has accused Israel of undermining Syrian peace and rebuilding with its military operations there in recent months and, since late 2023, has also fiercely criticised Israel's assault on Gaza. But the two regional powers have been quietly working to establish a de-confliction mechanism in Syria. Guler described the talks as "technical level meetings to establish a de-confliction mechanism to prevent unwanted events" or direct conflict, as well as "a communication and coordination structure". "Our efforts to form this line and make it fully operational continue. Yet it should not be forgotten that the de-confliction mechanism is not a normalisation," he told Reuters.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Turkey could be a vital partner as Europe, Ukraine seek new security framework
By Tuvan Gumrukcu ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey has emerged as a key potential partner in restructuring European security, diplomats and analysts say, as Europe scrambles to bolster its defence and find guarantees for Ukraine under any forthcoming ceasefire deal urged by the United States. European countries have been unsettled by U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the Ukraine war, which has upended Washington's policy, halted Russia's isolation with possibility of rapprochement, piled pressure on Kyiv after disastrous talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and endangered transatlantic ties. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Analysts say Europeans' push to maintain Ukraine's military capabilities and agree security guarantees, while boosting its own defence without Washington, has created a rare opportunity for Turkey to deepen ties with Europe despite lingering disputes over the rule of law, maritime issues with Greece and Cyprus, and Ankara's long stalled European Union membership bid. "European countries that thought they had the luxury of excluding Turkey until today are now seeing that they cannot exclude Turkey anymore" said Sinan Ulgen, a former Turkish diplomat and director of the Centre for Economic and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM). Speaking after talks with Erdogan in Ankara on Wednesday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he brought a "clear proposal for Turkey to take on the greatest possible co-responsibility" for peace in Ukraine and regional stability. A senior European diplomat said Turkey had "very important views" on what is needed for peace in Ukraine. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan had managed to balance his relationship between Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the war, the diplomat said, "so it makes sense to have him on board." NATO member Turkey has the alliance's second largest army. It has begun producing its own jets, tanks, and naval carriers in recent years, and sells armed drones globally, including to Ukraine. Its defence industry exports totalled $7.1 billion in 2024. In a blizzard of talks and decisions since Trump's return in January, several European nations discussed forming a "coalition of the willing" to help Ukraine. France has offered to consider extending its nuclear umbrella to allies. Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan have said Europe must include Turkey in the restructure of its security architecture in a "sustainable and deterrent" way. A Turkish official, who requested anonymity, said there were no clear plans yet on a new European security architecture or Turkey's possible contributions to it, but certain steps could advance cooperation. "Instead of including Turkey in projects in an 'a la carte' way, it would be more logical (for Europe) to seek partnerships in a more holistic way. For example, they can start by including Turkey in the European Peace Facility programme," the official told Reuters, referring to an EU initiative supporting Ukraine. COMMON INTERESTS A Turkish Defence Ministry official said Ankara and Europe had common interests, from counter-terrorism to migration, and Turkey's full participation in EU defence efforts was criticial for Europe to be a global actor, adding Turkey was ready to do what it can to help form the new security framework. Despite the window of opportunity, analysts say Turkey's stance towards Russia remains a test, as Ankara refused to impose sanctions after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and still shares strong ties in energy, tourism, and trade. "The fundamental question that will come before Turkey is the issue of ties with Russia because the essence of Europe's security framework starts by viewing Russia as a threat," Ulgen said, adding Ankara must choose a side and position on Russia to take a greater security role. Turkey has backed Ukraine militarily and voiced support for its territorial integrity and sovereignty. It hosted peace talks in the first weeks of the war and offered to host future talks, while seeking to revive a deal on Black Sea navigational safety. Last week, a Turkish Defence Ministry source said Turkey could consider contributing to a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, if a ceasefire is declared. Turkey's armed forces chief of staff Metin Gurak attended a meeting of European army chiefs in Paris this week, and met counterparts from Britain and France, who have also discussed deploying troops. Another European diplomat said it was vital for Turkey to take part in security guarantees for Ukraine. "Erdogan's interests lie with us right now, especially as he no longer has that Russia dynamic in Syria," the person said, in a reference to Russia's backing of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Turkey backing opposition rebels for years. "So, in a way, the stars are aligned for them to play a role within the future European guarantees for Ukraine."
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Turkey's Kurds say PKK militants heeding jailed leader's peace call is the right move
By Umit Ozdal DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) - Residents in Diyarbakir, Turkey's largest Kurdish-majority city, said on Sunday that the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party's (PKK) decision to heed its jailed leader's call for peace was correct and prosperity would follow if the decades-old conflict ended. On Saturday, the PKK declared an immediate ceasefire, a news agency close to it said, heeding jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan's disarmament call, in what could be a major step towards ending a 40-year insurgency that has killed more than 40,000 people. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. President Tayyip Erdogan's government, its nationalist ally, and the pro-Kurdish DEM Party have voiced support for the peace call. However, Erdogan also warned that Ankara would resume military operations against the militant group if promises are not kept. Zihni Capin, a teacher, said in Diyarbakir that people were "exhausted both mentally and physically" by the conflict, and added he hoped the process would conclude in a way that contributes to "prosperity, peace and happiness" in the region. "I think it is a very correct and appropriate decision. Hopefully, the process will meet the expectations of all the people in Turkey and the Middle East," he said. The PKK is designated a terrorist group by Turkey and its Western allies. It called on Saturday for greater freedoms for Ocalan, who has been kept in near total isolation since 1999, to advance the disarmament process, but Ankara has said there would be no negotiations. Tuncer Bakirhan, co-chair of DEM, said on Sunday that political and legal adjustments were now "inevitable" after the peace call, and added that Turkey's parliament had a "historic role" to play. "This process is not one that should be squandered. It must not remain on paper only," Bakirhan told DEM members in Ankara. "The call is not one for winning and losing... There is no winner, no loser," he added. The ceasefire could have wide-ranging implications for the region if it succeeds in ending the conflict between the PKK - now based in the mountains of northern Iraq - and the Turkish state. It could also give Erdogan a domestic boost and an historic opportunity to bring peace and development to southeast Turkey, where the conflict has killed thousands and severely damaged the economy. Zulkuf Kacar, who works as a purchasing manager outside Turkey, said those who lay down arms need to be given amnesty. "Enough is enough, this suffering. This suffering needs to end," Kacar said in Diyarbakir. (Additional reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen and Tuvan Gumrukcu; Writing by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
