About: Mevlut Cavusoglu
Turkey continues to block NATO’s Eastern defence plans
Ankara has not shifted from its intentions to block the final decisions related to updating NATO's defence plan of the Poland and the Baltic States. Meanwhile, Eastern European calls for assurances of alliance commitments become more vocal.
Russia balks at Turkish idea of new Syrian military operation
Russia said on Tuesday (19 November) it was bewildered by a Turkish pledge to conduct a new military operation in northern Syria if the area was not cleared of people Ankara calls terrorists, warning that any such move would damage efforts to stabilise the region.
Erdogan to meet Putin over Syrian army offensive
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Friday (23 August) that Syrian army attacks in northwest Syria are causing a humanitarian crisis and threaten Turkey’s national security, the Turkish presidency said.
Turkey says it will look to Russia if US won’t sell F-35s
Turkey warned on Wednesday (10 April) that it could buy jets and additional air defense systems from Russia if it cannot get Patriot missile shields and F-35 jets from Washington, raising the prospect of ever deeper defense ties between Moscow and a NATO member.
US halts F-35 equipment to Turkey, protests its plans to buy from Russia
The United States has halted delivery of equipment related to the stealthy F-35 fighter aircraft to Turkey, marking the first concrete US step to block delivery of the jet to the NATO ally in light of Ankara’s planned purchase of a Russian missile defense system.
Erdogan says Turkey will not go back on missile defence deal with Russia
Turkey will not go back on its agreement to buy S-400 missile defence systems from Russia, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday (6 March), adding that Ankara may subsequently look into buying S-500 systems.
Erdogan, Trump consider creating security zone in Syria
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and US counterpart Donald Trump mooted Monday (14 January) the creation of a "security zone" in northern Syria as tensions rose over the fate of Kurdish fighters in the war-torn country.
At tense Ankara news conference, EU rebukes Turkey over detentions
Top EU officials rebuked Turkey on Thursday (22 November) over its arrests of journalists and academics and the long pre-trial detention of a Kurdish politician, holding a forthright press conference with Turkey’s foreign minister in Ankara that quickly turned tense.
Astana meeting on Syria takes place without Western oversight
Kazakhstan and Russia urged the US on Friday (16 March) to engage "in a constructive dialogue" in the context of the unfolding tragedy in Syria. But no US or Western diplomats were present at the eight edition of the Syria talks, held in the framework of the so-called Astana process.
Czech release of Syrian Kurdish leader triggers outrage in Turkey
A Czech court yesterday (27 February) released prominent Syrian Kurdish leader Saleh Muslim, wanted by Turkey on terror charges, prompting outrage in Ankara which said the move showed "support for terrorism".
Turkey renames US embassy street amid row over Syria operation
The street in Ankara where the US embassy is located was renamed after Turkey's offensive against a Kurdish militia yesterday (19 February), just days after the two sides agreed on the need to normalise relations.
Top German lawmaker in security row with Turkey at Munich meeting
A row broke out yesterday (18 February) between a leading German politician of Turkish origin and Turkey's delegation at the Munich Security Conference, with the lawmaker being given police protection after what he said was a tense encounter with Turkish bodyguards.
After Turkish anger, Macron plays down Syria warning
French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday (1 January) played down cautionary remarks he had made about Turkey's operation against Kurdish militants in northern Syria after Ankara labelled them as insults.
International concern grows over Turkey’s military incursion in Syria
Turkey yesterday (22 January) intensified its offensive against Kurdish militia targets in Syria as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vowed there would be no stepping back in a campaign that has stoked concern among Ankara's allies and neighbours.
Turkey and Hungary find common ground after Germany’s election debate
The foreign ministers of Turkey and Hungary supported each other in exposing what they called “populism” and “hypocrisy” in Germany's televised pre-election debate, in which their countries were singled out.
Foreign minister: Turkey asks Germany to extradite coup suspect
Turkey has asked Germany to extradite a theology lecturer suspected of playing a major role in last year's failed coup, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday (16 August).
Turkey promises to stamp out anti-China media reports
Turkey regards China's security as akin to its own and will move to stamp out any anti-China reports in its media, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Thursday (3 August), after meeting his Chinese counterpart.
Greek FM: EU should be louder against Turkish ‘intervention rights’ in member states
EXCLUSIVE / In a wide-ranging interview, Greece's foreign minister on Sunday (16 July) outlined his country's position on the failed Cyprus reunification talks, scolding UN envoy Espen Barth Eide and rejecting "interventions rights" for Turkey in any future settlement. He also warned against expecting any breakthrough with FYROM.
Saudi and allies cut Qatar ties in diplomatic crisis
Saudi Arabia and several of its allies yesterday (5 June) cut relations with Qatar, accusing it of supporting extremism, in the biggest diplomatic crisis to have hit the region in years. Bahrain, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and the...
Turkey’s EU bid in jeopardy after Council of Europe vote
The Council of Europe has voted to reopen its monitoring procedure against Turkey. The decision deals another potentially fatal blow to Ankara's EU membership hopes, as exiting the process was made a precondition of negotiations back in 2004.
Turkey threatens to send Europe ‘15,000 refugees a month’
Turkey's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu has threatened to "blow the mind" of Europe by sending 15,000 refugees a month to EU territory, in an intensifying dispute with the bloc.
NATO urges Turkey, Austria to end spat blocking programmes
NATO urged Turkey and Austria today (15 March) to settle a dispute over Ankara's EU membership bid, which has led Turkey to block cooperation with the alliance's partner countries.
Erdogan pledges to punish ‘Nazi remnant’ Netherlands ‘in harshest way’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called the Netherlands a 'Nazi remnant' and said the country should face sanctions for barring Turkish ministers from speaking in Rotterdam, fuelling a row over Ankara's political campaigning abroad.