Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Further Reading

• Report: Turkey Swapped Two Alleged Russian Spies For Crimean Tartar Leaders RFE/RL 29 Nov 2017 -- Turkish broadcaster Haberturk reports that Turkey has extradited two Russians accused of espionage in exchange for the release of two Crimean Tatar leaders jailed in Russia-occupied Crimea.
• Turkish-Iranian Businessman Implicates Erdogan In Iran Sanctions Bribe Trial RFE/RL 30 Nov 2017 -- A Turkish-Iranian gold trader testified in a U.S. court that Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan personally authorized a transaction in a $1-billion money-laundering scheme to help Iran evade U.S. sanctions.
• Turkish Officials Lash Out Against Bribery Claims in New York Trial VOA 30 Nov 2017 -- Turkish officials are working overtime to discredit testimony at a New York trial implicating President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other top officials in a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme designed to help Iran skirt international sanctions.
• Tensions Rise in Turkey Over Syrian Refugees VOA 30 Nov 2017 -- Turkey hosts the largest number of refugees in the world, and three million of them are Syrians. Most live in towns and cities across the country. But this year, a series of clashes between Turks and Syrians could be a sign that for some Turks, patience is running out.
• Turkey issues arrest warrant for 360 over links to failed coup Press TV 29 Nov 2017 -- Turkish prosecutors have issued arrest warrant for 360 military personnel and civilians over their alleged links to last year's failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
• Turkey's Love Affair with Saudi Arabia On the Rocks VOA 29 Nov 2017 -- A deal signed by Turkish and Iranian ministers Sunday to enhance efforts to break Saudi Arabian trade sanctions against Qatar, is only the latest move by Ankara against Riyadh. The two once close allies are increasingly finding themselves on opposing sides in the region.
• Top Suspect In U.S. Iran Sanctions Case Pleads Guilty, Will Testify RFE/RL 29 Nov 2017 -- A wealthy Turkish-Iranian businessman has pleaded guilty to charges that he helped Iran evade U.S. sanctions and will testify in a sanctions case which U.S. prosecutors said implicates high-level officials in both Turkey and Iran.
• Turkish Opposition Claims Erdogan's Family Hid Money Offshore VOA 28 Nov 2017 -- The leader of Turkey's main opposition has produced what he claims is evidence of millions of dollars held in offshore bank accounts linked to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
• Senior Gulenist captured by Turkish agents in Sudan Press TV 27 Nov 2017 -- A high-ranking member of the movement of Pennsylvania-based opposition figure Fethullah Gulen, whom the Ankara government accuses of having masterminded the failed July 2016 coup, has been captured by Turkish intelligence agents in a joint operation with their Sudanese counterparts.
• Despite Claims of US Concessions on Kurds, Turkey Rebukes Washington VOA 27 Nov 2017 -- Senior Turkish ministers have strongly criticized the United States and its policies toward Turkey and the region. The criticisms come after Turkish officials said the Trump administration met a key Turkish demand to end the arming of a Syrian Kurdish militia.
• Turkey Demands Trump Honor Purported Pledge to Cut Off Weapons to Kurdish Militia VOA 27 Nov 2017 -- Turkish officials say they are watching to see whether the United States will honor a promise, which they claim was made by U.S. President Donald Trump to his Turkish counterpart last week, to cut off the supply of arms to Kurdish militias that played a key role in defeating Islamic State militants in Syria.
• Turkey confident US will stop arming Kurdish fighters in Syria Press TV 25 Nov 2017 -- The administration of US President Donald Trump is considering making a series of "adjustments" to its strategy in Syria, which Turkish officials say might include an end to arming Kurdish fighters in the Arab country.
• Turkey-US Relations an Issue in Sanctions Evasion Trial VOA 24 Nov 2017 -- An Iranian sanctions-busting case in New York threatens to further strain Turkey-U.S. relations.
• Erdogan does not rule out contact with Assad Press TV 24 Nov 2017 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has not ruled out possible contact with Bashar Assad, signaling a break with his long-held opposition to the Syrian president's role in the Arab country's future.
• Syrian Kurds 'Determined to Retaliate Against Turkish Invasion of Afrin' Sputnik 24 Nov 2017 -- Amid the military buildup on the Syrian-Turkish border near Kurdish-controlled Afrin, Foza Yusuf, executive council co-chair of the self-proclaimed Democratic Federation of Northern Syria (DFNS) and Nuri Mahmud of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) signaled that the Kurds will defend the city against "the Turkish invasion."
• Turkish Official: Trump Has Agreed to Stop Arming Syrian Kurdish Fighters VOA 24 Nov 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has told his Turkish counterpart that the U.S. will no longer supply weapons to Kurdish YPG fighters in Syria, according to a Turkish official's summation of the call on Friday between the two world leaders.
• Turkey has sent seven extradition demands for Gulen to US: Minister Press TV 23 Nov 2017 -- Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul says his country has submitted a total of seven requests to US officials concerning the extradition of Pennsylvania-based opposition figure Fethullah Gulen, whom the Ankara government accuses of having masterminded the failed July 2016 coup.
• Turkey, Russia ink deal for two S-400 air missile defense systems Press TV 22 Nov 2017 -- Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli says Turkey and Russia have signed an agreement for the purchase of two S-400 missile defense systems, stressing that the first delivery of the anti-aircraft weapon system to the Turkish military is expected in 2019.
• Turkey issues arrest warrant for 216 over suspicion of links with failed coup Press TV 22 Nov 2017 -- Turkish authorities have issued arrest warrants for 216 individuals, including former Finance Ministry staff, on suspicion of having links to the 2016 failed coup in the country.
• Russia, Turkey, Iran Statement Lays Ground for Political Settlement in Syria Sputnik 23 Nov 2017 -- The trilateral Russian-Iranian-Turkish statement urged the Syrian government and opposition groups, which are committed to sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, to constructively participate in the National Dialogue Congress.
• Syria welcomes results of Sochi summit between Iran, Russia, Turkey Press TV 22 Nov 2017 -- Syria has welcomed the closing statement of a trilateral summit of Iran, Russia, and Turkey which called for a political settlement of the conflict in the war-torn country.
• Sochi Talks Roundup: Russia, Iran, Turkey Reach Important Breakthroughs on Syria Sputnik 22 Nov 2017 -- Speaking to the press after his meeting with his Iranian and Turkish counterparts in Sochi on Wednesday, President Putin said the peace talks in Astana and the establishment of de-escalation zones in Syria have made possible a fundamentally "new stage" in the Syrian settlement, and helped secure a "breakthrough" opportunity to crush the terrorists.
• Turkey detains 51 more teachers over alleged links to coup plotters Press TV 20 Nov 2017 -- Turkey has detained 51 more teachers as part of a massive crackdown on those accused of having links to plotters of a coup attempt last year.
• Erdogan's Top Aide Reportedly Calls to Reconsider Turkey's Membership in NATO Sputnik 20 Nov 2017 -- The relations between the military alliance and its member state Turkey have been deteriorating recently with the latest instance of Ankara withdrawing its troops from the military exercises in Norway.
• Erdogan snubs NATO apology over 'impudence' during drill Press TV 19 Nov 2017 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rejected a NATO apology over what he referred to as "impudence" during one of the Western military alliance's drills in Norway.
• Erdogan: Provocation at NATO Drills Targets Turkish People Sputnik 19 Nov 2017 -- A scandal is brewing after the Turkish president's name along with that of the founder of the Turkish Republic, Kemal Ataturk, appeared on an "enemy chart" during the NATO war games in Norway in mid-November.
• Amid Turkey–NATO S-400 Rift, Erdogan Questions 'Trustworthiness' of Alliance Sputnik 19 Nov 2017 -- The Turkish president has questioned the credibility of the NATO alliance, noting that it had removed its missile defense systems from his country regardless of threats posed by neighboring Syria, yet the alliance is now criticizing Ankara for purchasing a missile defense system from Russia.
• Turkey Hosts Iranian, Russian FMs as Ankara-NATO Dispute Festers VOA 19 Nov 2017 -- Turkey's Foreign Minister Melvin Cavusolgu is hosting his Russian and Iranian counterparts at the Mediterranean Sea resort of Antalya to prepare the ground for Wednesday's summit in Russia to discuss Syria.
• Foreign Ministers Of Iran, Russia, Turkey Discuss Syria War Ahead Of Sochi Summit RFE/RL 19 Nov 2017 -- The Iranian, Russian, and Turkish foreign ministers have met in southern Turkey to discuss the years-long civil war in Syria ahead of a summit between the three countries' presidents in Russia.
• Erdogan Rejects NATO Apology For Appearing on Bloc's 'Enemy Poster' Sputnik 18 Nov 2017 -- The Turkish president has reacted to the apology over an incident during drills in Norway made by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg a day earlier.
• EU reduces Turkey's pre-accession funds in 2018 budget amid strained ties Press TV 18 Nov 2017 -- The European Union has reduced some of the money earmarked in its 2018 budget deal for Turkey to join the 28-member politico-economic bloc in a clear sign of increasingly sour relations between the union and the Ankara government.
• Turkish Minister Says U.S. Iran Sanctions Case 'Fabricated,' 'Politically Motivated' RFE/RL 18 Nov 2017 -- Turkey's foreign minister has accused the United States of bringing what he called a "politically motivated" and "fabricated" case against a Turkish-Iranian businessman accused of helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions.
• Erdogan orders withdrawal of Turkish troops from NATO drills Press TV 17 Nov 2017 -- Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced the pullout of dozens of Turkish soldiers from a NATO military exercise in Norway after Turk leaders were depicted as the "enemies."
• Iranian-Turkish Relations Deepen with Shared Regional Goals VOA 16 Nov 2017 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to attend a summit with Iranian and Russian leaders to discuss Syria.
• Kurdish militants aim to capture Syrian region, not fighting Daesh: Turkish FM Press TV 16 Nov 2017 -- The Turkish foreign minister says a US-backed Kurdish militant group fighting in northern Syria aims to conquer the region under the cover of battling the Daesh Takfiri terror group.
• Erdogan Affirms Intent To Buy Russian Missile Defense Systems RFE/RL 14 Nov 2017 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reaffirmed his country's interest in purchasing a missile defense system from Russia despite concern about the deal among Ankara's NATO allies.
• Threat of Jihadist Exodus Spurs Security Crackdown in Turkey VOA 14 Nov 2017 -- With the Islamic State and other jihadist groups facing imminent defeat in Syria, Ankara is becoming increasingly concerned that many fighters will escape into Turkey. In the past few years over 300 people have been killed in attacks in Turkey, blamed on jihadists. But with the prospect of thousands more militants escaping Syria to Turkey, security forces are now embarked in a desperate battle to thwart the threat, with hundreds of arrests in the past few weeks.
• Putin Tells Erdogan Ties With Turkey Fully 'Restored' RFE/RL 13 Nov 2017 -- Ties between Russia and Turkey are back on track, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said as he met with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the southern city of Sochi for talks set to focus on the Syrian conflict.
• Turkey Wants Swift Implementation of S-400 Deal With Russia - Erdogan Sputnik 13 Nov 2017 -- Turkey wants its S-400 agreement with Russia implemented swiftly, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.
• Russian, Turkish Leaders Meet as Cracks in Rapprochement Start to Show VOA 13 Nov 2017 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Monday with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, the fourth encounter between the two leaders this year and part of a warming of relations in the wake of tensions following Turkey's 2015 downing of a Russian warplane operating from a Syrian air base.
• Turkey buys Russia's S-400 systems, mulls own missile system: Minister Press TV 12 Nov 2017 -- Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli says the country has completed the process of purchasing Russia's S-400 surface-to-air missile systems and is in talks with a European consortium to help it develop its own missile defense system.
• Turkey denies planning to kidnap US-based cleric Gulen Press TV 12 Nov 2017 -- Turkey has denied reports in the US media that it has discussed a plan with former US intelligence officials to have opposition figure Fethullah Gulen abducted in the US.
• We Need Real Defense: Turkish PM Justifies Purchase of Russian S-400 Systems Sputnik 12 Nov 2017 -- Despite opposition from its fellow NATO members and the threat of US sanctions, Ankara signed an agreement with Moscow on the delivery of the Russian S-400 advanced air defense system.
• Turkey Denies Report of Plan to Kidnap US-based Cleric Gulen VOA 12 Nov 2017 -- Turkey is denying a report that it may have discussed a plot to seize a Muslim cleric living in the United States with a former Trump administration official.
• Ex-Trump aide Flynn plotted to kidnap Turkish dissident: Report Press TV 11 Nov 2017 -- US President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn was reportedly offered $15 million to help forcibly remove US-based Turkish opposition figure Fethullah Gulen and deliver him to Turkey.
• Turkey Expects US to Stop Arming Syrian Kurds After Daesh's Defeat Sputnik 10 Nov 2017 -- Ankara believes that the Syrian Kurds' YPG movement that is fighting Daesh in the country is linked to the PKK, banned in Turkey.
• Analysts: Diplomatic Tension Involving Turkey Could Trigger Economic Turmoil VOA 10 Nov 2017 -- Turkey's increasingly fractious relations with some key Western allies are taking a growing financial toll amid investor concerns, analysts warn.
• Turkey Intends to Develop Own Air Defense System With France and Italy's Help Sputnik 09 Nov 2017 -- Turkey aims to boost home-made air defense technologies.
• Assad's aide: US, Turkish troops presence on Syrian soil illegal Press TV 07 Nov 2017 -- President Bashar al-Assad's top aide has stressed that the presence of US and Turkish troops on Syrian soil is illegal and that will be dealt with invaders.
• US Opposition to Iraqi Kurdish Independence Stokes Turkish Hopes VOA 07 Nov 2017 -- Emboldened by the United States' firm opposition to the Iraqi Kurdish independence referendum in September, Turkey is pushing to persuade Washington to abandon its support for Syrian Kurdish militia, YPG, as it fights the Islamic State militant group.
• Turkey's Prime Minister Heads to Washington Amid Rising Tensions VOA 06 Nov 2017 -- Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim heads to Washington Tuesday to meet with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, as relations between the NATO allies endure a rocky period.
• Turkish court sentences opposition HDP lawmaker to 10 years in jail Press TV 04 Nov 2017 -- A court in Turkey has sentenced a lawmaker from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) to ten years in prison on charges of membership in the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group and spreading propaganda as the Ankara government presses ahead with a clampdown on members of the opposition party.
• Turkey Deploys More Forces in Northern Syria VOA 03 Nov 2017 -- Turkey is reinforcing the armored columns it started deploying last month in the northern Syrian province of Idlib, the stronghold of an increasingly fractious al-Qaida-linked group, in what analysts describe as a phased incursion.
• 8 Turkish troops, 5 PKK militants killed in SE Turkey clashes Press TV 02 Nov 2017 -- At least eight Turkish forces and five members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) have been killed during fresh clashes in southeastern Turkey near the Iraqi border.
• Turkey Keeps Watchful Eye on Succession of Iraqi Kurd Leadership VOA 02 Nov 2017 -- Ankara is anticipating who will succeed Iraqi Kurdish President Masoud Barzani, following his announcement he plans to quit. Relations between Ankara and Iraqi Kurds, once close allies, collapsed after Barzani held an independence referendum. But Ankara could be eyeing his nephew as an ideal successor.
• Iran, Russia, Turkey emphasize on Syria's unity, territorial integrity ISNA 01 Nov 2017 -- Iran, Russia and Turkey as guarantors of the observance of the ceasefire regime in the Syrian issued a joint statement at the end of the seventh round of Syria peace talks in Astana.