Global Scans · Turkey · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Uncertainties over Turkey's eventual political position abound. With EU decisions in doubt, recent crackdown on opposition parties causing concerns, and being embroiled in complex Middle East politics and fighting terrorism on its borders and internally, which way will she swing?

• [New] In the Middle East, Turkey's central bank is expected to keep its rate steady at 37% as policymakers assess the impact of the Iran war on the inflation outlook. financialpost
• [New] The $7 billion logistics project, which would connect Basra to Turkey by land, will compete with Egypt's Suez Canal and position Basra as a gateway to Europe. Technocracy News
• [New] The likelihood of a coup in Turkey will be much lower once state institutions begin to perform their primary duties. Daily Sabah
• [New] Overreach, neo-Ottoman bragging, rivalry with Israel, and Turkey's own domestic governance challenges could all limit Ankara's ability to convert influence into order. Brookings
• [New] Turkey's crop production is expected to increase significantly in 2026 compared with the previous year. hurriyetdailynews.com
• [New] Turkey's agricultural sector is expecting a strong year for grain production in 2026, supported by favorable temperature trends, rainfall distribution, and continued low drought risks. Yeni Safak
• [New] For rights groups and opposition figures, treating Turkey as a partner of necessity while muting public criticism risks normalizing a system in which courts are used against opposition politicians, journalists face pressure and civil society operates under threat of prosecution. Turkish Minute
• [New] By the mid-2020s, more than 11 states had publicly declared swarm programs, including the United States, China, Israel, Russia, the United Kingdom, Turkey, South Korea, and India, with additional countries widely suspected of testing swarming capabilities. Blockchain Council
• [New] The Turkish-Israeli rivalry and the risk of conflict-extending across the Middle East, including Syria, Lebanon and Iran, as well as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Caucasus - are real. World Socialist Web Site
• [New] Erdogan's insouciance is to be expected given that he faces zero censure over his government's actions from Turkey's western allies. Al-Monitor:
• [New] Another measure of Turkey's expanding regional influence is how some hard-liners in Israel are describing Turkey as a threat akin to Iran, after nearly three years of war across the Middle East. The Christian Science Monitor
• [New] Trump is expected to tell Erdogan that he is prepared to restore Turkey to a program that would allow it to purchase F-35 fighter jets. Just Security
• [New] Turkey's access to U.S. F-35s could complicate relationships elsewhere. Boston 25 News
• [New] Turkey's nanotechnology and nanomaterials strategy is being shaped within the framework of the 2024-2028 Defense Industry Sectoral Strategy Document and the 2030 Industry and Technology Strategy. Defence Turkey
• [New] Iran's 25-year gas export agreement with Turkey expires this month, and unless renewed, Iraq will remain Tehran's only major gas customer. Iran International
• [New] Turkey has been seized by ongoing drought, with a United Nations report predicting that Turkey would become a water-poor country by 2030. The 21st Century Matriarch
• [New] As a candidate country, we expect Turkey to meet the highest standards of democracy, rule of law and human rights. Euronews
• [New] Ankara is building its first overseas spaceport on Somalia's Indian Ocean coast, a facility expected to support Turkish satellite launches and missile testing as part of its push to expand indigenous defence and space capabilities. AL-MONITOR: The Middle East's leading independent news

Last updated: 20 July 2026