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] Turkey's economy will grow by 4.2% in 2026 and 4.1% in 2027. Pluralia
• [New] Beyond monetary policy, Turkish data on Tuesday is expected to show annual inflation easing to about 30% in January from 30.9% a month earlier. financialpost
• [New] MIT's actual spending stood at 23.9 billion Turkish lira in 2024, rose to 28.9 billion lira in 2025 and is projected to jump to 39.5 billion lira in 2026. Nordic Monitor
• [New] With EU countries planning to phase out Russian gas from 2027, Turkey's role as a transit and connectivity hub linking Europe to alternative suppliers in the Caspian, Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean has gained prominence. Daily Sabah
• [New] Europe's strategic autonomy efforts risk falling short without closer alignment with Turkey, which they say already plays a central role in manufacturing, logistics and energy transit. Daily Sabah
• [New] In November, the COP 31 climate talks in Turkey are expected to deliver a global roadmap away from fossil fuels. The Conversation
• [New] Turkey views Israel as the main threat, with strikes undermining Damascus and risking extremism. GeopoliticsUnplugged Substack
• [New] The new multipolar, competitive order is creating new geoeconomic booms and with them, wholly new job opportunities: from defence industries in South Korea, Turkey, and Poland, and chipmaking in Malaysia; to critical minerals in Australia and food and agriculture in Brazil. Time
• [New] Turkey's inability to fully integrate with the EU, including as a full member, represents a historic missed opportunity for both Turkey and Europe, arguing that deeper cooperation could have delivered far-reaching strategic gains. Daily Sabah
• [New] In 2026, growth in Turkey is forecast to pick up to 3.7%. Daily Sabah
• [New] In 2026, Turkey expects over 60 million visitors, breaking all previous records. RestProperty
• [New] Turkey's economy will continue to expand steadily, with gross domestic product expected to grow by 3.7% in 2025 and accelerate to 4.3% in 2026. Turkiye Today
• [New] The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey is expected to continue its monetary easing cycle through 2026, with projections pointing to a reduction in the key policy rate to 30.0% by year-end. Turkiye Today
• [New] Turkey expects to issue its first offshore wind farm tenders by the end of 2026 after installing 2 gigawatts of new wind energy installations last year. AGBI
• [New] Turkey plans to drill six new exploratory wells across the western, central and eastern Black Sea. Daily Sabah
• [New] Turkey's declining inflation trend is expected to sustain real returns on lira-denominated assets through 2026, strengthening investor confidence and reinforcing capital inflows. Turkiye Today
• [New] Turkey's Medium-Term Program for 2026-28 expects the inflation rate to hover around 28.5% in 2025 and fall to around 16% in 2026. Daily Sabah
• [New] Turkey introduced a visa-free policy for Chinese travelers this month, while Cambodia plans to waive visas for arrivals from June to October. South China Morning Post
• [New] In a strategic move to boost tourism and strengthen ties with China, Turkey has granted visa-free access to Chinese nationals holding ordinary passports, a change that is expected to significantly increase the number of Chinese visitors. Travel And Tour World
• [New] Turkey's partnerships in Libya, Sudan, and Somalia threaten to contain Israeli efforts to strengthen its strategic depth and project power into key shipping lanes in the eastern Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean, respectively. Critical Threats
• [New] Turkey is negotiating a 5,000-megawatt solar package with Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power company, with 2,000 megawatts in the first phase projected for 2026 completion. Foreign Affairs Forum

Last updated: 02 February 2026