bilgehan ozturk

@anadoluajansi @GISR_X

[bilgehan ozturk @blghnoztrk]

rest in peace, Aaron Bushnell

[bilgehan ozturk @blghnoztrk]

@trtworld here is a short clip from the broadcast:

[bilgehan ozturk @blghnoztrk]

at cop31, the real test is whether governments can turn their promises into action and whether anyone still believes they will.

on @trtworld newshour, i discussed türkiye’s diplomatic role, the significance of the leaders’ summit and what the us absence means for the conference.

[bilgehan ozturk @blghnoztrk]

america did not suddenly turn blue in 2026, just as it did not suddenly turn red in 2024.

what we are witnessing is a deeper trend: the erosion of mainstream politics and the rise of anti-establishment forces on both ends of the spectrum.

the iran war and its economic fallout may explain this particular result. but this political realignment has been underway for years.

trumpism hollowed out traditional republicanism. on the democratic side, some of the party's most notable breakthroughs have come from its progressive flank, from zohran mamdani to abdul el-sayed, not its centrist establishment.

the centre is not moving left or right. It is being squeezed out of politics altogether.

[bilgehan ozturk @blghnoztrk]

hungary. serbia. brazil. now the us.

not the only reason, but the common thread among recent election losers: close ties to israel's current government.

wherever popular will can still shape governance, israel has become a burden for its allies.

[bilgehan ozturk @blghnoztrk]

the libyan house of representatives' approval of the türkiye-libya maritime delimitation agreement is a strategic development that strengthens türkiye's geopolitical position and regional influence in the eastern mediterranean. its importance lies not only in the expansion of political support for the agreement on the libyan side but also in its contribution to the process of restoring libya's political and military unity.

although the agreement has thus far enjoyed the support of the internationally recognised tripoli-based authorities, libya's de facto division had posed a vulnerability for its long-term validity and implementation. approval by the house of representatives based in eastern libya substantially reduces that vulnerability. viewed alongside efforts to establish a new executive authority in libya and strengthen the country's territorial integrity, the decision also places one of the principal foundations of türkiye's strategic position in the eastern mediterranean on firmer ground.

another important dimension of this development is the change in the regional alignment of eastern libya under khalifa haftar. the approval of the maritime delimitation agreement with türkiye by an authority that has developed allied relations with egypt and greece and maintained close ties with israel and the gca has the potential to alter the dynamics of competition in the eastern mediterranean. ankara has thereby brought an eastern libyan power centre with close relations to regional actors opposed to its positions onto a platform supportive of its own claims.

although egypt is unlikely to welcome this development, it does not appear likely to seriously affect the bilateral relations that cairo and ankara have improved in recent years. egypt's good relations with the haftar administration may also help to keep tensions under control. by contrast, tensions between türkiye and greece and israel centred on the eastern mediterranean may become more pronounced.

cooperation between türkiye and libya in hydrocarbon exploration and production is likely to gather momentum in the coming period. new licensing rounds and maritime activities, particularly by the gca and greece, could, however, occasionally lead to low-intensity confrontations between the turkish navy and european naval forces, especially those of greece. nevertheless, türkiye's declaration that it does not oppose the gsi project categorically and merely requests written notification demonstrates ankara's lack of any intention to obstruct regional cooperation or escalate tensions.

[SETA @setavakfi]

👥 EXPERTS RESPOND | Libya’s Approval of the Maritime Delimitation Agreement with Türkiye and Its Regional Implications

In this edition of Experts Respond, our contributors assess the approval's implications under international law, its effects on Türkiye's strategic position in the Eastern Mediterranean, the possible responses of regional actors, and the future of Türkiye-Libya relations from legal, political, diplomatic, and military perspectives.

✍️ @BelleDuez, @muekinci, @zuhalmertuzuner, @suhac, @dr_murat_aslan, @Ferhattpol, @blghnoztrk
🔗 https://t.co/K8YsWTMMtA

[bilgehan ozturk @blghnoztrk]

most analysts are getting egypt wrong on the türkiye-libya maritime deal.

i disagree with the view that cairo will join greece, israel and gca in pushing back against libya’s approval of the 2019 agreement.

egypt may be unhappy with the move, but i don’t expect it to escalate tensions with ankara over it.

this photo was taken shortly after the approval.

[bilgehan ozturk @blghnoztrk]

haftar’s outreach to ankara is a strategic calculation, not just a diplomatic gesture.

defence cooperation, investment and international legitimacy are all part of the equation.

my comments to middle east eye on libya’s shifting regional dynamics.

[Ragıp Soylu @ragipsoylu]

NEW: Turkey secures a strategic win over Greece as eastern Libya backs the maritime deal

- The agreement challenges efforts made by Greece, Cyprus, Israel and the UAE to contain Turkey’s influence in Libya

with @Elis_Gj

https://t.co/EmpFy3rVHv

[bilgehan ozturk @blghnoztrk]

this is a major geopolitical win for ankara, and a setback for athens.

the deal reflects years of relationship-building with the haftar family, with saddam haftar’s role signalling that mutual trust has reached a new level of maturity.

it also points to a broader turkish-egyptian understanding and growing ankara-washington coordination behind the us-led effort to reunify libya, with massad boulos playing a key role.

aguila saleh’s departure was necessary to clear the way for parliamentary approval.

[Anadolu English @anadoluagency]

#BREAKING Libya’s parliament unanimously approves maritime deal with Türkiye, reverses 2020 decision to sever political ties: Official statement

[bilgehan ozturk @blghnoztrk]

the moment europe is asked to give up even a fraction of its prosperity for security, its democracies start showing cracks: the far right is surging across the continent.

türkiye, meanwhile, spent decades dealing with terrorism, wars, instability and mass migration -not to mention a traumatic coup attempt- while having to spend heavily on security without anything close to europe’s prosperity.

yet europe spent decades lecturing türkiye on democracy.

apply türkiye’s circumstances to europe, and it is not hard to imagine how much of its vaunted democratic standards would survive.

[bilgehan ozturk @blghnoztrk]

berfu cengiz wins her first wta 125 title at the türk telekom ankara open.

she came from behind in the final to take the deciding set 7–5.

congratulations, berfu. 🇹🇷🎾

[bilgehan ozturk @blghnoztrk]

a week at the türkiye-europe future forum, bringing together young professionals from türkiye and europe.

expert panels, fellow sessions, negotiation training, simulations and scenario building provided plenty of room for substantive discussion and exchange.

also took part as a moderator, participant and fellow.

thanks to @MercatorDE , @TUSIAD, @JannesTessmann, derya arac and özge sarı for bringing the forum together.

[bilgehan ozturk @blghnoztrk]

oh, you can be damn sure you don’t understand it at all :)

[bilgehan ozturk @blghnoztrk]

called this years ago.

[Council on Foreign Relations @CFR_org]

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement on August 7. Reports indicate that the 3 countries have in essence agreed to a NATO Article 5-like clause—an attack on one signatory would be considered an attack on all of them.

The agreement "reflects a change underway in the Middle East’s regional order—one that reduces the United States’ decades long leadership role," writes expert @stevenacook.

The U.S.-aligned order could now become a Middle East with two blocs: the countries that remained committed to the Abraham Accords—the 2020 normalization agreements between Israel and Bahrain, Morocco, and the UAE—and its alternative, the Mecca Agreement, he argues.

"Previously, regional rivalries and disputes were contained because leaders prioritized their relations with the United States, which was the tie that bound the regional order. Now, with the Pakistanis, Saudis, and Turks moving forward with a vision that competes directly with the Abraham Accords, that no longer seems to be the case," he writes.

Read the full analysis: https://t.co/4xU6AsEn6j

[bilgehan ozturk @blghnoztrk]

ray tells the story of a life well lived: pushing boundaries, breaking taboos, and relentlessly pursuing one’s passion.

ray charles wasn’t perfect, far from it. but then again, who is?

it’s also good to see ahmet ertegun recognized as a significant part of ray’s journey.

[bilgehan ozturk @blghnoztrk]

it is easy to take an ordinary day for granted. yet for the past decade, the freedom and normalcy we enjoy in türkiye have come at a great cost.

my deepest respect and gratitude go to those who lost their lives and to the veterans who were wounded on the night of july 15.

may they rest in peace, and may their sacrifice never be forgotten.

[bilgehan ozturk @blghnoztrk]

a new high in uk–türkiye relations.

the strategic partnership framework reflects a deeper, long-term alignment shaped by changing alliance dynamics.

My latest:

[bilgehan ozturk @blghnoztrk]

a historic nato summit in ankara is over — and i did my bit.

had the chance to join al jazeera and break down president trump’s announcement on lifting caatsa sanctions on Türkiye and the potential f-35 path forward.

[bilgehan ozturk @blghnoztrk]

jd to netanyahu's cabinet members: "have you said 'thank you' once?"

[Ragıp Soylu @ragipsoylu]

Wow, JD Vance is publicly slamming Netanyahu and his cabinet for their opposition to the Iran deal

[bilgehan ozturk @blghnoztrk]

brace for a harder uk strategic posture:

higher defence spending, alliance reinforcement and more.

[Anadolu English @anadoluagency]

#BREAKING King Charles III says an 'increasingly dangerous, volatile' world threatens United Kingdom in state opening of parliament speech