Politics: News & Insights

Some 64 million Turks are eligible to vote on Sunday, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, vying to beat key rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu. (Source photos by Reuters)

Turkey elections

Turkey heads to polls in landmark elections: 5 things to know

President Erdogan faces toughest battle of 20-year rule in tight leadership race

12 May 2023

Turkish citizens cast ballots for the May 14 parliamentary and presidential elections at the Turkish Consulate in Berlin on April 27. Germany is home to around 1.5 million Turkish voters, making it the equivalent of a large province.

Politics

Overseas Turks emerge as critical voice in tight presidential race

More voters abroad head out to early voting for Sunday's election

10 May 2023

A container ship moored at Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The U.S. seeks to create a major transport network that connects the Middle East with India.

International relations

U.S. eyes Mideast-India transport network to counter China

Saudi Arabia joins talks with Washington following Beijing-brokered detente with Iran

10 May 2023

Opinion

2023 climate talks can deliver better results with more preparation

UAE should aim to shift focus of U.N. process from negotiation to action

9 May 2023

Turkish presidential candidate and opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu speaks at a rally in the central Anatolian city of Nigde on May 4.

Interview

Erdogan rival Kilicdaroglu vows to restore trust in Turkey

Candidate promises to normalize economic policy, pursue 'balanced' foreign policy

7 May 2023

Election posters on display in Bangkok ahead of polls on May 14, when more than 52m Thais will cast their votes to elect 400 constituent MPs and 100 party MPs to the lower house. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)

Your Week in Asia

Australia budget, ASEAN summit, Thailand and Turkey elections

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

7 May 2023

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, presidential candidate of Turkey's main opposition alliance, addresses supporters in Izmir on April 30. (Handout via Reuters)

Opinion

Economic turmoil has created an opening for Turkey's opposition

Nation Alliance needs to convince voters it has better solutions than Erdogan

2 May 2023

The golden mask of Pharaoh Tutankhamen is seen on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. It will be moved to the new Grand Egyptian Museum later this year.

Travel & Leisure

King Tut gets new home to help welcome Chinese tourists

Tomb relics to be center of attention at Grand Egyptian Museum

30 April 2023

The TCG Anadolu, a multipurpose amphibious assault ship, is seen in Istanbul on April 18. The timing of the ship's debut, coming mere weeks ahead of a presidential election, is no coincidence.

Politics

Erdogan's defense-heavy campaign shows off new 'drone carrier'

Turkish president wants voters to focus on muscle, not economy

22 April 2023

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces a close re-election race after two decades in office.

Turkey elections

Turkey's Erdogan touts accomplishments ahead of tight election

Pro-Western rival Kilicdaroglu holds narrow lead in poll

15 April 2023

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, center, talks to members of the U-20 national soccer team at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta on April 1.

Politics

Indonesia U-20 World Cup cancellation sparks political backlash

Potential Jokowi successor's anti-Israel rhetoric targeted for blame

11 April 2023

Security forces guard the entrance to Pakistan's Chinese-built Gwadar Port in 2018. Separatists in Balochistan have targeted Chinese interests. (Photo by Getty Images)

Terrorism

Pakistan's arrest of anti-China militant felt from Beijing to Tehran

Islamabad aims to secure Belt and Road as it vows new campaign against terror

10 April 2023

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, left, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hold a joint press conference in Ankara in November 2022.

International relations

Turkey likely to accept Sweden NATO entry after elections: analysts

Earthquake changes calculus, with Ankara needing better ties with West

6 April 2023

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang shake hands during a meeting in Beijing.

International relations

Top Iranian, Saudi envoys meet in China after 7-year hiatus

Bitter rivals take part in Beijing-brokered talks aimed at ending hostilities

6 April 2023

Then-Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, left, and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi met in Tokyo in August 2022: Japan should look further afield.

Opinion

Partnership with Israel can boost Japan's security

Tokyo can leverage relationships to catalyze regional cooperation

31 March 2023

Turkey will hold parliamentary and presidential elections in May.

Turkey elections

Turkey elections spur renewed interest from foreign investors

Opposition parties vow no state meddling in markets, return to economic orthodoxy

29 March 2023

U.S. President Joe Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman walk together at the Jeddah Security and Development Summit in Saudi Arabia in July.

Comment

Despite China tilt, Saudi Arabia still wants U.S. engagement

Events since Iraq War push Riyadh to pursue 'hedging strategy'

29 March 2023

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ruled Turkey for more than two decades and the country is now facing the deepest cost-of-living crisis under his watch.

Economy

Turkish opposition pledges to reverse Erdogan's economic policies

Next administration will have to deal with high inflation, earthquake fallout

28 March 2023

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim arrives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 22, received by Jeddah's governor, Prince Saud bin Abdullah. (Photo by Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia)

International relations

Malaysia's Anwar seeks to mend Saudi ties cooled by 1MDB

PM aims to regain influence in Mideast, act as bridge to ASEAN, win Muslim voters

22 March 2023

China recently mediated a deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia for restoring diplomatic ties. (Saudi Press Agency via Reuters)

US-China tensions

China eyes Global South, not West, to expand influence: expert

Yale's Moritz Rudolf says U.S. should boost diplomacy to unaligned countries

20 March 2023

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on March 6: He will turn 84 next month.

Opinion

The world is forced to guess Iran's intentions

Tehran may be just playing for time with conciliatory moves

16 March 2023

Top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi, middle, with Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, right, and Saudi national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammed Al Aiban in Beijing.

Opinion

Saudi-Iran deal adds new dimension to U.S.-China rivalry

Beijing has merely stepped into vacuum created by Washington's pivot to Asia

15 March 2023

Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, right, talks with Saudi Minister of State and national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammed Al Aiban in Beijing on March 10.

International relations

Iran-Saudi deal is good 1st step: ex-Egyptian foreign minister

Chinese mediation role an interesting new development, Fahmy says

11 March 2023

Wang Yi, center, head of the Chinese Communist Party's foreign office, stands between Ali Shamkhani, right, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and Saudi national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammed Al-Aiban in Beijing on March 10. (Photo by China Daily via Reuters)

International relations

Iran, Saudi Arabia agree to restore ties in China-brokered deal

End to 7-year diplomatic rift follows negotiations in Beijing

11 March 2023

Republican People’s Party Chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu, center, addresses the crowd alongside Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas, left, and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu during a speech at party headquarters on March 6.

Politics

Turkey's opposition forms troika to challenge Erdogan

Popular Istanbul and Ankara mayors to be VPs under Kilicdaroglu, with other party chiefs

8 March 2023