Turkey Roundup: Political meddling, Ukraine's NATO membership bid, police raid
President Erdogan accuses Turkish group of political meddling
President Tayyip Erdogan has accused Turkey's top business association, TUSIAD, of meddling in politics and undermining the government. Erdogan dismissed TUSIAD as a remnant of the past that thrived on economic privilege and political influence. He accused the group of fuelling political instability and attempting to pressure the government. TUSIAD executive Omer Aras, chairman of QNB's Turkish banking unit, criticised a government crackdown on dissenting figures, claiming the probes had shaken trust and damaged democracy. Istanbul's prosecutors expanded the probe to include TUSIAD President Orhan Turhan, citing his statements as "misleading and disruptive to public order." TUSIAD, which accounts for 85% of Turkey's foreign trade and corporate tax revenue, said it was working for national interests.
Turkey supports Ukraine's bid for NATO membership, Zelensky says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Turkey supports Ukraine's bid for NATO membership and understands the importance of security guarantees. Zelensky met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, while US officials met with Russian counterparts in Riyadh. Zelensky said Erdogan understands the importance of Ukraine's future NATO membership, contrasting with recent US statements. While most European nations support Ukraine's NATO bid, Slovakia, Hungary, Germany, and the US oppose it. Zelensky also discussed defence industry cooperation with Turkish company Baykar, which has offices in Ukraine.
Israeli FM says Turkey aiding Iran in smuggling funds to Hezbollah
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has warned US senators about an intensified Iranian effort to smuggle money to Hezbollah to rehabilitate the group after its devastating war against Israel. He also highlighted concerns about Iran's nuclear project, which aims to compensate for the weakening of its regional power by acquiring nuclear weapons. Sa'ar stated that the effort is being carried out via Turkey and its cooperation. Israel has accused Iran of exploiting international civilian flights to transfer funds to Hezbollah, and the IDF has been in contact with the ceasefire monitoring mechanism to thwart these transfers.
Over a million Turks travelled to Greek islands in 2024
About 1.15 million passengers travelled to the Greek islands from the ports on Türkiye’s Aegean coast in 2024. According to data from the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry, Turkish citizens saw a 93% increase in their number of trips to the Greek islands from their ports. The increase was largely due to the visa-on-arrival scheme Greece granted for Turkish citizens visiting the islands. In 2023, 805,000 people and in 2022, 416,000 people travelled to the Greek islands from Türkiye. The top choice for Turkish travellers was Kos Island, followed by Rhodes. The number of international travellers reached 1.36 million, with 85% travelling to Greek islands.
Police detain 282 over ties to outlawed Kurdish group
Turkish police have detained 282 suspects accused of ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), including journalists, politicians, and academics. The raids occurred over the past five days as Turkey removes elected pro-Kurdish mayors from their posts over militant ties. The crackdown coincides with signs that there could be an end to a 40-year conflict between the PKK and authorities. The detainees included members of the Peoples' Democratic Congress, leftist parties, academics, and a prominent LGBTQ rights activist. The pro-Kurdish DEM Party condemned the detentions, claiming they were aimed at ending hopes for peace in the region. The Journalists' Union of Turkey also criticised the detention of three journalists.
