Turkiye

The second and final day of the NATO summit is underway in Ankara, Turkiye. Trump and world leaders are attending the key gathering.

French President Macron is visiting Syria ahead of the NATO summit in Turkiye, marking the first visit by a Western European leader since Bashar al-Assad's overthrow.

Turkiye is preparing to host a NATO summit starting July 7, marking its first such event in 22 years. The summit will bring together leaders of NATO member states.

US President Donald Trump's visit to Turkey could facilitate the acquisition of F110 fighter jet engines for Turkey's KAAN stealth fighter project, but the F-35 dispute remains unresolved. Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems led to its exclusion from the F-35 program and CAATSA sanctions, complicating defense cooperation with the US.

The Gaza Strip's humanitarian crisis and stalled conflict resolution are overshadowed by the US-Iran war, with no mention of Gaza in preliminary peace terms between Washington and Tehran. Ongoing Cairo negotiations involving Palestinian factions, Hamas, and a US-led Board of Peace face Israeli government opposition and remain uncertain.

Turkiye's Erdogan claims Israel must not be allowed to disrupt the US-Iran deal and accuses Israel of attempting to undermine the US-Iran memorandum of understanding.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited Turkish companies to expand investments in sectors like energy, infrastructure, and technology during meetings in Istanbul. He emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to fostering economic cooperation and highlighted a business-friendly environment. The visit included discussions with Çalık Holding, Albayrak Group, and TOBB, alongside recent MoUs to enhance power sector collaboration.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Istanbul for an official visit to Turkiye at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He attended the funeral of Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei before traveling to Istanbul, where he was met by Turkish officials and Pakistani representatives. The visit includes discussions on bilateral relations, trade, and regional security, along with a business conference highlighting investment opportunities in sectors like energy and technology.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Iran and Turkiye from July 3 to 5 to attend the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral trade, investment, and regional security cooperation, alongside diplomatic efforts to mediate the US-Iran conflict.

Turkiye and several Arab nations and organizations condemned Israel's recent military incursions into Syria's southern provinces, citing violations of Syria's sovereignty and international law. The statements highlighted concerns over regional instability and breaches of agreements like the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Iran and Turkiye to mediate peace efforts amid recent US-Iran strikes near the Strait of Hormuz. The visits follow a Pakistan-brokered interim peace deal and ongoing regional security proposals, including a 'regional security structure' suggested by Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Azerbaijan criticized Israel for recognizing the Armenian genocide, a move viewed as a rebuke to Turkey. Azerbaijan and Israel are allies, but Azerbaijan expressed concern the decision could harm bilateral relations and called on Israel to reconsider. The recognition by Israel followed similar acknowledgments by over 20 countries, including the U.S., France, and Germany.

Thousands of Kurds in Turkiye held a rally to demand the release of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and other prisoners. The gathering focused on advocating for the liberation of Öcalan and incarcerated individuals.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt welcomed the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the US and Iran during a Regional Four (R-4) meeting in Cairo, emphasizing the need for a swift conclusion to the next phase of negotiations. The nations described the MoU as a 'constructive step towards de-escalation' and highlighted the importance of addressing regional security concerns, including those of Gulf Arab States and the Levant region.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is traveling to Cairo for a quadrilateral meeting with foreign ministers from Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye to discuss regional developments and strengthen cooperation. The meeting, part of the R-4 framework, will include bilateral consultations and a meeting with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Pakistan played a crucial role in securing the US-Iran MoU, preventing the conflict from escalating further. The country's diplomatic efforts have been recognized by the US and Iranian presidents, with calls to apply similar strategies to improve relations with India and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, as well as foster internal political unity.

Israeli forces killed six Palestinians in Gaza, including four near a hospital in Jabalia and two in Khan Younis and Gaza City, as mediators Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye sought to salvage a US-brokered ceasefire. Hamas and Israel remain deadlocked over Hamas disarmament and power cession, with the death toll from Israeli strikes since the truce nearing 1,000.

US President Donald Trump claims final points of an Iran deal have been approved by regional and international partners, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Turkiye, and others. He stated the naval blockade against Iran will remain in place until the agreement is finalized.

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir met with Turkish Land Forces commander General Metin Tokel to discuss enhanced bilateral defense cooperation, regional security dynamics, and cultural ties. The meeting included visits to Pakistan's Naval and Air Headquarters, where maritime and air cooperation were addressed. General Tokel praised the professionalism of Pakistan's armed forces and expressed commitment to strengthening defense partnerships.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the accelerated privatisation of three power distribution companies (DISCOs)—IESCO, GEPCO, and FESCO—with international roadshows planned to attract investors. He emphasized transparency and a regulatory framework post-privatisation. Separately, he acknowledged the Global Fund's role in combating TB, HIV/AIDS, and malaria, directing the formation of a joint working group on HIV/AIDS prevention.

Talks in Cairo aim to advance the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye. Violence persists in Gaza despite the October truce, with stalled negotiations over Hamas's disarmament and Israeli military withdrawal. Recent Israel-Iran clashes heighten regional tensions, complicating peace efforts.

Kyrgyzstan was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the first time in its history. It is the second Central Asian country to achieve this, supported by neighbors, Turkiye, and Muslim states.

Turkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Indonesia to strengthen their growing partnership. The talks aim to deepen bilateral relations between the two countries.

Turkiye’s top diplomat and Indonesia’s president discussed a $10bn trade goal, focusing on sectors such as defense, energy, transportation, and the halal food industry.

Turkish and Syrian officials have detained 10 individuals accused of having ties to ISIL. The arrested individuals are reported to have participated in terrorist attacks in Turkiye, according to officials.

Activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla arrived in Istanbul on Thursday after a maritime mission, recounting allegations of Israeli violence. The flotilla's arrival marks another chapter in ongoing tensions related to Gaza humanitarian access.

The UK has eased sanctions on Russian oil imports, allowing the import of Russian crude oil refined in third countries such as India and Turkiye. This move is expected to impact fuel prices. The decision may have significant effects on the global energy market.

A taxi driver in Turkiye wrestled a gunman who was forcing him to drive during a police chase. The incident occurred as the authorities were pursuing the armed individual. The taxi driver's actions helped to potentially end the situation.

Over 30 Global Sumud Flotilla vessels have arrived in Marmaris, Turkiye, preparing to set sail to Gaza. The flotilla is on a mission to Gaza. The vessels are currently located on Turkiye's coast.

Turkiye has unveiled its first intercontinental ballistic missile, the Yildirimhan ICBM, which has a range of 6,000km and a maximum speed of Mach 25. The missile has a payload capacity of 3,000kg. This development marks a significant milestone in Turkiye's military capabilities.

Turkiye's lawmakers passed a bill requiring social media platforms to implement age-verification tools and control mechanisms to restrict use by children under 15. The legislation aims to regulate online access for minors through mandatory verification systems.

Turkish officials are promoting Istanbul as a regional financial hub amid the war's fallout on Gulf economies. The move aims to attract investors as the Iran war impacts the Gulf region's economic stability.

Rumeysa Ozturk, a scholar, returned to Turkiye after the Trump administration's deportation push. She cited avoiding 'state-imposed violence and hostility' under Trump as the reason for her decision.

Hundreds attended the funerals of eight students who were fatally shot at a school in Kahramanmaras, Turkiye. The incident has prompted widespread grief and public mourning.

A school shooting at Ayser Calik School in Kahramanmaras, Turkiye, caused by a 14-year-old student, has raised the death toll to 10. The incident has sparked national mourning and heightened concerns over school safety.

Turkiye's Roketsan is striving to become a top 10 global missile exporter as the country expands its defense industry amid heightened conflict in the Middle East. The nation's growing arms production is driven by rising geopolitical tensions in the region.

A school shooting in Kahramanmaras province, Turkiye, resulted in four deaths, including three students and a teacher. This incident marks the second such attack in the country within two days.