turkey

Gaza: Turkey Takes the Lead, Leveraging Its Ties with Hamas

By backing the ongoing indirect negotiations in Egypt between Israel and Hamas, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Turkey is drawing on its long-standing ties with the Palestinian Islamist movement. Erdogan said Wednesday that he had been “explicitly” asked by Donald Trump to convince Hamas to engage in peace talks with Israel. The ...

Erdogan Says Trump Asked Turkey to 'Persuade Hamas' on Gaza Peace

US President Donald Trump asked Turkey to "persuade" Hamas to accept his plan for ending the Gaza war, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a transcript shared by his office Wednesday. His remarks came as negotiators from Israel and Hamas were due to hold a third day of indirect negotiations in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh aimed ...

US, Qatar, Turkey to Join Third Day of Gaza Peace Talks in Egypt

Qatar's prime minister and senior delegates from the United States and Turkey will join Hamas and Israeli negotiators on Wednesday for a third day of talks aimed at ending the Gaza war. Israel and Hamas are holding indirect negotiations in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, based on a 20-point plan proposed by US President Donald Trump ...

Pope Leo XIV Calls for Peace Ahead of Trip to Turkey and Lebanon

Pope Leo XIV marked the second anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel by urging an end to hatred and renewed dialogue for peace in the Middle East. Speaking in Castel Gandolfo, he reflected on the toll of the ongoing conflict, noting that “around 67,000 Palestinians have been killed” since the 2023 assault that killed 1,200 ...

Vatican Confirms Apostolic Visit of Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon

The Holy See officially announced on Tuesday that Pope Leo XIV will undertake an Apostolic Journey to Lebanon from November 30 to December 2, 2025, at the invitation of the country’s head of state and ecclesiastical authorities. This visit will follow the Pontiff’s previously scheduled trip to Turkey, set for 27 to 30 November, where he will ...

Moscow Talks: Syria and Russia Confront Sensitive Issues

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa will visit Moscow on October 15 to attend the Russia-Arab League summit, according to al-Hadath. This marks the first high-level meeting between Syria’s new leadership in Damascus and the Kremlin. The visit comes as several sensitive issues remain unresolved, including the future of Russian military bases in ...

Turkish Airlines Orders Up to 225 Boeing Jets After Erdogan’s White House Visit

Turkish Airlines announced on Friday a deal to buy up to 225 Boeing jets, one day after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made his first White House visit since 2019. The order includes 150 confirmed aircraft to be delivered between 2029 and 2034, with an option for 75 more, the company said in a statement, without giving a figure of the ...

Trump Urges Turkey's Erdogan to Stop Buying Russian Oil

US President Donald Trump on Thursday urged Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to stop buying Russian oil over the war in Ukraine, as Erdogan sought a long-awaited deal to buy US stealth fighter jets. As Erdogan visited the White House for the first time since 2019 during Trump's first term, Trump called on him to use his influence with ...

Pope Leo XIV to Visit Lebanon in Late November, Local Media Reports

For weeks, speculation ran high about Pope Leo XIV’s possible visit to Lebanon, met with denials from the Apostolic Nuncio and silence from the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerke. But the secrecy appears to be lifting. According to MTV Lebanon, the Vatican is set to officially confirm the papal visit, scheduled for November 30 to December 2. A ...

Trump to Host Erdogan at White House on September 25

US President Donald Trump said Friday he will welcome Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the White House next week and expects a resolution to a long-running rift on fighter jets. It will be the first visit to the White House by Erdogan since 2019 during Trump's first term, with former president Joe Biden having a tense relationship with ...

Pope Leo XIV in Lebanon at the End of November: What About the Visit’s Program?

The much-anticipated visit of Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon has reportedly been confirmed by senior church officials, according to the daily Nidaa al-Watan. Although no official announcement has yet been made by the Holy See, preparations—both spiritual and protocolary—are said to already be underway to welcome the head of the Catholic Church. The ...