Turkey spends a Saturday triangulating between the Iran war, the Cyprus dossier, and an Iraq it does not want pulled into the fight
Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi told Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in a Saturday call that recent US escalation and "multiple ceasefire violations" reinforced Tehran's doubts about Washington's seriousness, a day after Trump said he was waiting for Iran's reply to a settlement offer. Ankara warned France's planned Status of Forces deployment to Cyprus, set for signature in June, could escalate eastern Mediterranean tensions. Erdoğan met KRG PM Masrour Barzani in Istanbul to oppose any wider spread of the US-Iran war and condemn attacks on Iraqi territory, including in Erbil.
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Iran's foreign minister tells Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan that US ceasefire violations cast doubt on Washington's seriousness
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in a phone call on Saturday that recent US military escalation and "multiple ceasefire violations" had reinforced Tehran's doubts about the seriousness of American diplomacy. The exchange, reported by Iranian media at 16:34 BST, came a day after Donald Trump said he was waiting for an Iranian response to a proposed settlement aimed at permanently ending hostilities — an offer on which Tehran has yet to comment publicly.
Turkey warns against planned French troop deployment to Cyprus
Ankara has voiced alarm at Cyprus’s announcement that France will deploy soldiers on the Mediterranean island, warning it could escalate tensions. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides stated the deployment is part of a Status of Forces Agreement to be signed in June. The move has fuelled Turkish fears of encirclement as Cyprus and Greece deepen defence ties with Israel.
Erdogan tells KRG Turkey opposes wider spread of US-Iran conflict
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Saturday that Ankara opposes the expansion of the US-Iran conflict to other countries in the region. Erdogan expressed concern over attacks on Iraqi territory, including in Erbil, and reaffirmed Turkey's solidarity with the KRG. The two leaders met in Istanbul to discuss regional developments.
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Every other event tracked in Turkey, with a one-line preview.
tr28UAE and Turkish presidents discuss regional stability and defense cooperation
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met UAE Vice President Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Istanbul on May 8, 2026, signaling deepening ties. On May 9, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Erdoğan held a phone call to further discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation, regional stability, and the UAE's participation in the Saha Expo 2026 defense and aerospace exhibition in Istanbul.
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UAE and Turkish presidents discuss regional stability and defense cooperation
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met UAE Vice President Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Istanbul on May 8, 2026, signaling deepening ties. On May 9, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Erdoğan held a phone call to further discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation, regional stability, and the UAE's participation in the Saha Expo 2026 defense and aerospace exhibition in Istanbul.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met UAE Vice President Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Istanbul on May 8, 2026, signaling deepening ties. On May 9, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Erdoğan held a phone call to further discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation, regional stability, and the UAE's participation in the Saha Expo 2026 defense and aerospace exhibition in Istanbul.
tr15Kraken Robotics signs MOU with Turkish drone firm SEFINE SISAM
Canadian defense technology company Kraken Robotics signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Turkish unmanned systems firm SEFINE SISAM to integrate its KATFISH synthetic aperture sonar into SISAM's mission planning software and develop automatic target recognition capabilities. The agreement follows a successful at-sea demonstration off Istanbul earlier this year, where KATFISH was launched from SEFINE's RD-22 unmanned surface vessel. The partnership aims to advance autonomous solutions for seabed warfare and mine countermeasures, reflecting Turkey's growing investment in domestic unmanned systems and Kraken's expansion in the underwater technology sector.
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Kraken Robotics signs MOU with Turkish drone firm SEFINE SISAM
Canadian defense technology company Kraken Robotics signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Turkish unmanned systems firm SEFINE SISAM to integrate its KATFISH synthetic aperture sonar into SISAM's mission planning software and develop automatic target recognition capabilities. The agreement follows a successful at-sea demonstration off Istanbul earlier this year, where KATFISH was launched from SEFINE's RD-22 unmanned surface vessel. The partnership aims to advance autonomous solutions for seabed warfare and mine countermeasures, reflecting Turkey's growing investment in domestic unmanned systems and Kraken's expansion in the underwater technology sector.
Canadian defense technology company Kraken Robotics signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Turkish unmanned systems firm SEFINE SISAM to integrate its KATFISH synthetic aperture sonar into SISAM's mission planning software and develop automatic target recognition capabilities. The agreement follows a successful at-sea demonstration off Istanbul earlier this year, where KATFISH was launched from SEFINE's RD-22 unmanned surface vessel. The partnership aims to advance autonomous solutions for seabed warfare and mine countermeasures, reflecting Turkey's growing investment in domestic unmanned systems and Kraken's expansion in the underwater technology sector.
tr13Turkish foreign minister meets Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government prime minister in Istanbul
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in Istanbul on 9 May 2026. The meeting, confirmed by diplomatic sources, underscores ongoing diplomatic engagement between Turkey and the KRG, though specific agenda items were not disclosed.
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Turkish foreign minister meets Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government prime minister in Istanbul
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in Istanbul on 9 May 2026. The meeting, confirmed by diplomatic sources, underscores ongoing diplomatic engagement between Turkey and the KRG, though specific agenda items were not disclosed.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in Istanbul on 9 May 2026. The meeting, confirmed by diplomatic sources, underscores ongoing diplomatic engagement between Turkey and the KRG, though specific agenda items were not disclosed.