The Israeli government, led by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, unanimously approved a proposal to recognize the mass killings of Armenians during World War I as genocide. The decision, announced on Sunday, requires parliamentary ratification and comes amid deteriorating relations with Turkey since the Gaza war began in October 2023. Sa'ar cited a moral duty to reject denial, particularly by the Turkish government, and the move aligns Israel with the US, France, Germany, and Italy, which have already recognized the killings as genocide.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held a phone call on June 29, 2026, to discuss strengthening bilateral relations, the upcoming NATO leaders' summit in Ankara, and Türkiye's mediation efforts for a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine. Erdoğan emphasized the importance of European defense within NATO and preserving the transatlantic bond, and noted that Türkiye is working to revive negotiations and restart the diplomatic process between Moscow and Kyiv.

Parliamentary leaders from NATO member states gathered at the NATO Parliamentary Summit in Istanbul on June 29, 2026, calling for enhanced defense capabilities, greater allied unity, and increased defense spending, with several pledging up to 5% of GDP by 2035. Speakers emphasized continued support for Ukraine, adaptation to new threats including cyber and AI, and the need for a stronger European pillar within NATO. The summit precedes the NATO Leaders Summit in Ankara scheduled for July 7-8.

Türkiye has strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes on the Syrian provinces of Quneitra and Daraa, labeling them a violation of Syria's sovereignty, international law, and the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement. The Turkish Foreign Ministry and Communications Director Burhanettin Duran called on the international community to take immediate action to halt what they described as unlawful attacks that endanger civilians and undermine regional stability.

Three senior European Commission officials—Kaja Kallas, Marta Kos, and Magnus Brunner—are set to visit Turkey on Tuesday for talks with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The visit aims to revitalize EU-Turkey relations, with discussions expected to cover Turkey's EU membership bid, modernization of the customs union, visa liberalization, and regional security issues including the war in Ukraine and developments in the South Caucasus and Gaza.

Borsa Istanbul lifted the short-selling ban on its equity market, which had been imposed on March 1 after U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran triggered global market declines. The Capital Markets Board's restrictions expired on June 26, and the exchange reinstated the 5:1 order-to-trade ratio. The move aligns with MSCI recommendations and signals normalization of Turkish financial markets.

The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) and the Federation of Saudi Chambers (FSC) signed a memorandum of understanding on June 29, 2026, to expand bilateral trade and economic cooperation. The agreement includes a joint action plan, sectoral platforms, and the creation of a Türkiye-Saudi Arabia Joint Chamber Forum. TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu called for Islamic countries to merge capital reserves with Türkiye's manufacturing capabilities to create a dominant global economic force. The signing took place on the sidelines of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD) meetings in Ankara.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Armenia sees no need to respond to Israel's recognition of the 1915 events as genocide, arguing that avoiding weaponization of the issue serves national interests. Turkey condemned Israel's decision as politically motivated, reiterating its position that the events were a tragedy with casualties on both sides.