Background: US President Donald Trump previously praised Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa for restoring stability and suggested Syria could assist against Hezbollah, while noting the US lifted sanctions including the Caesar Act. Today, al-Sharaa publicly thanked Turkish President Erdoğan and Saudi Arabia for mediating with Trump to lift US sanctions on Syria. Washington issued General License 25 and exemptions under the Caesar Act, and Trump signed an executive order lifting sanctions. Al-Sharaa also praised Trump's decision to remove Syria from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, calling the designation outdated and a barrier to recovery.

The Turkish Parliament will convene to discuss legislation on a student amnesty allowing dismissed university students to re-enroll for the 2026-2027 academic year, except those from military and police academies, and a 'terror-free Türkiye' initiative aimed at disarming the PKK via a framework law. Cross-party talks led by Parliamentary Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş are ongoing, with a draft bill expected before the summer recess. Additional measures target ghostwriting in academia and raise the mandatory retirement age for academics from 67 to 72.

Turkey is deploying five F-16 fighter jets and 76 personnel to Amari Air Base in Estonia from August to November 2026 for NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission. The squadron will conduct round-the-clock Quick Reaction Alert missions to monitor airspace violations, amid heightened tensions due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This deployment strengthens NATO's eastern flank deterrence.

The European Union has appointed Raffaele Fitto as its new special envoy for Cyprus, replacing Johannes Hahn, seeking a role in UN-led reunification efforts. Turkish Cypriots reject the EU as a mediator, citing bias after the bloc admitted the Greek Cypriot administration as a member in 2004. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed the Cyprus momentum with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is expected to visit the island this week. The EU's High Representative Kaja Kallas spoke with UN personal envoy Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, who also met von der Leyen and Fitto in Brussels. The Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry reiterated that Fitto has no official status and that they will not participate in any negotiation process without recognition of their sovereign equality and equal international status.

Türkiye's national scientific agency TÜBITAK has launched new funding calls and accelerator programs to support clean technology startups, including the second phase of the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) with UNIDO, ahead of COP31, which Türkiye will co-host with Australia in Antalya in November 2026. The initiatives focus on commercializing clean energy, green transformation, and inclusive green economy solutions, with dedicated support for female-led startups. Applications for the GCIP Türkiye Accelerator 2026 and Inclusive Green Transition Accelerator 2026 close on Aug. 3, 2026. Winning teams receive cash awards up to TL 700,000, and selected teams attend the GCIP Türkiye 2026 National Academy in September for training and mentoring.

Istanbul Airport recorded an average of 1,623 daily flights between July 13-19, 2026, making it Europe's busiest airport according to Eurocontrol's weekly aviation report. The airport surpassed Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris Charles de Gaulle, London Heathrow, and Frankfurt. The report also noted a rise in European jet fuel prices due to renewed Middle East tensions after the collapse of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire and strong summer demand.

Türkiye's Ministry of Family and Social Services has released a 10-year Family and Population Decade Vision Document to monitor demographic changes, encourage marriage, increase fertility rates, support youth and elderly welfare, and promote rural development. The document establishes five strategic priorities and a national data infrastructure for evidence-based policymaking, building on the 2025 Year of the Family initiatives. It includes plans for graduate programs, international research collaborations, and regular action plans monitored through a systematic framework to ensure long-term implementation.