Karam Saeed‏‏

On August 12, 2025, Amman, hosted a tripartite meeting that brought together officials from Jordan, Syria and the United States. The meeting sought not only to address the sectarian crisis in Sweida Governorate but also to discuss support for Syria’s stability and reconstruction as well as facilitate its reintegration into regional and international forums. The talks unfolded against a backdrop of developments that heightened their significance. Despite a ceasefire taking effect on July 19, 2025, Sweida continues to grapple with severe security and humanitarian challenges. The meeting also followed the Syrian government announcement on August 10, 2025 that it would boycott the Paris talks with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), insisting that all negotiations be held with Damascus, as the ‘legitimate national venue for dialogue among Syrians’. Furthermore, the meeting coincided with renewed Druze calls to internationalize the Sweida sectarian crisis. 

How Can the ‘Amman Meeting’ Promote Stability in Syria?

Mitigating Risks:

On May 15, 2025, Istanbul hosted the first in-person negotiations between Russia and Ukraine following a months-long stalemate that had persisted since February. This initiative reflects Turkey’s ambition to consolidate its role as a mediator in the ongoing Ukraine war. The selection of Istanbul as the venue for these talks underscores the trust placed in Ankara by both the warring parties and the international community. This trust stems from Turkey’s consistent and balanced diplomatic posture which has been evident since the conflict broke out in 2022. A defining example of this balanced diplomacy was Turkey’s pivotal role in brokering the July 2022 agreement on grain exports through the Black Sea corridor.

Why Turkey is Interested in Mediating Between Moscow and Kyiv?

Securing Gains:

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Algeria from April 20 to 21, 2025, to attend the third meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council between the two countries. Regional tensions topped the agenda during talks between the two officials, particularly amid the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip as well as the security volatility in the Sahel and Western Sahara regions.

Why Turkey Aims to Expand Its Presence in Algeria

Strategic Interests:

The Algerian presidential elections are set for September 7, 2024, with three candidates from diverse political backgrounds competing: President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, representing the current administration; Abdelaali Hassani, leader of the Islamist Hams Movement, advocating a pragmatic political approach that has helped him overcome the negative image of political Islam following Algeria's "Black Decade"; and Youcef Aouchiche, from the Socialist Forces Front, which traditionally participates in elections to maintain a presence in the political landscape and seeks to gain power in the future. The candidates are focusing on pressing issues critical to Algerian society, which require decisive and innovative solutions to address the country's domestic crises.

What Algerian Presidential Candidates Highlight in their Campaigns

Ten Issues:

On 17 July 2024, BYD Auto signed an agreement with the Turkish Ministry of Industry and Technology to build a billion-dollar factory with an annual capacity of 150,000 cars. It also agreed to build a research and development center for mobility technologies; production is expected to begin in late 2026.

Why Chinese Car Companies are Investing in Turkey

A Promising Market:

The question of how Turkish minorities will vote is of crucial importance in the upcoming Turkish elections. Rival forces are trying to gain the vote of various religious, doctrinal, ethnic, and national groups within Turkey, including Alevi, Jewish, Greek, Armenian, Assyrian (including Syriac and Chaldean), Kurdish, and Arab minorities, among others. Various candidates and parties have tried to make their case to these minorities and to lay out the general features of their policies towards these groups. This is due to the immense strategic importance of minority voting blocs, especially Kurds and Alevis. These two groups comprise 17-20 percent of the total vote, which is likely to decisively tip the scales towards the candidates they choose to support. This is especially true since opinion polls conducted in recent days indicate that the two competing electoral alliances—the Nation Alliance and the People’s Alliance—will not be able to claim victory in the presidential elections without the support of minorities in general, and of Kurds and Alevis in particular.

How Minority Voters Could Shape the Upcoming Turkish Elections

Voting Blocs:

Turkey’s condemnation of Russia’s intervention in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 has increased the likelihood of rapprochement between Ankara and Washington. Like the US, Turkey upheld the importance of Ukraine’s unity, safety, and sovereignty. On March 24, 2022, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the progress made during talks between his country and the US regarding the sale of F-16 fighter jets, in return of its investment in the F-35 program. "Minister of Defense Hulusi Akar is conducting talks with the US regarding the purchase of F-16 fighter jets, and the talks are witnessing progress," said Erdogan, adding, "US President Biden told me he will present his positive approach on this matter to Congress and follow up on it."

Karam Saeed‏‏

Karam Saeed‏‏

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