Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Rule Changes

In power since 2003

Halk TV has been off the air since police raided its Istanbul studios on October 14 and a state-appointed trustee took over. On October 30 the trustee's management told staff their administrative leave would continue "until further notice."

Updated 6 days ago

Force in Play

Pact submitted to parliament for ratification on October 20; a separate troop-deployment mandate is expected to follow

Turkey's parliament is considering the Mecca defense agreement after the government sent it for ratification on October 20. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia finished their own approval processes by October 23, leaving Turkey as the last of the three to sign off.

Updated Oct 24

Force in Play

Has ruled Turkey for more than two decades; denies government interference in the judiciary

Turkish riot police forced their way into the Republican People's Party headquarters in Ankara on May 24. They fired tear gas and rubber bullets to end a three-day occupation. The raid installed court-appointed leadership in the party that won Turkey's 2024 municipal elections.

Updated Oct 14

Force in Play

As of October 2026: In office; architect of the family-decade policy

Turkey's 'My Family is Safe' operation has swept 116 people into custody across 15 provinces since Sept 11, and courts have ordered 82 held in pre-trial detention. Prosecutors targeted nine LGBTQ+ and HIV-support associations and 13 businesses, and authorities have moved to dissolve four of the groups.

Updated Oct 3

Force in Play

As of September 2026: Chairs the National Security Council, which will confirm PKK dissolution

Turkish intelligence is now monitoring 72 PKK camps along the Iraq border, and a government board has set up four working groups to verify disarmament. The peace process with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has entered its implementation phase.

Updated Sep 7

Force in Play

As of August 2026: Denies deploying troops to Abu al-Duhur; his government accuses Netanyahu of expansionism and faces a public warning from Israel's defense minister

Syria and Israel held US-mediated talks in Jordan on August 23, the highest-level session yet between the two governments. Syria's foreign minister led a delegation that included army and intelligence chiefs, but the meeting did not stop the attacks: Israel bombed targets near Damascus and in Lebanon days later.

Updated Aug 27

Rule Changes

As of August 2026: New member of the pact as of August 7, 2026

In Mecca, the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed a pact stating that an armed attack on any one of them is an attack on all three. It binds oil-rich Saudi Arabia, Turkey's large army, and Pakistan's nuclear arsenal into one defense promise.

Updated Aug 7

Money Moves

As of June 2026: Promoting Turkey's defense industry as a growth engine

On June 20, 2026, Turkey handed Romania the corvette CAm. Roman at an Istanbul shipyard—its first warship export to a NATO and EU member. Presidents Erdoğan and Dan attended the ceremony. Romania's navy assigned the ship to its 50th Corvette Division, its first new vessel in 35 years.

Updated Jun 22

Force in Play

As of May 2026: Warning Iran amid fourth violation while pursuing mediation

For the fourth time since late February, a ballistic missile fired from Iran crossed into Turkish airspace before NATO defenses destroyed it. The March 31 interception over eastern Turkey followed previous shootdowns on March 4, 9, and 13 — a pattern spanning one month. Turkey summoned Iran's ambassador again, stating 'all necessary measures are being taken decisively' against threats to its territory.

Updated May 30