My latest: One crisis. Five agreements. One message. What happened in Ankara wasn’t just diplomacy; it was a glimpse of a new geopolitical order taking shape, where energy corridors, Iraq’s future, and Iran’s influence collided in real time. CLICK: www.turkiyetoday.com/opinion/1-cr...

1 crisis, 5 agreements, 1 message: Hidden story of Ankara summit - Türkiye Today

Despite a minor diplomatic scandal Turkiye and Iraq signed historic energy deals reshaping the region's geopolitical landscape.

turkiyetoday.com

My latest: Ankara Summit’s real story lies in defense contracts, not diplomacy. Türkiye is simultaneously seeking defense-industrial reconciliation with the US while also pursuing a share of Europe’s rearmament spending. www.turkiyetoday.com/opinion/anka...

Ankara Summit’s real story lies in defense contracts, not diplomacy - Türkiye Today

The Turks will focus on three main issues, and they will define the success of the NATO summit in Ankara

turkiyetoday.com

Our latest with @ragipsoylu.bsky.social : Russia rejects Turkish ceasefire push in Ukraine ahead of Nato summit, sources say www.middleeasteye.net/news/russia-...

Russia rejects Turkish ceasefire push in Ukraine ahead of Nato summit, sources say

Ankara had hoped a ceasefire could pave the way for Russia-Ukraine talks in Turkey during the July Nato summit, but Moscow remains firm on its Donbas demands

middleeasteye.net

Today's brief covers two stories that will define the next 60 days of global order. www.linkedin.com/posts/levent...

Daily Brief – 15 June 2026 | Levent Kemal

Today's brief covers two stories that will define the next 60 days of global order. The US-Iran MOU — what's in it, what's deliberately missing, and why the hard part hasn't started yet. The G7 in É...

linkedin.com

On LinkedIn : Weekly Intelligence Brief | 7–13 June 2026 www.linkedin.com/posts/levent...

Weekly Intelligence Brief | Levent Kemal

Weekly Intelligence Brief | 7–13 June 2026 The US-Israel war on Iran crossed its 100th day this week. Two distinct escalation cycles played out within seven days — each forced into reverse by economi...

linkedin.com

My latest: Erdogan's speech on Israel was not a threat. It was a calibrated warning, shaped by a regional architecture Ankara can no longer afford to ignore. As Israel's strategy to isolate Turkey quietly unravels, the real story is what comes next. www.turkiyetoday.com/opinion/a-wa...

A warning, not a threat: Understanding Erdogan’s speech on Israel - Türkiye Today

Tel Aviv has been exerting intense effort to vilify Türkiye on the international stage amid the conflict in Gaza and escalating tensions with Iran

turkiyetoday.com

Our latest: Ceasefires and construction: How Israel is cementing its presence in Lebanon and Syria Satellite imagery points to a long-term Israeli presence in Lebanon and Syria. www.middleeasteye.net/news/ceasefi...

Ceasefires and construction: How Israel is cementing its presence in Lebanon and Syria

Satellite imagery shows Israel has developed a string of bases from the Mediterranean to the Yarmouk River in newly occupied territory. Sources say it looks like they're here to stay

middleeasteye.net

Our report is out. Report on the chokepoint strategy implemented by #JNIM to bring #Bamako to its knees: Kayes triangle. With Hasret Kargın & Recep Yiğit www.mintelworld.com/reports/kaye...

Kayes Triangle: JNIM's Chokepoint Strategy - Mintel World

Revised version with those constraints applied: The Kayes Triangle has emerged as the central fault line of Mali’s contemporary conflict economy. Hosting nearly 80% of industrial gold production and ...

mintelworld.com

Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadan, official spokesperson for the Azawad Liberation Front: “The Syrian experience is an inspiration to us, and the world’s perception is changing, just as it did with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa.”

The convoy is entering Bamako via the only route where JNIM has not intervened. The other routes, however, lie within JNIM’s operational areas. There is no access in or out via the Kouremalé, Santiguila, and Kati routes. bsky.app/profile/afri...

Africa View Facts@africaviewfacts.bsky.social · 3mo ago

The Malian 🇲🇱 army, working with Russia’s African Corps, safely escorted more than 800 fuel tankers into Bamako, despite militant claims that access to the capital had been cut off. Helicopters provided air cover throughout the operation, helping secure the route and prevent attacks.

A new poll shows Trump’s Iran war has reached Iraq- and Vietnam-era disapproval levels. 61% say the use of force against Iran was a mistake, while only 19% believe US actions have been successful. Poll also finds rising fears over recession, terrorism risks, and higher gas prices. t.co/cJikro3jqz

FLA frames its fight as a defensive war, stressing its commitment to self-defense. Also asserts its actions align with the principles of Islam and international humanitarian law. A highly political-diplomatic statement. Terminology familiar from Syria. bsky.app/profile/leve...

Levent Kemal@leventkemal.bsky.social · 3mo ago

FLA rejected terrorism accusations. FLA accused Mali’s army and Wagner-linked forces of serious abuses against civilians, calling on the international community to take a clearer stance. FLA also called on countries, including Turkey, to reassess their engagement with Bamako.

FLA rejected terrorism accusations. FLA accused Mali’s army and Wagner-linked forces of serious abuses against civilians, calling on the international community to take a clearer stance. FLA also called on countries, including Turkey, to reassess their engagement with Bamako.

20 Turkish citizens from the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was attacked by Israel, will arrive in Istanbul today at 17:00 from Crete through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

IS describes the FLA as nationalist and democratic and accuses al-Qaeda of flirting with the international system in Mali after Afghanistan and Syria. It argues that JNIM’s cooperation with the FLA has pushed the group into a more political posture. bsky.app/profile/leve...

Levent Kemal@leventkemal.bsky.social · 3mo ago

JNIM is shifting from a purely military actor to a political alternative to Mali’s junta, adopting a “national front” narrative and positioning itself for a broader, inclusive transition. Bamako is now a political target—not just a military one.

JNIM is shifting from a purely military actor to a political alternative to Mali’s junta, adopting a “national front” narrative and positioning itself for a broader, inclusive transition. Bamako is now a political target—not just a military one.

Russians always retreat from one remote garrison or give major loss in the Tuareg's desert. t.co/E2eQnBbRoQ

JNIM claims its fighters targeted several Malian army positions this morning, saying they took full control of Hombori in the Douentza region and seized two checkpoints in Fana and Kassela, near Bamako. bsky.app/profile/leve...

Levent Kemal@leventkemal.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Latest situation in Mali After 25 -28 April FLA - JNIM joint operation

Latest situation in Mali After 25 -28 April FLA - JNIM joint operation

In 2019, at his most vulnerable, Sharaa recalled a childhood dream, that one day he would become the Emir of Damascus. Five years later, he rules all of Syria. Read our Big Story with @ragipsoylu.bsky.social to understand how he changed to win. www.middleeasteye.net/big-story/sy...

How Turkey helped engineer Ahmed al-Sharaa's rise to power

Sharaa's pragmatism and close relationship with Turkey helped open doors, leading to his transformation from jihadist leader to rebel statesman and finally Syrian president

middleeasteye.net

My latest: Turkey eyes second-hand Eurofighter jets from Qatar • Sources say Ankara close to securing a deal as Turkey’s defence minister visits Doha With Ragıp Soylu t.co/eSRe59QEC5

Rabbi Henry Hamra has become a parliamentary candidate in Syria. He will be standing in tomorrow's elections. If Henry Hamra is elected as a member of parliament, he will be the first Jewish member of parliament elected since 1940.

My column: Trump and Blair’s proposed transitional rule for Gaza risks repeating Iraq’s mistakes: dismantling local structures, deepening anger, radicalization and fueling future conflict. www.turkiyetoday.com/opinion/trum...

Trump’s Gaza plan may lead to new wave of radicalization like Bremer’s CPA - Türkiye Today

Trump's fragile Gaza ceasefire plan may lead to a new wave of radicalization in Palestine, argues Türkiye Today contributor Levent Kemal

turkiyetoday.com

Our article with Ömer Özkızılcık for Atlantic Council about economic engagement between Syria & Turkey. Turkey–Syria trade hits $2B in 2025, with $14B pledged for reconstruction and new pipelines powering ties. www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menaso...

Is a new era of Turkey-Syria economic engagement on the horizon?

The convergence of Turkey's and the Gulf's economic strategies in Syria presents an opportunity for Washington.

atlanticcouncil.org

Gazans have been fighting, dying, displacing and starved, and for two years the world has done nothing but talk.

Our exclusive report with @ragipsoylu.bsky.social: Turkey to train Niger army in fight against militant groups. - Ankara plans to send battle-hardened military advisers to Niamey as Turkish government crafts a Sahel strategy to deepen relations www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-...

Exclusive: Turkey to train Niger army in fight against militant groups

Ankara plans to send battle-hardened military advisers to Niamey as Turkish government crafts a Sahel strategy to deepen relations

middleeasteye.net

My latest: Israel admits it has no precise intel on Hamas or hostages in Gaza City. Yet it’s using robots, tanks & paratroopers to crush the city — treating every civilian as Hamas. This is collective punishment, not counterterrorism. www.middleeasteye.net/news/how-isr...

How Israel is using robots, exploding vehicles and paratroopers to erase Gaza City

Israeli officers say the army doesn’t have precise intel on Hamas or captives, but driving the Palestinians to the south is a clear objective

middleeasteye.net

Russia’s drone strikes in Poland show Cold War deterrence is broken. NATO shoots them down at huge cost, while Moscow bets the West has “a sharp sword but a shaky hand.” Deterrence now needs not just weapons but political courage and cheaper defences. www.economist.com/internationa...

Cold war deterrence doesn’t work any more

Why the West is finding it so hard to deter China and Russia

economist.com

Israel Is Orchestrating an Economic Collapse in the West Bank · Israel revoked 115,000 Palestinian work permits · Unemployment >30% (was 12.9%) · Israel withheld nearly $2.3B in Palestinian tax revenues · PA debt soared to $13B (130% of GDP) foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/17/i...

Israel Is Orchestrating an Economic Collapse in the West Bank

Job losses are only one factor in the equation driving its financial decline.

foreignpolicy.com

In summer, Steve Witkoff met UAE royal Sheikh Tahnoon, who controls $1.5T in wealth. Soon after, Tahnoon’s firm invested $2B in a Trump-linked crypto startup, and the White House approved Emirati access to vast numbers of advanced AI chips. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/u...

Anatomy of Two Giant Deals: The U.A.E. Got Chips. The Trump Team Got Crypto Riches.

nytimes.com