Published December 10,2025

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Turkmenistan on Dec. 11-12 to attend International Peace and Security Forum, Türkiye’s communications director said Wednesday.

The forum is being held to mark the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s status of permanent neutrality and the designation of 2025 as the “International Year of Peace and Trust” by the UN General Assembly, said Burhanettin Duran on Turkish social media platform NSosyal.

Duran said the president will address the forum as well as hold bilateral talks with participating heads of state and government including the host Turkmenistan, on the sidelines.

Published December 10,2025

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The atmosphere towards Türkiye in the US Congress is “steadily improving,” the head of the Turkish delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) said Wednesday.

Leading the group during visits in Washington as part of the Transatlantic Forum, Mevlut Cavusoglu said they met with delegations from several countries, including US lawmakers, and observed “a steadily improving atmosphere toward Türkiye in Washington, particularly in Congress.”

He told Anadolu that the forum provided an opportunity to assess key issues for NATO, including its target of increasing defense expenditures to 5% of GDP, as well as broader alliance priorities.

The delegation reviewed issues including defense industry innovation, joint production, removing trade barriers to defense products, strengthening NATO’s capabilities and deterrence posture, and the Russia-Ukraine war.

“The Türkiye delegation emphasized that restrictions on defense trade between allies contradict the spirit of solidarity. As you know, some restrictions still target Türkiye,” he said, adding that Ankara has important perspectives to offer on regional and global crises due to its active role in conflict resolution.

Mediation efforts and US President Donald Trump’s proposed Russia-Ukraine peace plan were also discussed, said Cavusoglu, who is also a former Turkish foreign minister.

He said the US administration’s new security strategy document was raised mainly by European participants, who voiced concerns over parts of it.

He underlined that the delegation reminded US lawmakers of the commitments made during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s September meeting with President Donald Trump, stressing the need for Congress to support the momentum created by both leaders.

“Their sentiments and expectations were in the same direction,” he added.

Highlighting Türkiye’s role as the host of next year’s NATO summit, Cavusoglu said the meeting will be held in the capital Ankara on July 7-8 under President Erdogan’s chairmanship.

He added that the NATO Parliamentary Summit will also take place in Türkiye, marking two major gatherings next year, along with the UN climate change summit COP31.

Published December 11,2025

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A 4.9-magnitude earthquake struck the Sındırgı district of Balıkesir. Interior Minister Yerlikaya announced that teams have immediately begun field assessments.

According to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the quake occurred at 10:06 AM local time with a depth of 6.97 kilometers and was centered in Sındırgı.

The tremor was also felt in other provinces, including İzmir and Kütahya.

Published December 12,2025

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Türkiye’s Tayfun Missile and Weapon System, which is currently in mass production and delivery, hit its target with pinpoint accuracy in its latest test.

Testing continues on various variants of Tayfun, which holds the title of Türkiye’s longest-range and domestically produced ballistic missile.

“Our Tayfun missile has crossed another threshold with its successful test launch, expanding the horizon of our security and strengthening our deterrent capabilities,” Turkish Defense Industries Secretary Haluk Gorgun wrote on Friday on Turkish social media platform NSosyal.

He said during the process, they continue to add new systems to Türkiye’s inventory, strengthening its deterrent capability with multi-layered and domestically produced solutions.

“This achievement is not merely the success of a missile hitting its target, but a proud culmination of a long journey forged through the hard work of our engineers, the intelligence of our youth, and the unwavering determination of our nation,” Gorgun noted.

He emphasized that each ascent represents a line of self-confidence drawn in the skies of his beloved homeland. Every hit is a resounding declaration of Türkiye’s determination to protect its skies with its own hands.

“I wholeheartedly thank our Roketsan family, from engineers to technicians, and all our colleagues who contributed to this critical success,” Gorgun said.

The demonstrated high level of capability is a concrete example of Türkiye’s determination to protect its future, he said, adding that with each step forward, Türkiye gains confidence, strength, and determination.

TAYFUN READY FOR DUTY

Roketsan CEO Murat Ikinci also commented on the test, saying Tayfun is ready for duty.

“Our TAYFUN Missile and Weapon System, whose mass production and delivery activities we are rapidly continuing, hit its target with pinpoint accuracy in its latest test. I wholeheartedly congratulate all my colleagues who contributed to this success,” Ikinci wrote on NSosyal.