Published February 13,2026

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The head of the Turkish parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee said Thursday that relations between Türkiye and the US are on a more stable footing due to direct engagement between the countries’ leaders.

Speaking to Turkish journalists in Washington, Fuat Oktay, a former Turkish vice president, said the current “healthy” relationship between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump has contributed to steadier bilateral ties.

Oktay said meetings on Capitol Hill reflected a more positive atmosphere compared to previous visits, suggesting that the constructive approach at the leadership level is also visible in Congress.

He said bilateral trade between the two NATO allies stands at nearly $40 billion, with a target of $100 billion, adding that new areas of cooperation have emerged in defense and security.

Reiterating that NATO allies should not impose embargoes on one another, Oktay said issues such as the S-400 air defense systems should be handled in a way that allows both sides to move forward. He said Türkiye procured the systems to meet urgent security needs at a time when it was unable to obtain US-made Patriot systems.

On regional issues, Oktay also emphasized that strengthening Syria’s central government and ensuring integration across the country would contribute to regional stability, arguing that this approach serves the interests of both Türkiye and the US.

Published February 13,2026

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Türkiye on Friday welcomed the parliamentary elections and referendum on reforms, including constitutional amendments, in Bangladesh, saying they were conducted “in a peaceful manner.”

“We hope that the results of the elections and the referendum, which observers from Türkiye also monitored, will contribute to democracy, stability and prosperity in Bangladesh,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Türkiye also reaffirmed its commitment to further developing relations with the South Asian country in every field in the period ahead.

Bangladesh held general elections on Thursday, the first since the 2024 popular uprising that ousted the government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has won a two-thirds majority in the 300-seat parliament and is set to form the new government. The party’s chairman, Tarique Rehman, is expected to become the new prime minister.

Published February 13,2026

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The Turkish president spoke by phone on Friday with the Iraqi prime minister to discuss bilateral ties, as well as regional and global developments, according to Türkiye’s Communications Directorate.

During the call with Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara would continue taking steps to strengthen relations with Iraq in multiple fields, particularly trade.

The Turkish president also emphasized that increasing cooperation in the fight against terrorism would benefit both countries.

Published February 13,2026

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New prototypes of the homegrown combat aircraft KAAN, which will undergo testing during the development process led by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), have made their debut.

The head of Türkiye’s Secretariat of Defense Industries, Haluk Gorgun, visited the KAAN hangar on Friday to receive information regarding the latest developments.

Gorgun noted that the rollout of the aircraft intended for full-size static testing, alongside the first and second flight prototypes, represents a significant technical milestone.

The official emphasized that KAAN stands beyond a mere aircraft as a symbol of Türkiye’s engineering prowess and independent defense capabilities.

The primary objective of the project centers on indigenously developing a next-generation combat aircraft that will serve the Turkish Air Force for many years.

KAAN will feature advanced capabilities such as low observability, internal weapon bays, enhanced situational awareness and sensor fusion for superior performance in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

Following the first flight of the initial prototype in 2024, development and production processes continue uninterrupted while simultaneously advancing operational capabilities for manned and unmanned fighter jets.

Gorgun explained that KAAN continuously enhances the country’s defense and aviation infrastructure, elevating Türkiye into an elite league of global players, particularly through the ongoing development of a domestic engine.

The strategic program also serves as a catalyst that simultaneously strengthens the country’s infrastructure, human resources and technological accumulation, he noted.

Authorities are rapidly carrying out preparations for mass production in parallel with the current testing phases as part of this critical technology initiative.

The domestic supply chain for KAAN currently consists of more than 5,000 employees working across over 300 companies in more than 20 cities, Gorgun said.