Published February 17,2026

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday arrived in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, for an official visit.

Erdoğan and his delegation were welcomed by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos, and Turkish Ambassador to Ethiopia Berk Baran at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.

Abiy expressed his “greatest pleasure to warmly welcome” Erdoğan on to “the Land of Origins” in a post on US social media platform X.

He highlighted that the exchange of visits underscores the “strength of the deep partnership” between Türkiye and Ethiopia.

“From Ankara to Addis Ababa, I look forward to productive discussions that will further deepen cooperation and strengthen the enduring bonds between our two ancient nations,” the prime minister added.

Published February 17,2026

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French companies plan to make investments worth €5 billion ($5.25 billion) in Türkiye by 2027, French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness Nicolas Forissier stated on Tuesday.

Forissier, speaking at Türkiye-France Joint Economic and Trade Cooperation (JETCO) meeting in Istanbul held at the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), noted that French companies already invested €3.6 billion between 2020 and 2024, emphasizing the intense and long-term nature of these commitments.

He highlighted that the bilateral trade volume between the two nations reached a record €24 billion as of 2025.

Forissier pointed out that French enterprises contribute significantly to the Turkish economy by providing 400,000 jobs through direct and indirect employment.

The minister announced that the Limak Group and Bpifrance will implement a new project worth €150 million.

He added that the Rönesans group is set to sign a separate agreement with Bpifrance worth €50 million.

Forissier mentioned that the French public investment bank Bpifrance currently provides a total financing facility of €1.8 billion euros in Türkiye.

The minister remarked that the JETCO meeting represents an exceptional dynamic and a crucial step in mutual cooperation between the two nations.

He expressed his happiness about hosting the 9th Term JETCO meeting in France next year.

Forissier observed that the Turkish economy continues to grow strongly and its companies are increasing their international presence.

The minister stated that France is open to providing all kinds of support to Turkish companies wishing to invest in France, which he described as Europe’s top investment destination.

Published February 17,2026

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The IGA Istanbul Airport operated 1,491 flights on average every day last year, maintaining its top position in Europe for the fourth consecutive year, the Turkish transport and infrastructure minister told Anadolu.

Abdulkadir Günyol stated that some 11.1 million flights were operated in the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) region last year, citing data from the organization.

Günyol said the number of flights operated in the region climbed 4.1% year-on-year, and the highest daily flights were on July 18, 2025, with 37,034 recorded flights.

The minister noted Türkiye ranked sixth among European countries with the highest air traffic volume, with an average of 3,355 flights per day, as the country has grown into “a regional and global hub, with the average number of flights per day rising 20% versus the pre-pandemic levels.”

Meanwhile, the IGA Istanbul Airport was followed by Amsterdam Airport with 1,351 daily flights, London Heathrow Airport with 1,315, Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport with 1,314, and Frankfurt Airport with 1,261.

At the same time, Athens International Airport entered the top 10 last year, surpassing London Gatwick Airport, which fell from the top 10 in 2024 to the 13th position last year, the data showed.

Published February 15,2026

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Türkiye on Sunday strongly condemned Israel’s new decision on land registration in the occupied West Bank, calling it a violation of international law.

Earlier Sunday, the Israeli government approved a proposal to register vast areas of the occupied West Bank as “state property,” the first such measure since Israel occupied the territory in 1967.

Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the move aims to impose Israel’s “authority over the occupied West Bank and expand settlement activities.”

“This step, which seeks to forcibly displace the Palestinian people from their land and accelerate Israel’s unlawful annexation efforts, constitutes a clear violation of international law and is null and void,” the ministry said.

“Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories,” the ministry added, saying that the expansionist policies pursued by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government undermine peace efforts and damage prospects for a two-state solution.

Türkiye called on the international community to take a firm stance against Israeli attempts to create facts on the ground.

The ministry said Türkiye will continue to support efforts to “establish an independent, sovereign and contiguous” Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported that the proposal was submitted by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Defense Minister Israel Katz.

“The initial goal is the gradual settlement of 15% of Area C by 2030,” daily Israel Hayom said ahead of the government decision.

Under the Oslo II Accord signed in 1995, Area A is under full Palestinian control, Area B is under Palestinian civil control and Israeli security control, while Area C, accounting for about 61% of the West Bank, remains under full Israeli control.

The Oslo II Accord limits land registration by the Palestinian Authority to Areas A and B, while prohibiting it in Area C.

The move was part of a series of measures approved by Israel’s Security Cabinet last week aimed at expanding illegal settlement building and increasing Tel Aviv’s control of the occupied West Bank.

According to Israeli media, the measures include repealing a law that barred the sale of land in the West Bank to illegal Israeli settlers, unsealing land ownership records, and shifting authority for building permits in a settlement bloc near Hebron from a Palestinian municipality to Israel’s civil administration.

Israel has intensified operations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since launching its military campaign in Gaza on Oct. 8, 2023. Palestinians view the escalation-including killings, arrests, displacement, and settlement expansion-as a step toward formal annexation of the territory.

In a landmark opinion in July 2024, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.