Clément Plaisant
@cplaisant.bsky.social
International Relations | Diplomacy | Turkey-Syria | Et un peu d'@OL. Personal views here
Pinned
Updated timeline of the politico-judicial operation against the Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem İmamoğlu…
https://medium.com/@Mayis_Sikintisi/updated-timeline-of-the-politico-judicial-operation-against-the-mayor-of-istanbul-ekrem-i̇mamoğlu-4f02aaa92be7
As we pass the 100-day mark of the politico-judicial operation against Istanbul Mayor İmamoğlu, I've compiled in 3 blog posts a few keys/resources that will (I hope) help to better understand this event (which is not over) :
1) a detailed timeline of the operation ++
medium.com/@Mayis_Sikin...
1) a detailed timeline of the operation ++
medium.com/@Mayis_Sikin...
""Our discussions with the relevant institutions on the establishment of a clean power plant are also ongoing," Erdoğan said in a joint news conference with Lee [South Korean President] "
www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkiye-sout...
www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkiye-sout...
Türkiye, South Korea sign 3 deals including nuclear cooperation - Türkiye News
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday said that his meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Ankara focused on steps to advance defense industry cooperation between the two countries.
www.hurriyetdailynews.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:37 PM
""Our discussions with the relevant institutions on the establishment of a clean power plant are also ongoing," Erdoğan said in a joint news conference with Lee [South Korean President] "
www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkiye-sout...
www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkiye-sout...
Mümtaz'er Türköne discusses the central role of PKK leader Öcalan in the peace process and the Turkish political landscape. However, contrary to what the author says, the preponderance of the ‘Öcalan factor’ does not preclude a situation of authoritarian peace (through managed pluralism).
November 25, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Mümtaz'er Türköne discusses the central role of PKK leader Öcalan in the peace process and the Turkish political landscape. However, contrary to what the author says, the preponderance of the ‘Öcalan factor’ does not preclude a situation of authoritarian peace (through managed pluralism).
A valuable article by Yohanan Benhaim, examining the ways in which the AKP has conquered the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a regalian administration of Kemalist tradition. He describes a slow, non-linear and contingent takeover.
shs.cairn.info/revue-critiq...
shs.cairn.info/revue-critiq...
November 25, 2025 at 10:44 AM
A valuable article by Yohanan Benhaim, examining the ways in which the AKP has conquered the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a regalian administration of Kemalist tradition. He describes a slow, non-linear and contingent takeover.
shs.cairn.info/revue-critiq...
shs.cairn.info/revue-critiq...
A very thorough article by Ömer Önhon, former Turkish ambassador to Damascus, assessing the latest developments in Syria and within the Kurdish political movement and their implications for Ankara and the current peace process.
✍️ Türkiye'nin son Şam Büyükelçisi Ömer Önhon yazdı:
🔴İç içe geçmiş konular ve sorunlar yumağında
📌En üst düzey Türk yetkililer YPG/SDG’nin Türkiye’nin ulusal güvenliği için tehdit oluşturduğunu dile getirmelerine mukabil hep bir muğlaklık var
t24.com.tr/yazarlar/ome...
🔴İç içe geçmiş konular ve sorunlar yumağında
📌En üst düzey Türk yetkililer YPG/SDG’nin Türkiye’nin ulusal güvenliği için tehdit oluşturduğunu dile getirmelerine mukabil hep bir muğlaklık var
t24.com.tr/yazarlar/ome...
November 25, 2025 at 9:33 AM
A very thorough article by Ömer Önhon, former Turkish ambassador to Damascus, assessing the latest developments in Syria and within the Kurdish political movement and their implications for Ankara and the current peace process.
Worth reading : "A decade after the 2016 rupture, the Türkiye–Russia–United States triangle has settled into a pattern of normalized asymmetry. What began as a balancing attempt has evolved into a structured condition of constrained interdependence" +
www.institut-bosphore.org/wp-content/u...
www.institut-bosphore.org/wp-content/u...
November 25, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Worth reading : "A decade after the 2016 rupture, the Türkiye–Russia–United States triangle has settled into a pattern of normalized asymmetry. What began as a balancing attempt has evolved into a structured condition of constrained interdependence" +
www.institut-bosphore.org/wp-content/u...
www.institut-bosphore.org/wp-content/u...
After refusing to meet with Ocalan, it is said that the CHP wants to put pressure on the commission to take steps towards democratisation (which is consistent with its brand new programme). It remains to be seen how the ruling bloc will respond, as it is firmly prioritising the laying down of arms.
November 25, 2025 at 8:48 AM
After refusing to meet with Ocalan, it is said that the CHP wants to put pressure on the commission to take steps towards democratisation (which is consistent with its brand new programme). It remains to be seen how the ruling bloc will respond, as it is firmly prioritising the laying down of arms.
For pro-government Turkish columnist Okan Müderrisoğlu, the Russo-American 28-point peace plan proposal illustrates how the new ‘multipolar’ world order is gradually transforming into ‘modern colonialism’ 2.0 under Washington's aegis.
m.sabah.com.tr/yazarlar/mud...
m.sabah.com.tr/yazarlar/mud...
OKAN MÜDERRİSOĞLU - Ukrayna: Acı barışa katlanmak!
Önce, Türkiye ekonomisine dair iki kritik mesajı hatırlatayım... Sonra, Rusya-Ukrayna Barış Plânı bağlamında ekonomik çıkarların ülkelerin kaderini nasıl şekillendirdiğini vurgulayayım. Ve böylece, -t...
m.sabah.com.tr
November 25, 2025 at 7:25 AM
For pro-government Turkish columnist Okan Müderrisoğlu, the Russo-American 28-point peace plan proposal illustrates how the new ‘multipolar’ world order is gradually transforming into ‘modern colonialism’ 2.0 under Washington's aegis.
m.sabah.com.tr/yazarlar/mud...
m.sabah.com.tr/yazarlar/mud...
Reposted by Clément Plaisant
From this point onwards, as the Imrali visit is also realized, I believe the fate of the rapprochement process with Ocalan is entirely dependent on what will happen with the SDF in Syria.
November 25, 2025 at 6:26 AM
From this point onwards, as the Imrali visit is also realized, I believe the fate of the rapprochement process with Ocalan is entirely dependent on what will happen with the SDF in Syria.
Reposted by Clément Plaisant
✍️Murat Sabuncu yazdı:
🔴CHP, Kürt sorununun çözümünde dengedir, DEM’le ara açılmamalı…
📌Hem Özel’in hem İmamoğlu’nun CHP’nin barış arayışlarının içinde yer alması DEM ile ipleri de koparmaması gerekiyor
t24.com.tr/yazarlar/mur...
🔴CHP, Kürt sorununun çözümünde dengedir, DEM’le ara açılmamalı…
📌Hem Özel’in hem İmamoğlu’nun CHP’nin barış arayışlarının içinde yer alması DEM ile ipleri de koparmaması gerekiyor
t24.com.tr/yazarlar/mur...
November 23, 2025 at 9:21 PM
✍️Murat Sabuncu yazdı:
🔴CHP, Kürt sorununun çözümünde dengedir, DEM’le ara açılmamalı…
📌Hem Özel’in hem İmamoğlu’nun CHP’nin barış arayışlarının içinde yer alması DEM ile ipleri de koparmaması gerekiyor
t24.com.tr/yazarlar/mur...
🔴CHP, Kürt sorununun çözümünde dengedir, DEM’le ara açılmamalı…
📌Hem Özel’in hem İmamoğlu’nun CHP’nin barış arayışlarının içinde yer alması DEM ile ipleri de koparmaması gerekiyor
t24.com.tr/yazarlar/mur...
"One key structural constraint is Turkey’s lack of the political-economic fundamentals needed to effectively operationalize an autonomous foreign policy [...] These structural limitations are compounded by ideological and institutional constraints that relate to Turkey’s domestic governance"
November 24, 2025 at 6:21 PM
"One key structural constraint is Turkey’s lack of the political-economic fundamentals needed to effectively operationalize an autonomous foreign policy [...] These structural limitations are compounded by ideological and institutional constraints that relate to Turkey’s domestic governance"
It must be emphasised that this is a highly symbolic visit. Öcalan is already in contact with the Turkish state, and the challenges facing the peace process, particularly those linked to the situation in Syria, will not magically disappear after this meeting with the peace commission.
A delegation from Turkey's peace commission met PKK founder Ocalan today. According to a statement, "positive results were obtained during the meeting in terms of social integration, strengthening brotherhood, and advancing the process toward a regional perspective".
serbestiyet.com/haberler/kom...
serbestiyet.com/haberler/kom...
Komisyon İmralı'ya gitti: "Olumlu sonuçlar alınmıştır" - Serbestiyet
Komisyon İmralı'ya gitti. Öcalan'la 3 saat süren görüşmeye AK Parti'den Hüseyin Yayman, MHP'den Feti Yıldız, DEM Parti'den Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit katıldı. TBMM Başkanlığı: "Örgütün kendisini feshetme...
serbestiyet.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:01 PM
It must be emphasised that this is a highly symbolic visit. Öcalan is already in contact with the Turkish state, and the challenges facing the peace process, particularly those linked to the situation in Syria, will not magically disappear after this meeting with the peace commission.
A delegation from Turkey's peace commission met PKK founder Ocalan today. According to a statement, "positive results were obtained during the meeting in terms of social integration, strengthening brotherhood, and advancing the process toward a regional perspective".
serbestiyet.com/haberler/kom...
serbestiyet.com/haberler/kom...
Komisyon İmralı'ya gitti: "Olumlu sonuçlar alınmıştır" - Serbestiyet
Komisyon İmralı'ya gitti. Öcalan'la 3 saat süren görüşmeye AK Parti'den Hüseyin Yayman, MHP'den Feti Yıldız, DEM Parti'den Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit katıldı. TBMM Başkanlığı: "Örgütün kendisini feshetme...
serbestiyet.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:55 PM
A delegation from Turkey's peace commission met PKK founder Ocalan today. According to a statement, "positive results were obtained during the meeting in terms of social integration, strengthening brotherhood, and advancing the process toward a regional perspective".
serbestiyet.com/haberler/kom...
serbestiyet.com/haberler/kom...
SDF Commander Abu Omar al-Idlib: "The SDF will integrate as 3 brigades and 3 independent divisions to assure the safety of the region. There will be leaders from the SDF in the Ministry of Defense. We will have our personnel involved in the work of a new govt"
www.kurdishpeace.org/research/kpi...
www.kurdishpeace.org/research/kpi...
Abu Omar al-Idlibi: “My dream is a participatory, pluralistic, democratic, civil Syria” – Kurdish Peace Institute
www.kurdishpeace.org
November 24, 2025 at 1:13 PM
SDF Commander Abu Omar al-Idlib: "The SDF will integrate as 3 brigades and 3 independent divisions to assure the safety of the region. There will be leaders from the SDF in the Ministry of Defense. We will have our personnel involved in the work of a new govt"
www.kurdishpeace.org/research/kpi...
www.kurdishpeace.org/research/kpi...
A very interesting paper. The author highlights the excess of symbolism and personalisation in the current Kurdish opening (the focus on Öcalan himself is telling in this regard) and calls instead for the construction of a genuine institutional architecture for peace
yetkinreport.com/2025/11/24/i...
yetkinreport.com/2025/11/24/i...
İmralı Ziyareti: Neden Belirleyici Oldu ve Gerçekten Neyi Çözecek? - Yetkin Report
İmralı’ya gidiş sembolik bir kapı olabilir; fakat kapının ardında esasa dair odalar yoksa toplumun beklentisi kırılır.
yetkinreport.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:30 AM
A very interesting paper. The author highlights the excess of symbolism and personalisation in the current Kurdish opening (the focus on Öcalan himself is telling in this regard) and calls instead for the construction of a genuine institutional architecture for peace
yetkinreport.com/2025/11/24/i...
yetkinreport.com/2025/11/24/i...
Key points from top PKK commander Murat Karayılan's latest media appearance : 1) a (not new) focus on the need to re-form the Turkish-Kurdish alliance, but also to usher in a new era of relations between Kurds,Turks and Arabs; 2) a (yet another) reminder that Öcalan's physical freedom +
November 24, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Key points from top PKK commander Murat Karayılan's latest media appearance : 1) a (not new) focus on the need to re-form the Turkish-Kurdish alliance, but also to usher in a new era of relations between Kurds,Turks and Arabs; 2) a (yet another) reminder that Öcalan's physical freedom +
A very small delegation from the Turkey’s Kurdish peace commission will travel to İmralı today to visit PKK leader Öcalan. No photos will be shared with the public ((it is said that the AKP fears negative reactions from the public).
www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/siyaset/turk...
www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/siyaset/turk...
Türkiye gazetesi: İmralı heyeti Abdullah Öcalan'la görüşmek için yola çıkıyor
İktidara yakın Türkiye gazetesi, terör örgütü PKK lideri Abdullah Öcalan'la görüşmek üzere İmralı Adası'na gidecek TBMM heyetinin yola çıkacağını duyurdu.
www.cumhuriyet.com.tr
November 24, 2025 at 9:24 AM
A very small delegation from the Turkey’s Kurdish peace commission will travel to İmralı today to visit PKK leader Öcalan. No photos will be shared with the public ((it is said that the AKP fears negative reactions from the public).
www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/siyaset/turk...
www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/siyaset/turk...
Following the protracted discussions surrounding a potential meeting between the peace commission and Öcalan, Cansu Çamlıbel criticises the methodology of the process: Erdoğan's reluctance to take risks, the refusal to involve civil society and the wider public, the sole focus on weapons, etc.
November 24, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Following the protracted discussions surrounding a potential meeting between the peace commission and Öcalan, Cansu Çamlıbel criticises the methodology of the process: Erdoğan's reluctance to take risks, the refusal to involve civil society and the wider public, the sole focus on weapons, etc.
This is nothing new, but several Turkish journalists, including Fehim Taştekin, have noted differences in approach within the Turkish government regarding the peace process. On the issue of the SDF, for example, İbrahim Kalın (MIT) is said to be much more conciliatory than Hakan Fidan (MFA).
November 24, 2025 at 7:49 AM
This is nothing new, but several Turkish journalists, including Fehim Taştekin, have noted differences in approach within the Turkish government regarding the peace process. On the issue of the SDF, for example, İbrahim Kalın (MIT) is said to be much more conciliatory than Hakan Fidan (MFA).
In an interview, Hamit Bozarslan explains that only the pro-Kurdish DEM has made the democratisation of Turkey a legitimate goal and a horizon to be achieved, adding that the AKP and CHP have no democratic perspective or vision. This is a false and problematic view.
ilketv.com.tr/qad-konferan...
ilketv.com.tr/qad-konferan...
QAD Konferansı | Kürt meselesi nedir, ne değildir? Hamit Bozarslan ve Ayşegül Doğan yanıtladı
Almanya’nın Bonn kentinde Barış Araştırmaları Derneği (QAD) tarafından düzenlenen konferansta, Türkiye’de çözüm süreci ve demokratikleşme perspektifleri ele alındı. Abdullah Öcalan, Selahattin Demirta...
ilketv.com.tr
November 23, 2025 at 1:17 PM
In an interview, Hamit Bozarslan explains that only the pro-Kurdish DEM has made the democratisation of Turkey a legitimate goal and a horizon to be achieved, adding that the AKP and CHP have no democratic perspective or vision. This is a false and problematic view.
ilketv.com.tr/qad-konferan...
ilketv.com.tr/qad-konferan...
This article by Berkant Gültekin asks the right questions about the Imrali affair. Why is Erdoğan so hesitant to take risks in the peace process? Why does he place the burden of important decisions on others (particularly the opposition)?
www.birgun.net/makale/imral...
www.birgun.net/makale/imral...
İmralı ziyareti: Neden kimse Erdoğan’ı konuşmuyor?
www.birgun.net
November 23, 2025 at 11:15 AM
This article by Berkant Gültekin asks the right questions about the Imrali affair. Why is Erdoğan so hesitant to take risks in the peace process? Why does he place the burden of important decisions on others (particularly the opposition)?
www.birgun.net/makale/imral...
www.birgun.net/makale/imral...
On the İmralı affair, I also recommend Kemal Can's article, which avoids simplistic reasoning and hasty conclusions.
medyascope.tv/2025/11/23/k...
medyascope.tv/2025/11/23/k...
November 22, 2025 at 10:19 PM
On the İmralı affair, I also recommend Kemal Can's article, which avoids simplistic reasoning and hasty conclusions.
medyascope.tv/2025/11/23/k...
medyascope.tv/2025/11/23/k...
A must-read : "The paradox is that [Turkish] opposition victories now generate intensified repression rather than systemic openings. In such a context, electoral triumphs risk becoming pyrrhic, producing symbolic validation without enabling substantive change"
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Opposition’s paradox of victory: electoral success and authoritarian retrenchment in Turkey
This study examines the transformation of Turkey’s opposition politics between the May 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections and the 2024 local elections. Following the ruling party’s victo...
www.tandfonline.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:32 PM
A must-read : "The paradox is that [Turkish] opposition victories now generate intensified repression rather than systemic openings. In such a context, electoral triumphs risk becoming pyrrhic, producing symbolic validation without enabling substantive change"
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
A very thorough article on the technical aspects of disarming the PKK. Levent Kemal shows in particular that such a process could be incomplete if it does not tackle the PKK's urban structure, as well as its financial networks and diaspora organisations.
leventkemai.medium.com/bar%C4%B1%C5...
leventkemai.medium.com/bar%C4%B1%C5...
Barış? Evet. Peki Nasıl?
Türkiye’de halklar barışalı epey olmuştur. Kimlik formunun şehirlerin agoralarında nefret için ayırt edici bir kıstas olduğu durum geride…
leventkemai.medium.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:10 PM
A very thorough article on the technical aspects of disarming the PKK. Levent Kemal shows in particular that such a process could be incomplete if it does not tackle the PKK's urban structure, as well as its financial networks and diaspora organisations.
leventkemai.medium.com/bar%C4%B1%C5...
leventkemai.medium.com/bar%C4%B1%C5...
Seren Selvin Korkmaz has reviewed the CHP's latest programme for Birgun. Worth reading.
www.birgun.net/haber/guclu-...
www.birgun.net/haber/guclu-...
Güçlü yurttaş güvenceli gelecek
www.birgun.net
November 22, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Seren Selvin Korkmaz has reviewed the CHP's latest programme for Birgun. Worth reading.
www.birgun.net/haber/guclu-...
www.birgun.net/haber/guclu-...