Sinan Ciddi
@sinanciddi.bsky.social
Associate Professor, Security Studies Marine Corps University, CSC | Non-Resident Senior Fellow on Turkey @FDD | Adjunct Professor @georgetownsfs
Pinned
Sinan Ciddi
@sinanciddi.bsky.social
· Oct 28
How Turkish Arms End Up in African Conflicts
Ankara’s engagement on the continent has generated violence, not stability.
foreignpolicy.com
How 🇹🇷 Arms End Up in African Conflicts
Ankara’s engagement on the continent has generated violence, not stability
Our latest piece for @foreignpolicy.com w/my FDD colleague Will Doran
Ankara’s engagement on the continent has generated violence, not stability
Our latest piece for @foreignpolicy.com w/my FDD colleague Will Doran
Erdogan put Imamoglu in jail. The question is, is Mansur Yavas next? It's clear Erdogan won't stop to crush opposition as he tries to groom his son to succeed him
Why does 🇪🇺 still think it can trust this thuggish regime?
Our latest for The National Interest with William Doran
Why does 🇪🇺 still think it can trust this thuggish regime?
Our latest for The National Interest with William Doran
President Erdogan’s Decapitation of the Turkish Opposition
The US and NATO need to stand up for what remains of Turkey’s democracy.
nationalinterest.org
November 24, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Erdogan put Imamoglu in jail. The question is, is Mansur Yavas next? It's clear Erdogan won't stop to crush opposition as he tries to groom his son to succeed him
Why does 🇪🇺 still think it can trust this thuggish regime?
Our latest for The National Interest with William Doran
Why does 🇪🇺 still think it can trust this thuggish regime?
Our latest for The National Interest with William Doran
Not mincing my words here in my latest for @breakingdefense.com
London's Eurofighter sale is a win for 🇹🇷, but a strategic blunder that history will remember
London's Eurofighter sale is a win for 🇹🇷, but a strategic blunder that history will remember
London’s Eurofighter sale to Turkey: A win for industry, a loss for strategy - Breaking Defense
Approving the sale of Eurofighters to Turkey may have had good optics. but it undermines NATO's collective security, argues Sinan Ciddi from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
breakingdefense.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Not mincing my words here in my latest for @breakingdefense.com
London's Eurofighter sale is a win for 🇹🇷, but a strategic blunder that history will remember
London's Eurofighter sale is a win for 🇹🇷, but a strategic blunder that history will remember
Reposted by Sinan Ciddi
My friend @sinanciddi.bsky.social found this old panel discussion of Turkey and human rights from (2012). We were both much younger and much handsomer. The funniest thing about it was the audience was not very happy... Sinan and I were simply too harsh on the AKP
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbpE...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbpE...
Turkish Democracy: A Model Abroad, Troubled at Home?
YouTube video by Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED)
www.youtube.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:36 PM
My friend @sinanciddi.bsky.social found this old panel discussion of Turkey and human rights from (2012). We were both much younger and much handsomer. The funniest thing about it was the audience was not very happy... Sinan and I were simply too harsh on the AKP
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbpE...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbpE...
2012-one of the very first panels I spoke at in Washington on why Erdogan and the AKP were a threat to 🇹🇷
On the panel, my friend @heissenstat.bsky.social & Amb. Ross Wilson
Gulenists in the audience hated the panel and called us "elitists". Back then, it wasn't vogue to critique Erdogan 😀
On the panel, my friend @heissenstat.bsky.social & Amb. Ross Wilson
Gulenists in the audience hated the panel and called us "elitists". Back then, it wasn't vogue to critique Erdogan 😀
Turkish Democracy: A Model Abroad, Troubled at Home?
YouTube video by Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED)
www.youtube.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:38 PM
2012-one of the very first panels I spoke at in Washington on why Erdogan and the AKP were a threat to 🇹🇷
On the panel, my friend @heissenstat.bsky.social & Amb. Ross Wilson
Gulenists in the audience hated the panel and called us "elitists". Back then, it wasn't vogue to critique Erdogan 😀
On the panel, my friend @heissenstat.bsky.social & Amb. Ross Wilson
Gulenists in the audience hated the panel and called us "elitists". Back then, it wasn't vogue to critique Erdogan 😀
Indeed-maps home made by Will Doran-my partner in crime for this piece!
Come for the article, stay for the maps! Thanks to @sinanciddi.bsky.social and the team at @foreignpolicy.com for this:
foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/28/t...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/28/t...
How Turkish Arms End Up in African Conflicts
Ankara’s engagement on the continent has generated violence, not stability.
foreignpolicy.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Indeed-maps home made by Will Doran-my partner in crime for this piece!
How 🇹🇷 Arms End Up in African Conflicts
Ankara’s engagement on the continent has generated violence, not stability
Our latest piece for @foreignpolicy.com w/my FDD colleague Will Doran
Ankara’s engagement on the continent has generated violence, not stability
Our latest piece for @foreignpolicy.com w/my FDD colleague Will Doran
How Turkish Arms End Up in African Conflicts
Ankara’s engagement on the continent has generated violence, not stability.
foreignpolicy.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:44 PM
How 🇹🇷 Arms End Up in African Conflicts
Ankara’s engagement on the continent has generated violence, not stability
Our latest piece for @foreignpolicy.com w/my FDD colleague Will Doran
Ankara’s engagement on the continent has generated violence, not stability
Our latest piece for @foreignpolicy.com w/my FDD colleague Will Doran
🇹🇷 military has no business in Gaza
It's presence is dangerous & risks not only arming Hamas but risks positioning a NATO military power by its side in support of a terrorist entity
Our latest piece with Ahmad Sharawi for National Security Journal👇
It's presence is dangerous & risks not only arming Hamas but risks positioning a NATO military power by its side in support of a terrorist entity
Our latest piece with Ahmad Sharawi for National Security Journal👇
Turkey's Gulf Tour and Erdogan's Gaza Ambitions are Dangerous
Erdogan is pushing to deploy Turkish troops to Gaza, but his history of backing Hamas makes his "peace" plan a threat to stability.
nationalsecurityjournal.org
October 27, 2025 at 6:02 PM
🇹🇷 military has no business in Gaza
It's presence is dangerous & risks not only arming Hamas but risks positioning a NATO military power by its side in support of a terrorist entity
Our latest piece with Ahmad Sharawi for National Security Journal👇
It's presence is dangerous & risks not only arming Hamas but risks positioning a NATO military power by its side in support of a terrorist entity
Our latest piece with Ahmad Sharawi for National Security Journal👇
Reposted by Sinan Ciddi
DW has an interesting run-down of varied thinking around EU coordination with Turkey over security as Russia looms larger and the US proves increasing undependable. With @sinanciddi.bsky.social and @Samuel Doveri Vesterbye.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo97...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo97...
Can Turkey be a reliable partner for European Security? | DW News
YouTube video by DW News
www.youtube.com
October 19, 2025 at 5:22 PM
DW has an interesting run-down of varied thinking around EU coordination with Turkey over security as Russia looms larger and the US proves increasing undependable. With @sinanciddi.bsky.social and @Samuel Doveri Vesterbye.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo97...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo97...
My latest for @haaretzcom.bsky.social 👇
"Erdogan's Turkey Wants to Be a Key Player in Post-war Gaza.
It's a Fantasy"
🇹🇷 President's unwavering embrace of Hamas leaves Ankara without the credibility, trust or impartiality required to shape Gaza's future
"Erdogan's Turkey Wants to Be a Key Player in Post-war Gaza.
It's a Fantasy"
🇹🇷 President's unwavering embrace of Hamas leaves Ankara without the credibility, trust or impartiality required to shape Gaza's future
Erdogan's Turkey wants to be a key player in post-war Gaza. It's a fantasy
Erdogan Wants to Leverage Trump's Praise for Turkey's Role in Facilitating the Israel-Hamas Cease-fire. But the Turkish President's Unwavering Embrace of Hamas Leaves Ankara Without the Credibility, T...
www.haaretz.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:28 PM
My latest for @haaretzcom.bsky.social 👇
"Erdogan's Turkey Wants to Be a Key Player in Post-war Gaza.
It's a Fantasy"
🇹🇷 President's unwavering embrace of Hamas leaves Ankara without the credibility, trust or impartiality required to shape Gaza's future
"Erdogan's Turkey Wants to Be a Key Player in Post-war Gaza.
It's a Fantasy"
🇹🇷 President's unwavering embrace of Hamas leaves Ankara without the credibility, trust or impartiality required to shape Gaza's future
Is 🇹🇷 going to play a significant role in Gaza following the ceasefire?
I spoke to i24 News to discuss 👇
I spoke to i24 News to discuss 👇
Sinan Ciddi on whether Turkey is going to play a role in Gaza following ceasefire — i24 News
YouTube video by FDD
www.youtube.com
October 15, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Is 🇹🇷 going to play a significant role in Gaza following the ceasefire?
I spoke to i24 News to discuss 👇
I spoke to i24 News to discuss 👇
🇹🇷 doesn't want F-35s and F110 engines etc. bc it's interested in being a US-NATO ally. It wants them "so that it can go its own way, develop its own capabilities and eventually, compete with the United States"
My latest for Real Clear Defense w/ Will Doran
My latest for Real Clear Defense w/ Will Doran
www.realcleardefense.com
October 10, 2025 at 2:10 PM
🇹🇷 doesn't want F-35s and F110 engines etc. bc it's interested in being a US-NATO ally. It wants them "so that it can go its own way, develop its own capabilities and eventually, compete with the United States"
My latest for Real Clear Defense w/ Will Doran
My latest for Real Clear Defense w/ Will Doran
My latest for @kathimerini.gr w/Will Doran
Erdogan’s Imagined ‘arms race’ in Cyprus
“🇹🇷 highly militarized occupation of the island’s northern 3rd for the past half-century demonstrates that Ankara is far more a military threat to Cyprus than vice versa”
Erdogan’s Imagined ‘arms race’ in Cyprus
“🇹🇷 highly militarized occupation of the island’s northern 3rd for the past half-century demonstrates that Ankara is far more a military threat to Cyprus than vice versa”
Erdogan’s imagined ‘arms race’ in Cyprus | eKathimerini.com
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his loyalists wasted no time last week blasting Nicosia’s purchase of Barak MX air defense systems, denouncing it as a dire threat to Turkey and its client r...
www.ekathimerini.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:51 PM
My latest for @kathimerini.gr w/Will Doran
Erdogan’s Imagined ‘arms race’ in Cyprus
“🇹🇷 highly militarized occupation of the island’s northern 3rd for the past half-century demonstrates that Ankara is far more a military threat to Cyprus than vice versa”
Erdogan’s Imagined ‘arms race’ in Cyprus
“🇹🇷 highly militarized occupation of the island’s northern 3rd for the past half-century demonstrates that Ankara is far more a military threat to Cyprus than vice versa”
Who got what out of the Turkey-Trump meeting?
Erdogan-Trump bulusmasinda kim ne aldi-verdi?
@alinozinian.bsky.social ile keyifli ve uzun soluklu bir sohbet www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdd1...
Erdogan-Trump bulusmasinda kim ne aldi-verdi?
@alinozinian.bsky.social ile keyifli ve uzun soluklu bir sohbet www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdd1...
Trump- Erdoğan Zirvesinden Ne Çıktı: Yaptırımlar Hızla Kalkabilir mi? F-35, CAATSA, Nükleer Anlaşma
YouTube video by VIA TV
www.youtube.com
September 26, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Who got what out of the Turkey-Trump meeting?
Erdogan-Trump bulusmasinda kim ne aldi-verdi?
@alinozinian.bsky.social ile keyifli ve uzun soluklu bir sohbet www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdd1...
Erdogan-Trump bulusmasinda kim ne aldi-verdi?
@alinozinian.bsky.social ile keyifli ve uzun soluklu bir sohbet www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdd1...
Let’s be blunt. Selling Erdogan F35's would mean arming a state sponsor of terrorism
He is not some misunderstood ally gone astray, but an Islamist strongman who bankrolls and shelters terrorists
Trump should not reward him. My latest for
@nypost.com
He is not some misunderstood ally gone astray, but an Islamist strongman who bankrolls and shelters terrorists
Trump should not reward him. My latest for
@nypost.com
Turkey’s Erdogan gets Trump’s red carpet — but don’t reward his treachery with US fighter jets
Let’s be blunt: Selling Turkey the F-35, our most advanced fighter jet, would mean arming a state sponsor of terrorism.
nypost.com
September 23, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Let’s be blunt. Selling Erdogan F35's would mean arming a state sponsor of terrorism
He is not some misunderstood ally gone astray, but an Islamist strongman who bankrolls and shelters terrorists
Trump should not reward him. My latest for
@nypost.com
He is not some misunderstood ally gone astray, but an Islamist strongman who bankrolls and shelters terrorists
Trump should not reward him. My latest for
@nypost.com
He blasts what remains of pol opposition & dem institutions in 🇹🇷
Comes to NY & speaks on camera that he supports terrorist orgs designated by 🇺🇸
Militarily escalates against 🇺🇸 allies daily & now wants F35s
DC can stop Erdogan - my latest for Washington Examiner
Comes to NY & speaks on camera that he supports terrorist orgs designated by 🇺🇸
Militarily escalates against 🇺🇸 allies daily & now wants F35s
DC can stop Erdogan - my latest for Washington Examiner
An autocratic Turkey does not deserve US military aid
If Erdogan is not able to honor NATO's commitment to democracy and the rule of law, then Trump should cut him off from American largesse.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
September 23, 2025 at 11:05 AM
He blasts what remains of pol opposition & dem institutions in 🇹🇷
Comes to NY & speaks on camera that he supports terrorist orgs designated by 🇺🇸
Militarily escalates against 🇺🇸 allies daily & now wants F35s
DC can stop Erdogan - my latest for Washington Examiner
Comes to NY & speaks on camera that he supports terrorist orgs designated by 🇺🇸
Militarily escalates against 🇺🇸 allies daily & now wants F35s
DC can stop Erdogan - my latest for Washington Examiner
Ahead of Sharaa's UN visit, it's important to remember that unity in Syria is fragile at best & tensions are running high, especially w/military threats from 🇹🇷
In our latest analysis for FDD Ahmad Sharawi, William Doran and & I offer some recommendations
In our latest analysis for FDD Ahmad Sharawi, William Doran and & I offer some recommendations
Renewed Fighting Between Kurds and Government Forces Threatens Syria’s Unity
Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syrian forces traded rocket artillery fire near Deir Hafir, east of Aleppo, on September 10. While no military personnel were killed, two civilians died ...
www.fdd.org
September 17, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Ahead of Sharaa's UN visit, it's important to remember that unity in Syria is fragile at best & tensions are running high, especially w/military threats from 🇹🇷
In our latest analysis for FDD Ahmad Sharawi, William Doran and & I offer some recommendations
In our latest analysis for FDD Ahmad Sharawi, William Doran and & I offer some recommendations
ICYMI: I analyzed the likelihood and consequences of armed conflict between 🇹🇷 & 🇮🇱 for @haaretzcom.bsky.social
What did I learn from the experience?
Mostly that people don’t read, but sure have a lot of heated opinions and savor the thought of violence
What did I learn from the experience?
Mostly that people don’t read, but sure have a lot of heated opinions and savor the thought of violence
Turkey could be next in Israel's cross-hairs after Qatar. The consequences? Catastrophic | Opinion
***
www.haaretz.com
September 14, 2025 at 5:32 PM
ICYMI: I analyzed the likelihood and consequences of armed conflict between 🇹🇷 & 🇮🇱 for @haaretzcom.bsky.social
What did I learn from the experience?
Mostly that people don’t read, but sure have a lot of heated opinions and savor the thought of violence
What did I learn from the experience?
Mostly that people don’t read, but sure have a lot of heated opinions and savor the thought of violence
Israel struck Qatar for hosting Hamas' leaders. Is Turkey next?
My latest for @haaretzcom.bsky.social
My latest for @haaretzcom.bsky.social
Turkey could be next in Israel's cross-hairs after Qatar. The consequences? Catastrophic | Opinion
***
www.haaretz.com
September 11, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Israel struck Qatar for hosting Hamas' leaders. Is Turkey next?
My latest for @haaretzcom.bsky.social
My latest for @haaretzcom.bsky.social
Reposted by Sinan Ciddi
🇹🇷 Turkey could be next in Israel's cross-hairs after Qatar. The consequences? Catastrophic www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025...
@sinanciddi.bsky.social
By @sinanciddi.bsky.social 🧵👇
@sinanciddi.bsky.social
By @sinanciddi.bsky.social 🧵👇
Turkey could be next in Israel's cross-hairs after Qatar. The consequences? Catastrophic | Opinion
***
www.haaretz.com
September 11, 2025 at 12:49 PM
🇹🇷 Turkey could be next in Israel's cross-hairs after Qatar. The consequences? Catastrophic www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025...
@sinanciddi.bsky.social
By @sinanciddi.bsky.social 🧵👇
@sinanciddi.bsky.social
By @sinanciddi.bsky.social 🧵👇
My latest for Kathimerini👇
"Erdogan’s ambitions rest not on cooperation but coercion. By rewriting maritime borders unilaterally and courting both sides of a divided Libya, Turkey signals that it does not accept international law when it stands in the way of its geopolitical designs"
"Erdogan’s ambitions rest not on cooperation but coercion. By rewriting maritime borders unilaterally and courting both sides of a divided Libya, Turkey signals that it does not accept international law when it stands in the way of its geopolitical designs"
Turkey is escalating tensions in the Mediterranean (again) | eKathimerini.com
Turkey is once again stoking tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean – this time by undermining the sovereignty of Greece and Cyprus while wagering that Washington and Brussels will look the other way.
www.ekathimerini.com
September 8, 2025 at 4:02 PM
My latest for Kathimerini👇
"Erdogan’s ambitions rest not on cooperation but coercion. By rewriting maritime borders unilaterally and courting both sides of a divided Libya, Turkey signals that it does not accept international law when it stands in the way of its geopolitical designs"
"Erdogan’s ambitions rest not on cooperation but coercion. By rewriting maritime borders unilaterally and courting both sides of a divided Libya, Turkey signals that it does not accept international law when it stands in the way of its geopolitical designs"
Ne ezik, korkak, leş kokusu bir rejim dimi?
📢 CHP İstanbul İl Binası önünde toplanan vatandaşlar, telefonlarının flaşlarıyla polise tepki gösterdi
🎙️@GulsevenOzkan
🎙️@GulsevenOzkan
September 7, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Ne ezik, korkak, leş kokusu bir rejim dimi?
While Europe and Washington twiddle their thumbs, 🇹🇷 is preparing to escalate tensions in the Mediterranean (again)
My latest for Kathimerini
My latest for Kathimerini
Turkey is escalating tensions in the Mediterranean (again) | eKathimerini.com
Turkey is once again stoking tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean – this time by undermining the sovereignty of Greece and Cyprus while wagering that Washington and Brussels will look the other way.
www.ekathimerini.com
September 7, 2025 at 4:35 PM
While Europe and Washington twiddle their thumbs, 🇹🇷 is preparing to escalate tensions in the Mediterranean (again)
My latest for Kathimerini
My latest for Kathimerini
My latest for Jerusalem Strategic Tribune & Part 4 in my 🇹🇷 involvement in 🇸🇾 series👇
"In 2013, some 30K foreign fighters are estimated to have joined the Caliphate by crossing into Syria via 🇹🇷 Brett McGurk...alleged that 🇹🇷 had harbored the caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi"
"In 2013, some 30K foreign fighters are estimated to have joined the Caliphate by crossing into Syria via 🇹🇷 Brett McGurk...alleged that 🇹🇷 had harbored the caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi"
Turkey’s Quiet Relationship with ISIS – The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune
Essays – On June 29, 2014, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State in al-Sham (ISIS), was recorded on video speaking at the al-Nuri Mosque in Mosul,
jstribune.com
September 3, 2025 at 6:53 PM
My latest for Jerusalem Strategic Tribune & Part 4 in my 🇹🇷 involvement in 🇸🇾 series👇
"In 2013, some 30K foreign fighters are estimated to have joined the Caliphate by crossing into Syria via 🇹🇷 Brett McGurk...alleged that 🇹🇷 had harbored the caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi"
"In 2013, some 30K foreign fighters are estimated to have joined the Caliphate by crossing into Syria via 🇹🇷 Brett McGurk...alleged that 🇹🇷 had harbored the caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi"
Erdogan and Davutoglu––in their quest for regime change, underwrote the bloodiest chapters of the Syrian civil war, transforming Turkey into a "jihadi highway"
My latest for Jerusalem Strategic Tribune & FDD
Part 3 in my 🇹🇷 involvement in Syria series👇
My latest for Jerusalem Strategic Tribune & FDD
Part 3 in my 🇹🇷 involvement in Syria series👇
Turkey’s Push for Regime Change in Syria: The Jihadi Highway – The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune
Essays – Syria’s civil war broke out in March 2011, in reaction to the brutal crackdown by the regime of Bashar al-Asad of popular protests that were part of the
jstribune.com
August 26, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Erdogan and Davutoglu––in their quest for regime change, underwrote the bloodiest chapters of the Syrian civil war, transforming Turkey into a "jihadi highway"
My latest for Jerusalem Strategic Tribune & FDD
Part 3 in my 🇹🇷 involvement in Syria series👇
My latest for Jerusalem Strategic Tribune & FDD
Part 3 in my 🇹🇷 involvement in Syria series👇
🇹🇷 moves to ban maritime shipping to 🇮🇱 a 2nd major move since banning trade w/the Jewish state in 2024
So far, no official government memorandum, but verbal instructions issued by port authorities to vessels
My latest for Long War Journal & FDD
So far, no official government memorandum, but verbal instructions issued by port authorities to vessels
My latest for Long War Journal & FDD
Turkey implements barriers to prevent shipping to and from Israel
Turkey has imposed an informal maritime ban targeting Israel, prohibiting Israel-linked ships from docking in Turkish ports and barring Turkish-flagged vessels from sailing to Israel, which Turkish Pr...
www.longwarjournal.org
August 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
🇹🇷 moves to ban maritime shipping to 🇮🇱 a 2nd major move since banning trade w/the Jewish state in 2024
So far, no official government memorandum, but verbal instructions issued by port authorities to vessels
My latest for Long War Journal & FDD
So far, no official government memorandum, but verbal instructions issued by port authorities to vessels
My latest for Long War Journal & FDD