The Winner Takes It All

As Donald Trump solidifies his comeback bid, having become only the second individual in U.S. history to mount a successful return after defeat, a notable shift ripples across Turkey’s political landscape.

In a dramatic political shift, Turkey has elevated the “Kurdish issue” to a top national priority, signaling renewed focus on unity and security amid escalating foreign pressures. Following Turkey’s recent pivot away from BRICS at a Shanghai summit, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his nationalist ally, Devlet Bahçeli, are calling for solidarity in the face of deepening regional tensions — with Bahçeli even inviting the imprisoned leader of a Kurdish militant group to address Parliament in an unexpected appeal for peace.

Israel’s strike on Iranian targets on October 26, described as a response to Iran's prior attack on October 1, has raised questions about the relationship between these two longstanding adversaries.

In the past two decades, Turkey has embarked on its third significant attempt at a "Kurdish opening" process, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s complex relationship with its Kurdish population.