Russia Risks Following in the Footsteps of Syria’s Dictatorship
OPINION — Is Vladimir Putin repeating the errors made by the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad? Many believe the answer may be yes. In November 2024, Assad’s […] More
Turkey
As Turkey Faces Mass Protests, Trump and Erdogan Map New Relationship
EXPERT INTERVIEWS – Turkey is being rocked by the largest-scale protests it has seen in more than a decade. Hundreds of thousands of people have […] More
EXPERT Q&A: Turkey Eyes Challenges and Opportunities in Trump 2.0 Era
EXPERT Q&A – This week President Donald Trump spoke with his counterpart in Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and there are reportedly plans in place for […] More
Playing the Role of ‘Good Shepherd’ in a Post-Assad Syria
OPINION — Israel’s new Middle East security reality is coming into sharper focus in a volatile Syria, where sectarian clashes are taking place and aggressive Israeli […] More
The Latest
After Syria’s Revolution, Turkey Holds Keys to What Comes Next
EXPERT INTERVIEWS — The stunning uprising in Syria will have ripple effects that reach far from Damascus and the other cities that the rebels captured […] More
Rumors are Flying Around Erdogan’s ‘Non-Visit’
OPINION — During the second week of May, U.S. President Joseph Biden was expected to host his Turkish counterpart, President Tayyip Recep Erdogan for an […] More
Understanding Erdogan’s ‘Non-Visit’ To Washington
OPINION — On May 9, U.S. President Joseph Biden was expected to host his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for an official visit in […] More
Sweden’s Path to NATO Still has Pitfalls
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE / OPINION – When the Turkish Parliament’s Foreign Affairs committee approved Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdogan’s proposal to approve Sweden’s bid to join […] More
Western Focus Sharpens on China Over Black Sea Grain Deal
EXCLUSIVE SUBSCRIBER+ INTERVIEW — In the wake of a Kremlin decision to halt a U.N.-brokered Black Sea agreement, which allowed Ukraine to export tens of millions […] More
Erdogan’s ‘Poker Game’ Uses Sweden As Chip: A Subscriber+Exclusive Interview
Exclusive Subscriber+Member Interview — In a flurry of negotiations on the eve of the NATO summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed himself as the […] More
NATO’s Road to Vilnius Has Been a Tough One: Here’s What to Know as Members Meet
CIPHER BRIEF REPORTING — Members of the world’s largest and most powerful security alliance descended on Vilnius, Lithuania over the weekend in what is considered […] More
Exclusive Interview: Erdogan’s Next Five Years
EXCLUSIVE SUBSCRIBER+MEMBER INTERVIEW — After cruising to a second-round presidential victory over the weekend, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey for 20 years, is now set […] More
Turkey’s Run-Off Could Upend Security in Europe, and Beyond
CIPHER BRIEF REPORTING – With world attention focusing in on Turkey’s presidential run-off election, where incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan is locked in what is perhaps the most […] More
How Will a Biden Administration Engage the Middle East?
The Cipher Brief is a non-political media outlet focused on publishing expert perspectives on national security issues. We are committed to presenting multiple opinions to […] More
Are Gas Deposits in the Mediterranean Worth a War?
The discovery of large gas deposits has refueled decades-old territorial disputes in the Mediterranean. In late July, Turkey announced it was dispatching a survey ship […] More
Libya’s Carpe Diem?
Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, US Army (Ret) was the Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs from 2008-2009. Prior to that, he was the Deputy […] More
The Problem with Erdogan’s Grand Vision
The Cipher Brief’s Academic Incubator program partners with colleges and Universities across the country on highlighting the next generation of national security leaders. If your […] More
The Plight of Syrian Refugees
Bottom Line Up Front Following intensified fighting in Syria between Turkey and the Assad regime, thousands of refugees are fleeing the country in an […] More
Turkey and Russia Clash in Syria as Casualties Mount
Bottom Line Up Front Dozens of Turkish soldiers were killed in an airstrike on Thursday in a development that threatens to drastically escalate the […] More