Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Dr Elif Selin Calik
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DOHA FORUM 2024: Qatar’s LNG future and the acrobatics between Asia and Europe in a shifting energy landscape
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) father Michael Tusiani, writing in his book From Black Gold to Frozen Gas, How Qatar Became an Energy Superpower, noted that the world energy market has entered an intersection where sustainability, security and affordability must be addressed. Qatar, the world’s largest exporter of LNG, plays a central...
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After Assad: the hard way out for Syrian refugees returning from Turkiye
The recent fall of Syrian dictator, Bashar Al-Assad’s regime has added new optimism and challenges to Syria’s prospects and the future of democracy. In Turkey, with close to 3.76 million Syrian refugees (UNHCR, 2024), the issue of whether and how those refugees should be repatriated is at its most urgent. Though...
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Connecting worlds: Turkiye’s rapidly expanding trade with Southeast Asia and Oceania
Turkiye’s trade with Southeast Asia and Oceania has picked up incredible pace during the current globalised and connected market environment. As a strategic nation-state, industrial powerhouse and economic powerhouse, Turkiye is using its strategic location and policy advantage to expand relations with these areas. Turkiye’s trade volume with Southeast Asia increased...
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The new Trump age: A turn in US-Turkiye relations?
Henry Kissinger in his book, “Diplomacy” says that ‘When statesmen want to gain time, they offer to talk.’ Now that Donald Trump is back in the White House, the US-Turkiye relationship comes to an impasse. Related with Kissinger’s statements, the question appears: Will Trump offer to talk with Erdogan around...
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Vision 2030: Why renewable energy is the key to a healthier, wealthier future
As ways to curb carbon emissions become more urgent with each passing day, Vision 2030 takes a much needed, sometimes radical but always sensible plan for Saudi Arabia and oil-rich economies to go renewable and make the environment cleaner, the economy healthier and the society stronger as is stated...
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Turkiye’s strategic shift: Why BRICS membership matters for the world’s 19th largest economy
Turkiye’s potential BRICS membership is an intriguing move that signals Ankara’s strategic intent to diversify its international alliances beyond its traditional affiliations, primarily NATO and the EU. This development is not only about enhancing trade or economic opportunities but also reflects Turkiye’s ambitions to reposition itself as a more...
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TurkStream’s $16bn impact: Geopolitical shifts for Ukraine, Turkiye and Hungary in Europe’s energy landscape
In the shifting landscape of global energy geopolitics, the TurkStream natural gas pipeline stands out as a critical artery for energy flows between Russia and Europe, with far-reaching consequences for Turkiye, Ukraine and Hungary. Launched in January 2020, TurkStream was designed to deliver Russian natural gas to Turkiye and...
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The US-Turkiye S-400 and F-35 standoff: Future paths and implications
Turkiye and the United States have long shared a strategic alliance under the NATO umbrella, with both countries mutually benefiting from economic, military and geopolitical cooperation. However, the ongoing dispute over Turkiye’s purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defence system and its exclusion from the F-35 program has put...
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‘Leveraging Scandinavian expertise: How Turkiye can enhance its renewable energy capacity by 50%’
In his acclaimed book, “The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Clash of Nations”, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Daniel Yergin, insightfully observes, “Energy transitions are not just about fuel; they are about how we live, how our economies function, and how we respond to the central challenge of our time—climate change.”...
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The life and legacy of Turkish-American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi: A beacon of hope for Palestine
The world of activism was shaken by the tragic news of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi’s death at the hands of Israeli forces in the West Bank. Her demise has sparked a renewed conversation about the Occupation of Palestine, the struggles of the Palestinian people, and the role of international activists...
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Turkiye’s humanitarian approach to refugees on World Humanitarian Aid Day
Turkiye’s humanitarian approach to refugees, particularly in the context of the Syrian civil war, stands as one of the most significant and large-scale efforts in modern history. As of 2023, Turkiye hosts the largest refugee population in the world, with over 3.6 million registered Syrian refugees and approximately 300,000...
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Immigration policies in the UK and Turkiye — A comparative reflection
Immigration is a topic that frequently stirs emotions, debates and, most critically, policies that shape the lives of millions. When comparing the immigration policies of the United Kingdom and Turkiye, we are presented with a stark contrast in how two nations, each grappling with its own challenges, address the...
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UK Elections: Turkiye-UK relations amid new immigrant policies
After the Labour Party won the British elections, new laws against immigration of Turks living in the UK are on the agenda. Based on a long and deep-rooted diplomatic history, Turkiye-UK relations have been following an extremely positive course for a long time compared to Turkiye’s relations with the...
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Voters in North Ealing are guided by their backing of a Gaza ceasefire, Sameh Habeeb says
Sameh Habeeb is a Palestinian journalist turned politician, who is vying to be elected as an MP in the 2024 UK elections. Originally from Gaza, Habeeb told MEMO how his early years during the First Intifada and living under Israeli occupation has fuelled his political career. Habeeb will...
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‘In Palestine, the olive cycle gives the rhythm of our cuisine’
Palestinian restaurateur, Fadi Kattan, opened Akub in London’s trendy Notting Hill neighbourhood over a year ago and it’s given him the opportunity to share the flavours of Palestine with people and tell his country’s story....
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How the Freedom Flotilla became a global humanitarian mission to Gaza
The visionary international coalitions for the Freedom Flotilla’s success often begin with the names of the ships. Vicdan (“conscience” in Turkish), Anadolu (Anatolia), Akdeniz (the Mediterranean) and Handala (the iconic innocent Palestinian child); these are the rousing names of the Freedom Flotilla ships. Dedicated Flotilla workers were very shrewd...
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There is always a special place for Turkiye’s diplomatic initiatives in Palestine
More than 200 days have passed since Israel began its attacks on Gaza. Several rounds of ceasefire talks have not yet produced any concrete results, and it does not look like they will produce any positive results in the short term. Presently, it seems that Israel has not given...
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Turkiye 2024: The uncertainty in inflation and exchange equations
Inflation remains a fundamental policy issue for Turkiye, not only for this year and next year, but in the medium term. As one of the most important explorers in the world, Captain James Cook said after visiting many countries: “Inflation makes the wealthiest people richer and the masses poorer”. This...
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The Turkish earthquakes: Have the wounds healed?
I lost 34 members from my family last year and my grandmother lost her treasured house in one night. Since I woke up this morning, I have been trying to think of words to describe the pain we experienced in the wake of the 6 February 2023 earthquakes in...
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Applying climate justice for young generations - COP28 and Middle East and energy transition
“In my country a lot of people, including my mother, can’t afford to buy biogas for cooking. So, we must rely on charcoal and firewood. If we want countries like Malawi to make the transition to biogas, they should be supported with funds to decrease its cost,” said Rana, from Sudan...
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Destruction of the ‘Mavi Marmara’ monument draws international attention to Israel war crimes
A book titled “Midnight on the Mavi Marmara: The Attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and How it Changed the Course of the Israel/Palestine Conflict”, consists of 48 essays compiled by Arab-American author and professor, Mustafa Bayoumi. Its diverse accounts, which were published only three months after the attack, include witness testimonies, rebuttals of...
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Cooperation between rival transport corridors could change global economies
On the sidelines of the G20 Summit last month, the leaders of India, the US, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, France, Italy, Germany and the EU announced a new maritime and overland transport corridor between Asia and Europe: the India, Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Also present at the...
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Anti-Arab sentiments in Turkiye will not save Turkish Lira
Last week, a Turkish man was detained in connection with an assault on a Kuwaiti tourist in the northern city of Trabzon. The attack was widely publicised in the local Turkish and social media. Racist attacks in Turkiye, especially in Istanbul, towards Arabs first became apparent with the arrival of Syrian refugees....
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Will the UAE COP28 roadmap help the region for the energy revolution?
This week, a ground-breaking green energy investment of the UAE hit all the media outlets: The UAE has pledged $4.5 billion to help speed up the development of clean energy projects in Africa. This means UAE pitches itself as Africa’s carbon credits leader. According to the American consultancy, Mckinsey, the initiative aims to...