UNA-ORLANDO - Turkey

TURKEY AND THE CAUCASUS REGION

After a military coup against the government in 2016 failed and elections in 2018 allowed the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to retain its majority, Turkish President Erdoğan has stretched his executive abuses of power, diminished parliament’s checks and balances in government, and consolidated the president's control on judicial appointments. Turkey’s crackdown on Kurds, an ethnic minority in Turkey and other countries of the Middle East, has also intensified. Relatedly, Turkey also has strategic interests in the Caucuses. Two countries in this region, Armenia and Azerbaijan, have intermittently been at war over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, with the most recent conflict taking place in September-November of 2020. Nagorno-Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan despite hosting an ethnic Armenian majority. Seeking greater influence in the region, Turkey backed Azerbaijan, as they share close historic and cultural ties.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LEARNING RESOURCES

Armenia and Azerbaijan

LEARNING RESOURCES

Background

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict precipitates a new regional orderDevelopments in the South Caucasus indicate the West is no longer a relevant player in Russia and Turkey’s back yard.

Turkey’s PKK Conflict: A Visual ExplainerThe International Crisis Group is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation committed to preventing and resolving deadly conflict

A migration crisis and disagreement with Turkey is the last thing Europe needs right nowThe European Union's bad start to the year has taken another turn for the worse. Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan's decision last week to step back from a 2016 deal that halted the flow of migrants from the Middle East into Europe, has sparked fears of a new crisis.

Turkey

Turkey's pro-Kurdish party closure case worries U.S., EuropeThe United States and Europe have criticised a move by Turkey towards banning the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), a week before EU leaders are due to discuss strained relations with Ankara at a summit.

Turkey coup: Top officers given life terms in mass trialAlmost 500 people were on trial accused of involvement in the failed 2016 coup.

Turkey shifts fight against Kurdish militants deeper into IraqTurkey is taking its decades-old conflict with Kurdish militants deep into northern Iraq, establishing military bases and deploying armed military drones against the fighters in their mountain strongholds.

Armenia and Azerbaijan

The ceasefire agreement with Azerbaijan comes with great risks for Armenia | Dale Berning SawaWhile Azerbaijanis can rightly celebrate a return to homes they were driven from 30 years ago, Armenian culture is in peril, says writer Dale Berning Sawa

Armenian prime minister accuses military of attempted coupNikol Pashinyan rallies supporters after military calls on him to step down amid anger at Nagorno-Karabakh defeat

Azerbaijan fully reclaims lands around Nagorno-KarabakhBAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — Azerbaijan on Tuesday completed reclaiming territory held by Armenian forces for more than a quarter-century after a peace deal ended six weeks of fierce fighting over...

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