Turkey

/ ˈtɜː.ki / country /

RE: DEMOCRACY, DIPLOMACY, EURASIA, GEOPOLITICS

Turkey is a transcontinental country located mainly in Asia, with a smaller portion in Europe, making it a bridge between East and West. It shares borders with countries including Greece, Syria, Iraq, and Iran, and is surrounded by the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Black Seas. Its capital is Ankara, and its largest city is Istanbul.

Turkey has long been strategically important due to its location, military strength, and control of key trade routes such as the Bosphorus Strait. It is a member of NATO and plays a complex role in regional diplomacy, energy networks, and global migration policy. It also has a long-standing but stalled bid to join the European Union.

Since becoming a republic in 1923, Turkey has made various efforts to build a modern, secular democracy—introducing multiparty elections, expanding civil rights, and reforming institutions. However, its democratic progress has been uneven. In recent years, critics have raised concerns about press freedom, judicial independence, and the concentration of political power, especially following the 2016 attempted coup and subsequent constitutional changes that expanded presidential authority.

Turkey remains an influential and closely watched player in both regional and international politics, balancing its ambitions for growth and global presence with ongoing internal and external tensions.

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