Global Scans · Turkey · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Uncertainties over Turkey's eventual political position abound. With EU decisions in doubt, recent crackdown on opposition parties causing concerns, and being embroiled in complex Middle East politics and fighting terrorism on its borders and internally, which way will she swing?

• [New] The Akkuyu nuclear power plant, a 4.8-gigawatt facility supplied by Russian conglomerate Rosatom, is projected to launch in 2026, generating approximately 10% of Turkey's electricity whilst ensuring ongoing technological dependence on Russia. Foreign Affairs Forum
• [New] 2026 will see the launch of Turkey's first nuclear power plant, Akkuyu. Daily Sabah
• [New] A second, higher-capacity floating production platform is scheduled to come online in 2028, allowing Turkey to complete the first three phases of the Sakarya project and meet the gas needs of 17 million households. Daily Sabah
• [New] After a year marked by some of the biggest energy breakthroughs in its recent history, Turkey plans to build further momentum in 2026 by ramping up domestic production, expanding renewable capacity and deepening international cooperation. Daily Sabah
• [New] Turkey's renegotiation of Russian gas contracts in 2026 will determine whether Ankara consolidates its role as a balancer between blocs or whether strategic vulnerabilities emerge. Foreign Affairs Forum
• [New] Simultaneously, Turkey is executing deliberate diversification wherein domestic Black Sea gas production, expanded liquified natural gas infrastructure, and long-term contracts with the United States and Australia collectively replace approximately 40% of Russian gas imports by 2028. Foreign Affairs Forum
• [New] Turkish Airlines has launched a comprehensive investment initiative that will strengthen Turkey's aviation infrastructure and further advance its competitive edge. The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
• [New] The cargo handling capacity, currently at 2.2 million tons, will rise to 4.5 million tons, propelling Turkish Cargo to global leadership. The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
• [New] Turkey is scheduled to hold the next general election in 2028. Turkish Minute
• [New] Turkey will spend the equivalent of $27.34 billion on defence and security in 2026, marking a 30% increase compared with the previous year. Defense News
• [New] The Kurdish issue and the PKK terrorism will then cease to pose a threat to Turkey's national security and stability. Global Panorama
• [New] For Turkey, 2026 will essentially be the year of foreign policy. Turkey recap
• [New] Turkey's Kurdish issue will continue to hinge less on developments inside Turkey than on what unfolds next door in Syria. Turkey recap
• [New] Kurds are organized, but Turkey might intervene to prevent any Kurdish empowerment or the establishment of a federal entity. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] Turkey has long been hostile to the Kurdish SDF that controls swathes of northeastern Syria, seeing it as an extension of the banned Kurdish militant group PKK and a major threat along its southern border. Space War
• [New] 2026 will be a year of reform for Turkey. Modern.az
• [New] As Turkey moves into the new year, inflation trends will remain central to monetary policy decisions, wage negotiations, and broader economic planning. P.A. Turkey
• [New] Turkey CPI: Following the significant downside surprise in food inflation last month, we will likely see a rebound in December, leading to monthly inflation at 1.0%, and a slight decline in the annual figure to 31.0% from 31.1%. ING Think
• [New] In Turkey, monthly inflation is set to accelerate to 1.0% from 0.9%, although the annual rate is still expected to ease marginally to 31%. Trading Economics
• Turkey-whose military spending accounts for 2% of GDP (800 billion TL) - will need to allocate an additional 1.5 trillion TL from its budget to increase military spending to 5% in line with its NATO commitment. World Socialist Web Site
• Turkey's Medium-Term Program for 2026-28 expects the inflation rate to average 28.5% in 2025 and fall to around 16% in 2026. hurriyetdailynews.com
• Turkey's credit rating announcements by international agencies will be one of the prominent economic agenda items in 2026. Daily Sabah
• Besides disinflation, Turkey will continue its efforts to reach its sustainable growth targets in 2026. Daily Sabah

Last updated: 12 January 2026