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4w ago

U.S. Monitors Turkey's Crackdown on Protests as Diplomatic Talks Continue

Protests over the detention of Istanbul's mayor persist, raising concerns about regional stability and NATO cohesion.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with reporters on his plane while flying from Suriname en route to Miami, Florida, March 27, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/Pool/File photo
Protestors hold a sign reading "Gezi 2.0 loading" and Turkish flags during a rally in support of Istanbul's arrested mayor in Istanbul, on March 24, 2025.
ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - MARCH 28: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY - MANDATORY CREDIT - 'TURKISH PRESIDENCY / MURAT KULA / HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the opening ceremony of the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Mosque, built in Conakry, the capital of the Republic of Guinea, via video conference, in Istanbul, Turkiye on March 28, 2025. (Photo by TUR Presidency / Murat Kula/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Overview

  • Protests have erupted across Turkey following the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key political rival of President Erdogan.
  • The Turkish government has intensified its crackdown, arresting hundreds of demonstrators in cities like Istanbul and Ankara.
  • U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed concerns about the unrest's impact on NATO cohesion and regional stability.
  • Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Rubio in Washington to discuss defense cooperation, U.S. sanctions, and a ceasefire in Gaza.
  • Both nations have agreed to hold technical meetings to address defense industry obstacles, including issues stemming from Turkey's purchase of Russia's S-400 missile system.