Thomas Seibert

Thomas Seibert is an Arab Weekly contributor in Istanbul.

Author Articles

Bumpy ride. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gets off a vintage tram at Taksim Square in Istanbul, May 12. (Reuters)
On defensive before vote, Erdogan could harden foreign policy stance
May 18, 2019
An Emirati man looks on at the port of Fujairah in the Gulf Emirate, May 13. (AFP)
Iran engages in high-risk game of brinkmanship that could lead to war
May 18, 2019
Protesters chant slogans during a demonstration in Istanbul following a decision by the authorities to rerun the city’s mayoral election, May 8. (AFP)
Erdogan gambles big with rerun of Istanbul election
May 11, 2019
Military escalation. A file photo of a B-52 Bomber of the type that the US Air Force is deploying to the Gulf. (AFP)
US ratchets up ‘maximum pressure’ on Iran with military deployment
May 11, 2019
US national security adviser John Bolton (L) and his Turkish counterpart and senior adviser to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ibrahim Kalin, meet at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, last January. (AP)
Time running short in missile row between Turkey and US
May 04, 2019
Fatal scapegoating. The sister of Zaki Mubarak shows his picture during an interview at their family home in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza strip, April 30. (AFP)
Turkey-UAE tensions rise after suspicious death in jail
May 04, 2019
Supporting the move. National security adviser John Bolton (L), US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (C) and President Donald Trump attend an event at the White House in Washington, last February. (AP)
US move towards Brotherhood ban could upend Turkish-Qatari strategies
May 04, 2019
Iranian President Hassan Rohani (C) attends an annual military parade in Tehran, April 18. (dpa)
Tehran opts for brinksmanship as US applies ‘maximum pressure’ on Iranian oil exports
April 27, 2019
A file picture shows Ahmet Davutoglu leaving after a news conference at the headquarters of the Justice and Development Party in Ankara. (AP)
Row in Turkey’s governing party bursts into the open
April 27, 2019
Modest means. Iranians carry bags of sand as they set up barricades to contain flood waters in the city of Hamidiyah in Iran’s Khuzestan province, April 10.(AFP)
Iranians’ anger over slow response to flooding adds to pressure on Tehran
April 20, 2019
Ekrem Imamoglu, the new Mayor of Istanbul from Turkey's main opposition opposition Republican People's Party, addresses his supporters after he took over the office, April 17. (AP) 
Istanbul setback dents Erdogan’s credibility
April 20, 2019
In this March 30, 2019 file photo, Ekrem Imamoglu of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party mayoral candidate in Istanbul, poses for photos during a boat tour over Bosporus, a day before March 31 local elections, in Istanbul. (AP)
Erdogan rival declared winner of vote in Istanbul
April 17, 2019
Members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps march during a ceremony in Tehran, last February. (AP)
US slaps terrorist label on Iran’s IRGC amid rising tensions
April 13, 2019
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attends a signing ceremony following the talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia April 8, 2019. (Reuters)
After elections, Erdogan turns his attention to Syria
April 13, 2019
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul prior to his departure for Russia, April 8. (AP)
In high-risk move, Erdogan calls for Istanbul election to be annulled
April 13, 2019
Stinging losses. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) in a first public appearance after elections in Istanbul, April 4.(AP)
After election setbacks, Erdogan faces challenge of economic disrepair
April 06, 2019
Untrusted ally. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (R) meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu at the US Department of State in Washington, April 3. (AFP)
US asks Turkey to ‘choose’ between NATO and Russia
April 06, 2019
Supporters of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) leave after the Turkish president's speech near party headquarters on March 31, 2019. (AFP)
Erdogan’s party loses Ankara as opposition has narrow lead in Istanbul race
April 01, 2019
Bumpy road. A US military vehicle drives through the Syrian village of Baghouz in the countryside of the eastern Deir ez-Zor province, last January. (AFP)
Washington’s support to SDF in Syria fuels US-Turkish tensions
March 30, 2019
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech next to a model dinosaur in Ankara, March 20. (AFP)
Erdogan shows signs of 'panic' before local elections
March 28, 2019