MEHMET ÖĞÜTÇÜ

Revising the Montreux Convention MEHMET ÖĞÜTÇÜ

Revising the Montreux Convention

It is difficult to believe that, de jure, Turkey has almost no real control over the increasing number of vessels passing through its narrow straits under the 1936 Montreux Convention.

April 11 2018
Empowering and enhancing the position of women in energy MEHMET ÖĞÜTÇÜ

Empowering and enhancing the position of women in energy

Women in business and government generally have significantly expanded their presence over the past few decades.

March 28 2018
Enhancing cultural awareness crucial for international business success MEHMET ÖĞÜTÇÜ

Enhancing cultural awareness crucial for international business success

In today’s world, the rate of return, supply chain, regulatory requirements, compliance, tax incentives, infrastructure, enabling environment and shareholder value are all crucial factors in business decisions and executing deals between contracted parties.

February 19 2018
Will Turkey and Russia become ‘strategic allies’ or sustain a ‘marriage of convenience’ MEHMET ÖĞÜTÇÜ

Will Turkey and Russia become ‘strategic allies’ or sustain a ‘marriage of convenience’?

There is never a dull moment between Russia and Turkey. The last three years have seen a crisis triggered by a shot-down Russian warplane, a flurry of economic sanctions, signing multibillion dollar energy projects, coordinated diplomatic efforts in Syria, Ankara’s purchase of advanced Russian weapons systems, Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Vladimir Putin hugging, then fighting and then hugging again. Who knows what the future may hold?

February 15 2018
Let’s conserve Turkey’s EU Customs Union modernization deal MEHMET ÖĞÜTÇÜ

Let’s conserve Turkey’s EU Customs Union modernization deal

Turkey and the European Union are at a critical turning point in their decades-long relationship. The key question now is: Will they give each other one more chance to improve their strategically vital ties, despite deep-seated differences, or continue on the path to divorce after many decades of progressive integration?

February 11 2018
Could Turkey, US reset thorny relations on realpolitik basis MEHMET ÖĞÜTÇÜ

Could Turkey, US reset thorny relations on realpolitik basis?

Who could have predicted a decade ago the current state of affairs between Ankara and Washington?

November 02 2017
Killing the perennial lies in the EU-Turkey relationship MEHMET ÖĞÜTÇÜ

Killing the perennial lies in the EU-Turkey relationship

In view of the stark realities of today, Turkey is a long way from securing full EU membership and both sides should explore down-to-earth and “win-win” strategies to avoid one crisis after another.

July 09 2017
Forging a new and realistic partnership with the ‘Turkic world’ MEHMET ÖĞÜTÇÜ

Forging a new and realistic partnership with the ‘Turkic world’

It is possible to travel from China’s Xinjiang-Uyghur Autonomous Region in the east all the way to the Adriatic shores in the west speaking nothing but Turkish. Most people living in this vast geography belong to the Ural-Altaic language family, sharing common historical, religious, cultural and ethnic ties.

January 02 2017
Any optimism in the Chinese ‘Rooster Year’ MEHMET ÖĞÜTÇÜ

Any optimism in the Chinese ‘Rooster Year?’

LONDON - As the world is preparing to leave 2016 behind as a year fraught with political surprises, financial crises and market volatility, governments and businesses including those in Turkey have started to set their eyes on what the next 12 months have in store for them politically and economically.

December 25 2016