Turkey Country Report

Turkiye is a secular democracy and Muslim-majority country located at the crossroads of Asia and Europe. Turkiye borders Bulgaria and Greece to the northwest, Georgia to the northeast, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran to the east, and Iraq and Syria to the southeast. It has a substantial coastline, with the Black Sea to the north, the Aegean Sea to the West, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south, over which Turkiye shares a maritime border with the island of Cyprus.

The democratically elected government is generally stable, but tensions between nationalist, secular, left-wing, and Islamist political forces cause instability. The failed coup highlighted ongoing tensions between the Justice and Development Party (AKP)-led government and factions of the armed forces. Following a controversial constitutional referendum in response to the coup attempt and a snap general election the following year, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cemented a raft of executive powers that enabled him to appoint top officials and draft new legislation.

Rapid economic growth and a friendly investment environment have made Turkiye attractive for new business ventures. However, more recently, political intervention in the local economy and corruption have raised concerns about financial stability. In particular, the falling value of the lira has damaged confidence in the Turkish economy. The exploration of energy deposits in the eastern Mediterranean Sea is seen as an option to assist in reviving the country's economy, which depends on energy imports. However, hydrocarbon deposits in areas claimed by Greece and Cyprus have also been an increasing source of tension.

The primary threats to foreign travelers stem from petty crime and road accidents. The threat of terrorism is also elevated. Along the southern border with Syria and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the threat is higher mainly due to the ongoing Kurdish separatist insurgency and the presence of radical Islamists and far-left militants in the country. Local and transnational terrorist organizations have in the past committed multiple terrorist attacks targeting domestic and international targets. Attacks by Kurdish separatist groups have prompted frequent military clashes near Turkiye's southeast border and fueled civil unrest; however, Turkish military operations in northern Syria have reduced the threat. Turkish officials have launched military operations in northern Iraq aiming to eradicate Kurdish strongholds and protect Turkish borders. Islamic State (IS) militants pose a significant terrorist threat in Turkiye.

National infrastructure and medical services are generally well maintained in the main cities but may lead to safety concerns in mountainous and remote regions. The country is at risk from earthquakes as it is located in a seismically active area.

Terrorism poses a significant threat. Terrorist attacks by Kurdish separatists and Islamist militants occur throughout Turkiye and have targeted foreign interests. Radical Islamists have demonstrated their will and capabilities to conduct attacks nationwide. In recent years the Islamic State (IS) and Kurdish separatist groups have conducted several major attacks in Istanbul and Ankara. Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants are engaged in an insurgency against Turkish forces in the southeastern provinces of the country. The Marxist-Leninist group People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP/C) also poses a security threat.

Criminal activity in Turkiye is an underlying threat to foreign travelers. Tourists in major cities are common targets of street crime. Socio-economic issues and political tensions periodically lead to public unrest, which can quickly escalate into violence. Prior to the construction of a border wall, an influx of northern Syrian refugees was linked to an increase in petty crime in southeast border provinces. Turkiye's involvement in military operations in Syria has also increased the risk of cross-border conflict incidents.

The country faces conflict risk due to the Kurdish separatist insurgency in south-eastern provinces, and the Syrian conflict has negatively affected the security environment along Turkiye's southern border. However, following major military operations in Northern Syria and the capture of People's Protection Forces (YPG)-held Afrin, the risk of cross-border incursions has been reduced.

There are no serious risks associated with air travel in Turkiye.

Turkiye has a high rate of road accidents due to hazardous local driving habits and poor road conditions. Overland travel may be restricted by Turkish military movements and checkpoints in south-eastern regions.

Ambarlı and İzmir port authorities are found as the most efficient and İskenderun is found as least efficient one.

Utilities are good.

There are increasing concerns over the threat from cyber-attacks, which can cause damage to the country's economy.

Turkey (Turkiye) is located in a seismically-active zone and major earthquakes occur periodically. Turkey also frequently experiences other natural disasters, such as wild forest fires, landslides and flooding. Landmine contamination exists along the southern borders with Syria and in the country's south-eastern regions.

Turkiye has variable levels of healthcare provision. Top University hospitals and private practices in cities like Istanbul and Ankara provide a good level of care, however many government-funded hospitals lag behind western standards. The quality of care can be particularly poor in rural eastern areas. Food and water should be treated with caution. Those in need of medical assistance may require evacuation depending on their location.

Turkiye is a multi-party constitutional republic operating in a dominant presidential system. Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) have ruled Turkiye for over two decades, during which time they have amended the political system to concentrate power in the President's office. The President is the head of government and state, while legislative power resides with the Parliament. Presidential and parliamentary elections occur at least once every five years; they are not perceived as entirely free and fair. Media bias and opposition suppression play a significant role in shaping political outcomes.

The judiciary is nominally independent of the executive and the legislature. However, mass purges of judges and prosecutors have likely eroded judicial autonomy. The judiciary has been accused of targeting the government's opponents. Erdogan and the AKP have increasingly faced accusations of cooptation of the judiciary, suppression of independent media and the opposition, and corruption. Following a failed coup attempt, these concerns intensified as the government took control of media outlets, harassed journalists who were critical of the administration, and limited the public's access to unbiased information.

Under Turkiye's presidential system, coalitions featuring a cross-section of political parties are typically required to form the government. Government collapses occurred moderately frequently before the presidential reform. State institutions are moderately competent and effective and provide generally reliable services in most parts of the country. However, the central government has increasingly used administrative law to undermine electoral results in opposition strongholds.