Nurettin Canikli

Turkey has “completed” the purchase of the S-400 air-defense system from Russia, Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli said on Nov. 11.       

Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 surface-to-air missiles has been completed but Ankara is discussing a further deal with a European consortium to help it develop its own missile defence system, Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli said.

Turkey and the U.S. should highlight areas of agreement and repair their relationship instead of focusing on disagreements, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım has said. 

After attending the "Victory Day" reception at the presidency on Aug. 30, I drew the following conclusions:

- Turkey is ready to conduct all kinds of maneuvers to prevent unwanted situations and fait accomplis to its south. Whatever is necessary will be done. The decision has been taken. I saw the sense of relief that this decision has been taken at the highest level. 

The Supreme Military Board (YAŞ) convened for a critical meeting under Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım on Aug. 2 to discuss promotions and expulsions from the military.

It is the third supreme military board meeting since the last year's failed coup attempt and the second with its changed structure.

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım is set to assume roles in key public offices including the Saving Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) and the Turkish Wealth Fund, a post which was under the responsibility of Nurettin Canikli, who was appointed as the new defense minister after a cabinet reshuffle earlier this week.  

Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım announced the much-anticipated cabinet reshuffle on July 19, changing four of his five deputy premiers while keeping the foreign team in place and introducing six new names. 

Turkey's leading defense companies Aselsan and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI, also known as TUSAŞ) signed a deal with the Indonesian companies PT Dirgantara and PT Len on July 6 to collaborate on defense products.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has intensified its rhetoric against the main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) "justice march" from Ankara to Istanbul, claiming that it is "susceptible to the abuse of terrorist actions." 

Turkey will see a single-digit inflation rate by the end of 2017, Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli stated on May 3, amid alarming recent rises in inflation.        

"We will see this [drop] not only in inflation but also in unemployment at the end of the year," Canikli told reporters in London, where he was holding a series of meetings.