Journalist and Reuters bureau chief in Turkey. Native of Canada. Views my own https://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3mgfdm5vabk2aScoop: Turkey's MİT asks Britain's MI6 to step up protection of Syria's leader Sharaa after recent Islamic State assassination plots, sources say https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-asks-britains-mi6-step-up-protection-syrias-sharaa-sources-say-2026-03-06/06 Mar 2026 12:42 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgfdm5vabk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3mgekr3nisk2jIsolated and under fire: Iran strikes out as far as Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Gulf states - as allies Russia and China make a cold calculation and stand aside https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/isolated-under-fire-iran-strikes-out-russia-china-stand-aside-2026-03-05/06 Mar 2026 05:18 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgekr3nisk2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3meqdnu67rk22From behind bars, İstanbul's mayor dares Erdoğan to call early elections now: "He will run and he will lose. And Turkey will be the winner," İmamoğlu tells @reuters.com https://www.reuters.com/world/jailed-istanbul-mayor-dares-erdogan-call-early-elections-now-2026-02-13/13 Feb 2026 10:52 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3meqdnu67rk22https://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3mck6qeljec2vSyria poised to attack Kurdish-held towns to pressure stalled talks, sources say https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syria-poised-attack-kurdish-held-towns-pressure-stalled-talks-sources-say-2026-01-16/16 Jan 2026 13:18 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3mck6qeljec2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3mcgynbxdec2xScoop: Armed Kurdish groups sought to cross into Iran from Iraq, sources say, potentially seeking to take advantage of instability after days of crackdown on protests https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/armed-kurdish-groups-sought-cross-into-iran-iraq-sources-say-2026-01-14/15 Jan 2026 06:51 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcgynbxdec2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3mabtxanbts2jScoop: Syria and Kurdish forces race to save integration deal ahead of deadline with an 11th-hour proposal https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syria-kurdish-forces-race-save-integration-deal-ahead-deadline-2025-12-18/18 Dec 2025 18:53 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3mabtxanbts2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3m2rkyc55tc2qTurkey emerges as key player in Gaza ceasefire deal, both in negotiations and its planned execution, after having remained mostly on the sidelines for two years https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-pleased-with-gaza-ceasefire-deal-will-monitor-implementation-2025-10-09/09 Oct 2025 16:24 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2rkyc55tc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3m2okuvqnqk2tTurkey's gas shift threatens Russia and Iran's last big European market https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/turkeys-gas-shift-threatens-russia-irans-last-big-european-market-2025-10-08/08 Oct 2025 11:44 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2okuvqnqk2thttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3m2mwsx7y4c2nTurkey floated $100 million Halkbank settlement idea at White House last month, sources say - https://www.reuters.com/world/turkey-floated-100-million-halkbank-settlement-idea-white-house-last-month-2025-10-07/07 Oct 2025 20:13 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2mwsx7y4c2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3m25i7mknjc2xMoscow's NATO flyovers recall Turkey's deadly but risky decision 10 years ago, when it sent a flaming Russian jet careening into a wooded ridge near its border https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/russias-nato-flyovers-recall-turkeys-deadly-risky-decision-10-years-ago-2025-10-01/ w/ @tuvangumrukcu.bsky.social01 Oct 2025 16:41 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3m25i7mknjc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3lznqbyonxc2jAt White House, Erdogan hopes to leverage warmest U.S.-Turkish ties in years to convince Trump to drop sanctions and allow F-35 sales https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/white-house-erdogan-seek-deal-with-trump-f-35s-2025-09-25/25 Sep 2025 10:23 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3lznqbyonxc2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3lzh4rde3ws2uHow Israel’s West Bank strategy aims to bury Palestinian statehood - https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/how-israels-west-bank-strategy-aims-bury-palestinian-statehood-2025-09-22/22 Sep 2025 19:18 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzh4rde3ws2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3lzfsgkehy22wSetting the table for Trump and Erdogan's White House meeting this Thursday: Turkey says it is ending tariffs on some U.S. imports https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-says-it-is-ending-additional-tariffs-some-us-imports-2025-09-22/22 Sep 2025 06:40 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzfsgkehy22whttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3lz3og2tat22yScoop: U.S. diplomats on Syria abruptly let go amid pro-Damascus policy push, sources say https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-diplomats-syria-abruptly-let-go-amid-pro-damascus-policy-push-sources-say-2025-09-18/18 Sep 2025 06:02 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3lz3og2tat22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3lymucjnros2vTurkish court could oust #CHP opposition leader Özgur Özel, in what some see as a test of country's shaky balance between democracy and autocracy https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkish-court-could-oust-opposition-leader-deepening-political-crisis-2025-09-12/12 Sep 2025 08:37 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3lymucjnros2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3lydgp6kpmc2iTurkey's opposition MPs pile tables and chairs to block police besieging its headquarters in Istanbul https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-opposition-uses-tables-chairs-block-police-besieging-headquarters-2025-09-08/08 Sep 2025 14:40 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3lydgp6kpmc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3luprc3jijc2eSyria is secretly reshaping its economy. The president’s brother is in charge. - https://www.reuters.com/investigations/syria-is-secretly-reshaping-its-economy-presidents-brother-is-charge-2025-07-24/24 Jul 2025 14:40 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3luprc3jijc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3luny5k75ws23The Al-Shaer family went to bed hungry at their home in Gaza City. An Israeli airstrike killed them in their sleep https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-strike-kills-hungry-gaza-family-their-sleep-2025-07-23/23 Jul 2025 21:38 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3luny5k75ws23https://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3luc6z2ihfc2nScoop: Syria believed it had green light from US, Israel to deploy troops to Sweida - https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syria-believed-it-had-green-light-us-israel-deploy-troops-sweida-2025-07-19/19 Jul 2025 05:09 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3luc6z2ihfc2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3ltlqyckwws2sTurkey has detained 500 of Erdogan's opponents - jailing more than 200 of them, including 14 mayors - in unprecedented pursuit of "octopus" of corruption https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-detains-hundreds-erdogan-opponents-pursuit-octopus-corruption-2025-07-10/10 Jul 2025 06:59 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3ltlqyckwws2shttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3lsxupd2a5k2qPKK disarmament could come soon, with small group of fighters symbolically handing over weapons in Sulaimaniya in "coming days" https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/turkey-says-pkk-disarmament-could-start-within-days-says-ak-party-spokesman-2025-07-01/02 Jul 2025 09:12 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3lsxupd2a5k2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3lqrvulum2s2aScoop: Turkey to press for access to EU defence funds: @NATO allies "need to spend not only more, but also smarter – and there is a need for more cooperation than ever before," defence minister tells @tuvangumrukcu.bsky.social https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/turkey-press-allies-access-eu-defence-funds-2025-06-04/04 Jun 2025 13:27 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqrvulum2s2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3lqropicmjs2aScoop: Turkey training and advising Syria's military, has no immediate withdrawal plans, and continues de-confliction talks with Israel, defence minister Güler tells @tuvangumrukcu.bsky.social https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-backing-syrias-military-has-no-immediate-withdrawal-plans-defence-2025-06-04/04 Jun 2025 11:19 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqropicmjs2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3lpohafiiuk26U.S. to appoint Thomas Barrack, the new ambassador to Turkey, as special envoy for Syria, sources say https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-appoint-thomas-barrack-special-envoy-syria-sources-say-2025-05-21/21 May 2025 11:02 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpohafiiuk26https://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3lphtfm5mps2aTrump's Gulf tour marks emergence of a new Sunni-led Middle East order - one that eclipses Iran's shattered 'axis of resistance', and leaves Israel sidelined https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trumps-gulf-tour-reshapes-middle-east-diplomatic-map-2025-05-18/18 May 2025 19:51 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3lphtfm5mps2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3lp5366cgl22mErdogan, preparing to host Russia-Ukraine talks, has probably never held more diplomatic sway. But his global peacemaker spotlight hides tumult within Turkey https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/erdogans-global-peacemaker-spotlight-hides-tumult-within-turkey-2025-05-14/14 May 2025 13:11 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3lp5366cgl22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3llydffr3tc2aScoop: Foreign minister Fidan says Turkey wants no confrontation with Israel in Syria. @reuters.com exclusive here: https://reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-wants-no-confrontation-with-israel-syria-foreign-minister-says-2025-04-04/ Full interview here: https://reuters.com/world/middle-east/watch-reuters-interviews-turkish-foreign-minister-hakan-fidan-2025-04-04/04 Apr 2025 11:39 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3llydffr3tc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3ll7hwkjwys2nTurks protesting under a towering Roman aqueduct in Istanbul brace for a long-term standoff over mayor's jailing - even as Erdogan says their 'show' will end https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turks-vow-protest-even-erdogan-says-show-will-end-2025-03-25/25 Mar 2025 14:24 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3ll7hwkjwys2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3ll4ocicvk22ySix year legal fight: how Istanbul's mayor became Erdogan's prime target https://reuters.com/world/middle-east/six-year-legal-fight-how-istanbuls-mayor-became-erdogans-prime-target-2025-03-24/24 Mar 2025 11:40 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3ll4ocicvk22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonathanspicer.bsky.social/post/3ll2vknewmc2gTurkey jails Istanbul mayor before his trial, inflaming country's biggest protests in more than a decade https://reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkish-prosecutors-demand-istanbul-mayor-imamoglu-be-jailed-pending-trial-2025-03-23/23 Mar 2025 18:44 +0000at://did:plc:escyixnmaxiushvna7cymj4k/app.bsky.feed.post/3ll2vknewmc2g