Turkey-Iraq Energy: Turkey and Iraq are nearing a one-year extension of their 1973 crude oil pipeline deal, keeping oil flowing from Kirkuk to Turkey’s Mediterranean port of Ceyhan as the Ceyhan route remains vital for Baghdad. NATO Summit Fallout: After the Ankara NATO summit, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan handed leaders engraved revolvers with live ammunition—sparking legal and practical headaches for several countries. US-Turkey Defense Talks: Turkey’s FM Hakan Fidan says Ankara is hopeful on lifting US sanctions and moving toward F-35 access, arguing there should be no defense-industry restrictions among allies. Aegean Maritime Tension: Fidan also highlighted a contradiction: Turkey accepts Iran’s 12-nautical-mile territorial claim in the Hormuz Strait while rejecting Greece’s similar Aegean extension. Domestic Politics: Turkey ordered detention of 36 suspects in a bribery and tender-rigging probe involving an opposition-run Ankara district. US-Iran Escalation: Trump renewed threats against Iran, while reporting around his Air Force One security—plus a surprise switch back to an older jet—kept attention on NATO-era tensions.