Abdullah Muradoğlu All daily Yeni Şafak Columns

Abdullah Muradoğlu

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Who will be Trump’s National Security Adviser?

05 May 2025, Monday

President Donald Trump has removed National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, a frequent target of the “anti-neocon Trumpist” camp. However, Trump softened the blow by nominating Waltz for the position of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Unlike the NSA post, the UN ambassadorship requires Senate confirmation—a process that is expected to be highly contentious due to Waltz’s alleged involvement in the “Signalgate” scandal. Democratic senators, in particular, are likely to subject him to intense

Power Struggles Inside the Trump Administration

04 May 2025, Sunday

The dismissal of U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz by President Donald Trump is being seen as another chapter in the ongoing ideological power struggle within the Trump administration. Just recently, four senior officials at the Pentagon were also removed from their posts. Two of them were known as “Prioritizers” in foreign policy circles, and had been labeled “isolationists” in pro-Israel media due to their critical stance on Israel. A former Army officer, Waltz was frequently criticized

Trump doesn't understand the Chinese!

29 April 2025, Tuesday

The tug-of-war between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping continues. Muscles and nerves are straining, but Xi shows no signs of letting go. Trump, in his typically abrasive style, claimed that dozens of countries were "beating down the doors" of the White House just to sign trade agreements. Confident that no serious obstacles stand in his way, Trump is playing hardball, expecting foreign leaders to line up and kiss the ring at his White House throne. But when it comes

Still waters run deep in DC

25 April 2025, Friday

While U.S.-Iran negotiations proceed quietly on the surface, Washington is witnessing extraordinary behind-the-scenes maneuvering—like ducks gliding smoothly on water while paddling furiously beneath. This precisely describes the current situation in the capital, where the Israel Lobby, neoconservatives, and hawkish factions are racing against more cautious voices to shape Trump's Iran policy. Netanyahu has been deeply unsettled by Trump's decision to engage Iran diplomatically. Israel isn’t pushing

"Neocons" and "Realists" are clashing!

14 April 2025, Monday

In my previous column, I pointed out that some factions within the “Trump Coalition” were behind former President Trump’s decision to delay—for 90 days—the steep tariffs imposed on countries other than China. That same coalition also houses deeply conflicting views on defense, national security, and foreign policy. Some members of the Trump administration believe the U.S. should pull back from its military commitments in the Middle East and Europe and instead focus solely on countering China. These

Joe Biden ruined Ukraine

03 March 2025, Monday

Speaking on Dana Bash’s show on CNN this Sunday, U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz once again emphasized that Ukraine cannot join NATO. According to Waltz, a scenario where Ukraine becomes a NATO member, triggering U.S. obligations under Article 5 and leading to direct U.S. military involvement in Ukraine’s defense, is simply out of the question. Waltz’s remarks are particularly notable given that they come right after the public three-way verbal sparring during Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit

Ukraine and the Art of Strategic Traps

24 February 2025, Monday

Some strategies are inherently toxic. The goal of such strategies is to make the “target country” adopt a strategy that was actually crafted by enemy strategists. This is essentially a “strategy within a strategy” or a “hidden strategy within a strategy.” These tactics work by luring the adversary into a geopolitical illusion, trapping them at a certain point. This is what’s known as a “trap strategy,” designed to make the target country take the bait. Once they do, they become fixated on the wrong

They ruined Ukraine!

23 February 2025, Sunday

The Russia-Ukraine War won’t last forever. Sooner or later, every war ends. Had the peace talks initiated in Türkiye in March 2022 continued, Ukraine could have suffered far fewer losses. But due to the deliberate sabotage by the U.S. and the U.K., Volodymyr Zelensky lacked the will to pursue negotiations. Zelensky came to power with overwhelming public support, promising to implement the Minsk Agreements. Yet, he either failed to do so or chose not to. As a result, Ukraine became a battleground

Is the US and EU's troubled marriage coming to an end?

17 February 2025, Monday

The cracks in the marriage between the US and Europe became evident as early as Trump’s first term. When Joe Biden won the 2020 election, it kept the two sides from walking out on each other. Some believed that this marriage was bound by a Catholic vow—no matter how bad things got, divorce was not an option. But with Trump’s return, many now believe the marriage won’t last. US Vice President JD Vance made that clear at the Munich Security Conference, openly stating that the worldviews and lifestyles

Accomplices in the genocide of Palestinians

12 February 2025, Wednesday

Many Trump-aligned politicians are hailing President Trump’s fantastical Gaza plan as the greatest breakthrough of the century. However, a few Republicans, led by Senator Rand Paul, have voiced criticism. The rest simply echo whatever Trump wants to hear. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has heaped praise on Trump’s plan, declaring, “Our goal is to achieve lasting peace for all people in the region.” But can those who claim to seek lasting peace continue to supply Israel with ammunition