US-Turkey to Discuss Kabul Airport Today, Islamic Bank Merger Rumours Surface

LOCAL NEWS

• US delegation to visit Turkey today to discuss a proposal for the Kabul airport.
  • Defense Min Akar says Turkey will not send more troops to Afghanistan to secure the Kabul Airport with 500 already stationed there.
  • IYI party says it opposes Turkish deployment in Kabul, saying Turkish lives are at risk and the US must stabilize Afghanistan
• Turkey may merge three Islamic banks controlled by the Wealth Fund to boost efficiency and economies of scale.
  • Ziraat, Vakif & Emlak have combined assets of TRY133.7bn & total 1Q21 profit of TRY114m (10% y/y increase).
  • The merger is currently in discussion phase and would create the second-largest Islamic bank in Turkey.
  • Additionally, Halkbank has held off on plans to set up its own Islamic bank
• Veteran pollster warns HDP closure and outright ban on forming another pro-Kurdish party would cause at least a 5% loss in Kurdish votes for the AKP.
  • Notes 25% of the Kurdish population votes AKP, but the closure would likely divert support to the CHP.
  • Also says pressure from the MHP, not Erdogan, is the main driver of the HDP closure case – and the byproduct of the issue is nationalism in the IYI and CHP, which helps prevent an alliance between the opposition.