May'18 Issue 14
Inside This Issue
- Introduction: Turkey’s Early election on June 24, 2018
- DRK Insight and Studies
- Regional Developments
- Turkey Security Incident Overview (1 Month)
- Turkey Security Incident Overview (3 Months)
- A Strategic Target: Oil and Gas Pipelines
- The Benefits of BCM to your organization and DRK’s Package Solutions
Introduction: Turkey’s Early election on June 24, 2018
President Erdogan, after a very short meeting with Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), surprisingly made a call for an early election recently. It was just a few days ago when Mr. Bahçeli had made an astonishing announcement while he proposed the elections to be organized almost one year earlier than the planned time of 2019. It was indeed a fact that the main opposition party Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the newly formed right-wing nationalist IYI (Good) Party had been making calls for an early election which was then heavily criticized by the President. The rationale of these two in their offer was the so-called “worsening” economic conditions and “adverse” security developments especially with regards to Syria. Now the opposition front seems happy although they claim that the decision was the part of a “carefully choreographed scenario” to take the political rivals by surprise. However, they have also been voicing series worries on the openness, freeness and fairness of the electoral process.
DRK considers that, although President Erdogan still remains the most powerful candidate for the future presidency, the opposition front also seems to have been more solidified than ever for this elections. As such, DRK foresees that the electoral process may witness an increase of the tensions in the political and security environment of Turkey. It is also confidently foreseeable by DRK that, current stability may prevail rather upon an election result on the benefit of Erdogan at least in the short term.
That being said, a potential negative result for President Erdogan may result in further changes far beyond the change of the name of the President and that of the balance within the Parliament in Turkey’ future.
DRK Insight and Studies
- Designating Turkey’s Security Concerns in Syria: Ongoing Conflict in Idlib
- Unlawful Referendum Attempt of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Its Implications
- Turkey – NATO Relations; Perspectives for the Future
- Egypt Mosque Attack: A Brief Analysis and Possible Consequences
- The Increasing Tension Between Iran and S. Arabia and Its Possible Implications for Global Business
- Possible Business – Wise Repercussions of a Potential Turkish Army intervention into Afrin Region in Northern Syria
- PKK-PYD-ISIS, Interactions; Future Possibilities on the Regional Terrorism Developments
- Large Scale Social Kurdish Turmoil - 6-7 October 2014 - Turkey
DRK does not employ armed or unarmed security personnel but does advice you on the best suited security armed/unarmed manning fashions. DRK can advise you on the selection, employment, management, performance testing of the security companies in the scope.
DRK conducts a survey of the main transport routes and gives you advice on the ballistic vest implementations, security coordination with the Gendarme and Police forces, vehicle tracking and emergency alerting procedures depending on the hot spots and specific portions along the travel route.
Regional Developments
Turkey brings back 80 FETÖ suspects from abroad: Turkey has so far brought back 80 Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) suspects from abroad and will continue to pursue them no matter where they are, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on April 15.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-brings-back-80-feto-suspects-from-abroad-130338
(Accessed on April 15, 2018)
TANAP to start delivering gas in June: The Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) will start to operate at the end of June, General Manager Saltuk Düzyol said. TANAP, running from the eastern province of Ardahan on the border with Georgia towards borders with Greece and Bulgaria, is the central and longest section of the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC). The main aim of SGC is to connect the giant Shah Deniz gas field in Azerbaijan to Europe through the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP), TANAP, and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tanap-to-start-delivering-gas-in-june-130537
(Accessed on April 18, 2018)
Erdogan declares early elections on June 24: President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called snap elections for June 24, saying economic challenges and the war in Syria meant Turkey must switch quickly to the powerful executive presidency that goes into effect after the vote.
(Accessed on April 18, 2018)
Armenian Prime Minister Resigns After Mass Protests: Armenia’s long-term leader Serzh Sargsyan suddenly resigned as prime minister on Monday, less than a week after taking office amid massive opposition protests. The announcement sparked joyous celebrations among tens of thousands of Armenians who’d flooded the streets of the capital, Yerevan, to demand Sargsyan’s resignation during 11 days of protests.
(Accessed on April 23, 2018)
Turkey awards multibillion-dollar contract for indigenous Altay tank: BMC, a privately owned Turkish-Qatari armored vehicles manufacturer, has won a multibillion-dollar contract for the serial production of the Altay, Turkey’s first indigenous, new-generation main battle tank in the making. A top procurement official confirmed the decision. “We will start contract negotiations with this group, as it emerged as the best bidder,” the official said.
(Accessed on April 25, 2018)
Russia begins production of S-400 missiles sold to Turkey: Russia has started production of the S-400 air defense system for Turkey, manufacturing company Rosoboronexport General Director Alexandre Miheev said. Last December, Turkey announced that it had concluded an agreement with Russia for the purchase of two S-400 systems by late 2019.
(Accessed on April 27, 2018)
Pro-Assad regime forces, PYD/PKK clash in Syria: At least 20 pro-regime soldiers, 5 PYD/PKK terrorists killed during clashes in Deir az-Zor region, local sources say. It is also stated that wth the air support of the U.S. warplanes and Apache helicopters, the PYD/PKK retook the villages.
https://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/pro-assad-regime-forces-pyd-pkk-clash-in-syria-/1131289
(Accessed on April 30, 2018)
26 pro-regime fighters, mostly Iranians, killed in blast on Syria base: Missile strikes against Syrian regime forces in the central province of Hama overnight killed 26 pro-regime fighters, mostly Iranians, a monitor said. The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights said the fighters had been killed in a raid, “probably” carried out by Israel, on the 47th Brigade base in Hama.
(Accessed on April 30, 2018)
Turkey Security Incident Overview – 1 Month (April 1 – April 30, 2018)
Turkey Security Incident Overview – 3 Months (February 1 – April 30, 2018)
DRK provides liaison and cooperation with the security forces and stations along the transfer routes as to guarantee the security of the transportation of your high value assets.
A Strategic Target: Oil and Gas Pipelines
DRK has come up with an integrated analysis of the gas and pipeline security. Here are some brief information on the forthcoming insight:
Key Takeaways
Oil and gas pipelines and their major components- specifically pumping and compression stations- are new Achilles heel of energy sector and are vulnerable to attacks in a wide spectrum.
An incident or an act of terrorism - physical or cyberattack- on energy infrastructure would not be unexpected under the current security environment, if happened, would result in a potentially devastating circumstance not only for the region it passes through but also globally.
How to Manage the Risks and Protect Oil and Gas Infrastructures
The protection dimension of the energy infrastructure needs a coherent and holistic security strategy. Mechanical approaches like using CCTV, balloons, drones, fences, barriers may have a critical role in security nevertheless they could sometimes remain limited and could be easily disabled. On the other hand, responding the non-traditional and hybrid threats by employing the traditional security measures is very difficult, and a new security mindset for the energy industry is required. In this regard, in responding these unconventional threats, the solution should not be solely technical, social tactics should be included in a multilayered protection approach. For example, partnering with all stakeholders and recognizing the requirements and characteristics of local communities as well as implementing some social projects could give a tactical advantage for defenders.
Conducting a threat assessment and risk and business impact analysis seems to be a pre-condition in securing the critical assets where multiple scenario-based and Business Continuity Management approaches could have a crucial role in the development of the strategic security plans.
DRK offers you niche assessments, field/facility surveys and observations to define the security sensitivities and vulnerabilities, as well as plans for mitigation measures and protective precautions in any location of Turkey for site, facility, regional levels.
The Benefits of BCM to Your Organization and DRK’s Package Solutions
An effective BCM will provide extensive gains for your organization by:
- Creating an organizational notion of Crisis Management,
- Improving awareness about risks, vulnerabilities, and their impacts on business,
- Rectifying faults in the operation and security systems,
- Protecting personnel, assets, and reputation,
- Identifying time-critical business processes and necessary resources,
- Securing supply chain,
- Meeting regulatory requirements,
- Contributing situational awareness and accelerating decision-making in a crisis,
- Establishing a Crisis Management System capable of responding to incidents effectively and safely.
DRK offers a variety of solutions considering the organizational business needs and desired maturity level of your organization. The following table describes our package solutions that were designed to meet your both business and security needs holistically. Of course, apart from those, we can offer modular packages to transform your organization.
DRK Risk & Security Consulting
