At a time when Western democracies are facing security and political challenges, an international human rights report finds that the right to protest is under continuous and systematic attack.

Last month, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized Israel's violations of international law in Gaza, but now he praises and justifies Israel’s attack on Iran and keeps silent about Gaza.

On August 1, Turkiye announced that a swap of 26 prisoners between Russia and several Western countries had been coordinated in Ankara, in the largest prisoner swap since the height of the Cold War.

Western capitals remained silent through Turkiye’s presidential campaign, hoping Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s rule would come to a close, but now the West is caught between fear and hope.

The US and Europe would be better off without Erdogan’s disruptive influence in world affairs, especially as their confrontation with Vladimir Putin intensifies.