About
Political Analyst | PhD Researcher | Foreign Policy Coordinator at IstanPol
Recent Highlights
September 1, 2026 — Quoted in Tagesschau (ARD) on the Mecca Defence Alliance, describing it as "an alignment of interests" rather than a NATO-style pact, and explaining how it complements Turkey's NATO commitments. Read more →
August 27, 2026 — Quoted in AP News on Turkey's exposure to secondary US sanctions over its trade ties with Iran. Read more →
August 21, 2026 — Quoted on BBC Urdu, sharing thoughts with Roohan Ahmed on the Mecca agreement between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. Read more →
Biography
Riccardo Gasco is a political analyst and PhD Researcher in International Relations at the University of Bologna. Based in Istanbul since 2019, he serves as Foreign Policy Program Coordinator at IstanPol, a leading Istanbul-based think tank, and advises governmental, institutional, and private-sector clients on Turkish foreign policy, regional security, and political risk in the Eastern Mediterranean. He has previously held research fellowships at the Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) and Sabanci University, working on Turkish foreign policy with a focus on Turkiye-Italy and EU relations.
Riccardo's research focuses on Turkiye's foreign policy, its strategic positioning between NATO and Russia, and the broader behavior of emerging middle powers in a shifting global order. He holds degrees in International Relations and Diplomatic Sciences from the University of Genoa and SOAS, University of London.
He frequently contributes analysis to Italian, Turkish, and international media, offering commentary on Turkiye's domestic politics, regional dynamics in the Middle East, and its complex relationships with Europe, the United States, China, and Russia. His publications cover topics such as Turkiye-China relations, the Kurdish issue, Turkish defense policy, EU-Turkiye relations, and broader questions of transatlantic diplomacy and strategic autonomy.
Latest on X
Sep 3, 2026 — Shared FT reporting that the EU is accelerating plans to break up its diplomatic service. View on X →
Sep 2, 2026 — Contributed to Tagesschau reporting on the new Mecca Defence Alliance, arguing the Türkiye–Saudi Arabia–Pakistan pact is best read for now as an alignment of interests, and that it serves Ankara differently from NATO. View on X →
Sep 2, 2026 — Broke down the three complementary interests behind the Mecca Defence Alliance: Saudi Arabia seeking broader security partnerships, Pakistan consolidating its military and diplomatic role, and Türkiye extending its regional reach. View on X →