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.
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Sep 25, 2026 — Shared an FT piece on former US intelligence chief Avril Haines and her remark that "Trump trusts his gut more than the expertise." View on X →
Sep 24, 2026 — Contributed to El Mundo on Türkiye’s growing role in Somalia and the Horn of Africa, discussing Ankara’s geopolitical, security and energy interests in the Red Sea–Indian Ocean corridor. View on X →
Sep 23, 2026 — Joined War on the Rocks' "The Insider" podcast with Samuele Abrami to discuss the narrowing window of opportunity for Turkish-Kurdish reconciliation. View on X →
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