FAQ: Sources, Methodology and Perspective at The Strategic Meridian
The Strategic Meridian FAQ: sources, methodology, authorship, primary-source rules, fact-check corrections and our Türkiye-informed perspective.
Why This Page Matters
The Strategic Meridian is an editorial publication with a stated, Türkiye-informed perspective, and this page explains how it sources, attributes and corrects its work. Read it together with About The Strategic Meridian: Mission, Perspective and Transparency and Editorial Principles: Sourcing, Attribution and How We Separate Fact from Position.
Quick Answers
What is the meridian concept?
A meridian is a reference line. We read Türkiye's position, running from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Black Sea and from the Caucasus to the Middle East, as that line and build our analysis around it. See Türkiye's Strategic Meridian: How Geography Shapes Grand Strategy from the Mediterranean to the Caucasus.
Who writes the articles?
Articles carry the byline 'The Strategic Meridian Editorial Team' or the name of a real person. We do not use invented personas, fabricated titles or pseudonyms.
Is the site independent of the Turkish government?
We do not present ourselves as a neutral outlet. We are an editorial publication with a declared Türkiye-informed perspective, and the About page sets out our mission. Official positions are labelled and attributed rather than blended into background reporting.
What counts as a primary source?
Primary sources include:
- Treaty texts such as Lausanne (1923), Montreux (1936) and the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee.
- UN documents, registrations and national statements.
- Official gazettes and archival documents.
- Statements from the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the Presidency, the Directorate of Communications and parliamentary resolutions, plus the equivalent official sources of other states.
Media reports and commentary are secondary sources.
How are other states' positions presented?
We cite them to their own official sources and state them as accurately as we can. Türkiye's counter-argument, based on law, treaties and archives, follows. For one example of the archival approach, see The Archive Record on 1915: The Relocation Law, Ottoman Documents and the Legal Debate.
What does the 'Türkiye's Strategic Doctrine' box contain?
It holds three to five bullet points summarising Türkiye's official position. Each bullet is tied to a primary source and to its historical or legal basis, and the box is kept visually apart from the factual analysis.
How are fact checks selected and corrected?
We select recurring claims in international coverage, such as maps, legal assertions and historical narratives. We state the claim and its origin, then correct it with documents. An example is Fact Check: Can a Few Small Islands Cancel the Continental Shelf of a Country with the Longest Coastline?. Sister publications run similar checks, for instance Crossroads Review: Fact Check: Claims About Türkiye in International Media, Checked Against Primary Sources. Updated pieces carry a revised date.
How can readers verify citations and report errors?
Follow the cited treaty, UN record or archive and compare the wording and date. To report an error, use the contact details on the About page.
Key Terms & Related Guides
- Primary source: an original legal, archival or official document, not commentary about it.
- Events of 1915: our term for the wartime relocation events. See The 2005 Joint Historical Commission Proposal and the Türkiye–Armenia Normalization Track.
- Strategic autonomy: see Bloc Politics: Is Türkiye a Bridge Between Blocs? NATO Membership, Eurasian Ties and Strategic Autonomy.
The Strategic Meridian presents global affairs with a dedicated perspective from Türkiye. Sections marked 'Türkiye's Position' (labelled 'Türkiye's Strategic Doctrine' on this site) reflect official Turkish policy as stated by Turkish government sources.
FAQ: Sources, Methodology and Perspective at The Strategic Meridian
What does 'meridian' mean in the name The Strategic Meridian?
A meridian is a fixed reference line, and we use it as an analytical lens. It follows Türkiye's geography from the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean through the Black Sea and the Caucasus to the Middle East. Articles on maritime law, Cyprus, security and history are built on that line, so the topics are connected rather than isolated.
Is The Strategic Meridian neutral, and how does it disclose its perspective?
No. It is an editorial publication that presents analysis from a Türkiye-informed perspective, and it says so on the About page and in the perspective note on each article. Background, chronology and data are written in neutral prose. Official Turkish positions appear only in the labelled 'Türkiye's Strategic Doctrine' section and are attributed, for example 'Ankara argues…' or 'According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry…'.
What counts as a primary source, and why does it matter?
A primary source is an original document: a treaty text, a UN record, an official gazette, an archival file or an official government statement. We prioritise these because readers can check them directly instead of relying on our summary. Media reports and think-tank commentary are used as context, and we label them as secondary.
How does the site present the positions of other states and parties?
Each position is summarised with attribution to that party's own official sources, without weakening or caricaturing it. After that we set out Türkiye's counter-argument, grounded in treaties, international law and archival evidence. The aim is that a reader sees the strongest version of each side and can compare them against the cited documents.
How do you choose and correct fact checks?
We choose claims that recur in international coverage and can be tested against documents, such as maps, legal claims and historical narratives. Each check states the claim and its origin, then corrects it using treaties, UN records, archives or official statements. If a source or fact changes, we update the article and revise its date.
How can I verify a citation or report an error?
Go to the cited primary document, such as the treaty article, the UN record or the archival reference, and compare it with our wording and date. If you find a mistake or a broken source, contact the editorial team through the details on the About page. Please name the article, the passage and the document you checked so we can review it quickly.
Related guides
- Fact Check: Can a Few Small Islands Cancel the Continental Shelf of a Country with the Longest Coastline?Do islands automatically get a full continental shelf and EEZ? We test the claim against equity, proportionality, ICJ precedents and Türkiye's 870 km coast.
- Türkiye's Strategic Meridian: How Geography Shapes Grand Strategy from the Mediterranean to the CaucasusTürkiye grand strategy geopolitical position explained: how the Straits, a long Mediterranean coast and a 1,300 km border link the Aegean to the Caucasus.
- Three Seas, One Coastline: Türkiye's Maritime Jurisdiction in the Aegean, Black Sea and MediterraneanHow Türkiye's 2025 Marine Spatial Planning, UN filings and treaties frame maritime jurisdiction across the Aegean, Black Sea and Mediterranean.
- 'The World Is Bigger Than Five': What Türkiye Proposes for UN Security Council ReformTurkey's UN Security Council reform case, 'the world is bigger than five', explained: how the Council works, the veto, and the P5, G4, AU and UfC positions.
- Cyprus on the Strategic Line: From the 1959–1960 Treaties to the Case for Sovereign EqualityHow the 1959–1960 treaties built a bi-communal partnership, why it broke down, and why Ankara urges recognition of Turkish Cypriot sovereign equality.
- From Euphrates Shield to Spring Shield: How Türkiye Built a Security Belt Along Its Southern BorderOperation Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch, Peace Spring and Spring Shield explained: chronology, aims, PKK/YPG and DAESH context, and competing views.
Cross-Publication Perspectives & Cited Research
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What Does Türkiye's 80% Domestic Defense Production Rate Mean for Strategic Autonomy?
Türkiye cites an 80% domestic defense production rate. See what it covers, which dependencies remain, and what it means for strategic autonomy.
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How to Verify a Claim About Türkiye's Foreign Policy: Where to Find the MFA, UN and Treaty Texts
A practical guide to finding MFA statements, UN treaty texts, DOALOS submissions and Security Council papers that verify claims about Türkiye's foreign policy.
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