The Defense Journal by Atlantic Council in Turkey is a publication covering the latest developments in the United States-Turkey defense relationship and analysis on the full spectrum of defense and security issues affecting the United States, Turkey and the region. Featured experts include current and former policymakers, thought leaders and journalists.

The journal aims to be an independent platform with first class expertise on timely topics of interest to enhance dialogue and understanding between Turkish and American defense communities.

“The complexity of the US-Turkey relationship is only exceeded by its significance. The Defense Journal by Atlantic Council IN TURKEY breaks down the opportunities, challenges, and regional developments driving bilateral as well as regional relations.”

Frederick Kempe, President and CEO, Atlantic Council

Strategic transactions and bilateral defense ties have formed the backbone of the US-Turkey alliance for decades. Yet, we have fallen short of developing a thorough defense affairs dialogue between the two nations’ strategic communities. This Defense Journal aims to meet the pressing need for expert, contextually-grounded information on strategic and defense issues of common interest in Washington, Ankara, and areas affected by the relationship between the two. The conflict in Ukraine has illustrated that these two powerful allies can influence regional crises in a strategically complementary manner when carefully coordinated—while the conflict in Syria has demonstrated how misalignment can harm the interests of both. Unfolding geopolitical turbulence in contemporary international affairs, coupled with various flashpoints mushrooming around the globe, necessitate a viable US-Turkey accord more than ever. Hereby, we aim to augment the intellectual foundations and deepen collective understanding of a viable convergence between these two important NATO allies.

From Rich Outzen & Can Kasapoglu, Defense Journal by Atlantic Council IN TURKEY Co-editors

Honorary advisory board

The Defense Journal by Atlantic Council IN TURKEY‘s honorary advisory board provides vision and direction for the journal. We are honored to have Atlantic Council board directors Gen. Wesley K. Clark, former commander of US European Command; Amb. Paula J. Dobriansky, former Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs; Gen. James L. Jones, former national security advisor to the President of the United States; Franklin D. Kramer, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs; Lt. Gen. Douglas E. Lute, former US Ambassador to NATO; and Dov S. Zakheim, former Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and Chief Financial Officer for the Department of Defense.

The Atlantic Council IN TURKEY, which is in charge of the Turkey program, aims to promote and strengthen transatlantic engagement with the region by providing a high-level forum and pursuing programming to address the most important issues on energy, economics, security, and migration.

Content

Defense Journal by Atlantic Council IN TURKEY

Jun 22, 2023

Lt. Gen. (ret.) Nihat Kökmen

Ret. Lt. Gen. Kökmen was born in Eskişehir, Turkey in 1959. After completing his primary school education in Şafaktepe Primary School (Ankara) and high school education in Sincan High School (Ankara), he joined the Turkish Air Force Academy in 1977.

Defense Journal by Atlantic Council IN TURKEY

Jun 22, 2023

General Philip M. Breedlove

General Philip M. Breedlove is a former Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR #17) and a retired four-star general of the United States Air Force. As the SACEUR, he was also Commander of the US European Command, based in Stuttgart, Germany.

Defense Journal by Atlantic Council IN TURKEY

Jun 22, 2023

General Wesley K. Clark

General Clark serves as Chairman and CEO of Wesley K. Clark & Associates, a strategic consulting firm; Chairman and Founder of Enverra, Inc. a licensed investment bank; Chairman of Energy Security Partners, LLC; as well as numerous corporate boards including BNK Petroleum and Leagold Mining. He is active in energy, including oil and gas, biofuels, electric power and batteries, finance, and security.

Defense Journal by Atlantic Council IN TURKEY

Dec 22, 2022

H.E. Basat Öztürk

Permanent Representative of Türkiye to NATO Ambassador Öztürk has been serving as Permanent Representative of Türkiye to NATO since November 2018. Before his current assignment, he was serving as the Deputy Undersecretary at the Turkish Ministry of National Defence (MoND) since October 2017. He was in charge of Plans and Policy as well as Budget […]

Defense Journal by Atlantic Council IN TURKEY

Dec 22, 2022

Can Kasapoglu

Dr. Can Kasapoglu is a non-resident senior fellow at Hudson Institute, and the director of the Security & Defense Research Program at EDAM. Dr. Kasapoglu holds a Ph.D. from the Turkish War College and an M.Sci. degree from the Turkish Military Academy.

Defense Journal by Atlantic Council IN TURKEY

Dec 22, 2022

Ken Moriyasu

Diplomatic Correspondent with Nikkei Asia Ken Moriyasu is a reporter and editor with 20-plus years of experience at Japanese financial newspaper Nikkei and its English-language arm Nikkei Asia. He was the last journalist to interview Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and has been a correspondent in Tokyo, Washington, Cairo, Beijing, Dalian and New York.

Defense Journal by Atlantic Council IN TURKEY

Dec 22, 2022

Q&A with Lieutenant General (retired) Ben Hodges

Former commanding general of US Army Europe Ben Hodges shares his thoughts on the United States-Turkey defense partnership.

Conflict Europe & Eurasia

Defense Journal by Atlantic Council IN TURKEY

Dec 22, 2022

Turkey’s global military footprint in 2022

By Rich Outzen

A breakdown of Turkey's evolving global military posture and defense partnerships and their effect on US policy and interests.

Conflict Defense Policy
Diplomatic men sitting around a table in discussion

Defense Journal by Atlantic Council IN TURKEY

Dec 22, 2022

Turkey learns that hard power is a global common currency: Defense diplomacy elevates Ankara’s status on the international stage

By Ken Moriyasu

Turkey's growing assertiveness and military capabilities are providing new angles for cooperation with existing partners and unlocking new partnership opportunities.

Central Asia Conflict

Defense Journal by Atlantic Council IN TURKEY

Dec 22, 2022

Lieutenant General (Retired) Ben Hodges

Former Commanding General of US Army Europe Lieutenant General (Retired) Ben Hodges, the former Commanding General of US Army Europe, is now a Senior Advisor to Human Rights First, a non-profit, non-partisan international human rights organization, based in New York, Washington DC and Los Angeles. General Hodges held the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at […]