Transatlantic relations and a region in flux
Foreword
Dramatic events altered the geopolitical landscape, affecting Turkey, the United States, and NATO in late 2024 and early 2025. The election of Donald Trump as the forty seventh president of America, a ceasefire in Gaza after months of showdown between Israel and Iran’s Axis of Resistance, and the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria have challenged many assumptions and regional political-military considerations. The fifth issue of the Defense Journal assesses key dynamics as we enter a new era. The Defense Journal team examines the rise of the hyperwar concept via military applications of artificial intelligence and the frontier of development for robotic systems. We also look at trends in key US policy concerns in the region to the south of Turkey, including Israel and Syria. If the first months of the second Trump administration are any indication, rapid change and a high tempo in US foreign policy decisions affecting Washington, Ankara, and their shared interests across several regions is the new normal. The Editorial Team hopes you find these contributions interesting and useful.
Rich Outzen and Can Kasapoglu, Defense Journal by Atlantic Council IN TURKEY Co-managing editors
Articles
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.
Gen. Wesley K. Clark
Chairman and CEO of Wesley K. Clark & Associates & Board Director, Atlantic Council; former Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO
Amb. Paula J. Dobriansky, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow at Harvard University JFK Belfer Center for Science & International Affairs; Board Director, Atlantic Council; former Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs (2001-2009)
Gen. James L. Jones
President, Jones Group International and Executive Chairman Emeritus, Atlantic Council; former National Security Advisor to the President of the United States
Franklin D. Kramer
Distinguished Fellow & Board Director, Atlantic Council; former US Assistant Secretary of Defense
Lt. Gen. Douglas E. Lute
CEO, Cambridge Global Advisors & Board Director, Atlantic Council; former US Permanent Representative to NATO
Dov S. Zakheim
Senior Advisor, Center for Strategic and International Studies; Senior Fellow, CNA Corporation; Board Director, Atlantic Council; former US Under Secretary of Defense
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The Atlantic Council in Turkey 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 defense.
Image: U.S. Green Berets from various special forces groups pose for a photo with Turkish Army and Air Force joint terminal attack controllers while two U.S. Navy F/A-18 fighters fly overhead at a training area near Konya, Türkiye, August 24, 2023. U.S. SOF joint terminal attack controllers (JTAC) conducted a bilateral call for air support exchange with Turkish Air Force and Army members near Konya, Türkiye to increase Turkish JTAC capabilities and further interoperability between NATO allies. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st. Class Adrian Borunda)