Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Within the Atlantic Council’s longstanding commitment to strengthening the transatlantic relationship, the Atlantic Council Turkey Program conducts research, provides thought leadership, and offers a platform for strategic dialogue between the US, Turkey, and NATO allies to address the region’s toughest challenges and explore opportunities, including in the fields of energy, business & trade, technology, defense, and security.

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About the program

Featured event

Public Event Thu, March 5, 2026 • 9:30 am ET

Navigating a new era in Syria: Strategic opportunities for the US and Turkey

A discussion on pathways toward regional stability, cooperation, and economic opportunities in Syria for the US, Turkey and the region.
Conflict Defense Policy Iraq Middle East

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Defense Journal

The Defense Journal by Atlantic Council Turkey Program provides independent expert analysis regarding the full spectrum of defense issues involving primarily the United States and Turkey as well as the region, covering strategic, geopolitical, political-military, operational-technical, and defense technological and industrial affairs.

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Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Report Mar 11, 2026

Navigating change: US-Turkish defense relations in 2026

By Atlantic Council Turkey Program

The sixth issue of the Defense Journal by Atlantic Council Turkey Program, takes up several of the regional, military-technical, and policy issues in US-Turkish relations.
Conflict Europe & Eurasia
Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Report Jun 2, 2025

Transatlantic relations and a region in flux

By Atlantic Council Turkey Program

The fifth issue of the Defense Journal by Atlantic Council IN TURKEY assesses key dynamics as we enter a new era.
Central Asia Conflict

TURKEYSource

TURKEYSource provides analysis and insight on Turkey and related developments with coverage from Turkish, regional, and international experts. This blog offers timely news and commentary on key issues related to transatlantic relations, energy, business, security, and key players.

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Atlantic Council Turkey Program

TURKEYSource Dec 19, 2025

How NATO and its partners should respond to Russia’s militarization of the wider Black Sea region

As Russia continues to destabilize and militarize the Black Sea region, helping bolster regional security will require a concerted focus.

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Atlantic Council Turkey Program

TURKEYSource Dec 2, 2025

Any peace deal that empowers Russia is a direct security threat to Turkey

By Yevgeniya Gaber

As US talks with Russia and Ukraine intensify, Turkey must reassert regional leadership and help secure a sustainable peace in Ukraine and in the Black Sea.
Conflict Europe & Eurasia
Atlantic Council Turkey Program

TURKEYSource Nov 18, 2025

Two revealing Washington visits will set the course for Syria’s future

By Rich Outzen

Syria is a key foreign policy priority for Trump, with Ahmed al-Sharaa and Turkey now playing an inevitable role in how the US approaches the country.
Conflict Politics & Diplomacy

Recent events

Public Event Thu, March 5, 2026 • 9:30 am ET

Navigating a new era in Syria: Strategic opportunities for the US and Turkey

A discussion on pathways toward regional stability, cooperation, and economic opportunities in Syria for the US, Turkey and the region.
Conflict Defense Policy Iraq Middle East
Public Event Tue, February 17, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Turkey’s evolving role in a new global geopolitical and security order

The Atlantic Council’s Turkey Program hosts a discussion on how Turkey’s foreign policy and transatlantic engagement are evolving in a changing regional and global order.
Conflict Europe & Eurasia Iran Iraq
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In-depth research & reports

From energy relations to issues related to Syrian refugees in Turkey, the Atlantic Council Turkey Program’s in-depth research serves to enlighten transatlantic policymakers and business leaders on issues about Turkey.

Issue Brief

Mar 3, 2026

Turkey’s gas diversification strategy and rising share of LNG

By Eser Özdil

An analysis of Turkey's LNG diversification strategy from 2016 to 2025 and the geopolitical implications of Turkey’s emergence as a gas exporter to Europe.

Energy Markets & Governance Geopolitics & Energy Security

Issue Brief

Nov 19, 2025

Why Ankara’s rising power in the Sahel could benefit the West

By Alp Ozen, Haley Nelson

Turkey offers a rare channel in the Sahel that the West could use to recalibrate its approach to the region.

Africa Energy & Environment
all in-depth research

Featured documentary

Do Seagulls Migrate?
An Atlantic Council documentary

As the Syrian civil war marks a decade of destruction and displacement, millions of refugees are forced to endure harrowing journeys and create new lives from scratch. Do Seagulls Migrate?, the Atlantic Council’s first ever documentary, chronicles the lives of four Syrian women who fled their war-torn homes to seek survival, prosperity, and a new life in Turkey. Do Seagulls Migrate? reveals the refugee experience first-hand as Reem, Khloud, Inam, and Reem M. share their emotional journeys, forge new experiences, care for their families, and build new careers.

Do Seagulls Migrate? has been selected for screening at four film festivals: Prague International Film Festival 2021, 10th Antakya International Film Festival, Germany International Film Festival 2023, Nice International Film Festival 2023, and the 7th Golden Tree International Documentary Film Festival.

Learn more

Related content

Mon, November 8, 2021 • 5:30 pm ET

Premiere of Do Seagulls Migrate?

Read about the official premiere of Do Seagulls Migrate?, hosted at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

Watch now

Experts

Fellow

Mark Mowrey

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Staff

Kiran Baez

Program Assistant

Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Central Asia Geopolitics & Energy Security

Expert

Defne Arslan

Senior Director

Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Fellow

Matthew Bryza

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Pınar Dost

Nonresident Fellow

Atlantic Council Turkey Program

English French

Fellow

Arnold C. Dupuy

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Turkey Energy & Environment
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Content

Turkey News Roundup

Aug 25, 2021

Turkey news roundup – Developments in Afghanistan and regional relations

By Atlantic Council in Turkey

Below is a selection of articles on Turkey we have been following, covering the most important recent issues. Developments in Afghanistan Regional relations

Turkey

TURKEYSource

Jul 1, 2021

Can energy be the key to Turkish-US relations in the Biden era?

By Eser Özdil

In spite of ups and downs in the political relationship, the United States and Turkey have always shared mutual interests on energy including through the Southern Gas Corridor and emerging LNG trade. Shared priorities on developing renewables and cooperation to strengthen the energy security of Eastern Europe are now emerging areas of cooperation.

Climate Change & Climate Action Economy & Business

TURKEYSource

Jun 29, 2021

Biden-Erdoğan icebreaker could set the stage for a bilateral thaw

By Grady Wilson

Biden and Erdogan emerged from a long meeting on the sidelines of the June 14 NATO summit upbeat and positive, setting the stage for dialogue and progress in bilateral relations. Turkey and the United States share an expansive list of disagreements and tensions points as well as mutual interests and opportunities. Both sides are unanimous on the importance of bilateral relations but it remains to be seen how the two countries will manage their current challenges.

Conflict International Organizations

TURKEYSource

Jun 14, 2021

Expert React: The key takeaways from the Biden-Erdoğan Meeting

By Atlantic Council IN TURKEY

US President Joe Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Brussels on June 14 for the first time since Biden's election. Atlantic Council experts offer their reactions on the meeting and its key takeaways.

Conflict Defense Technologies

TURKEYSource

Apr 29, 2021

Turkey and the new Libyan government: continuity, change, and new opportunities

By Karim Mezran and Dario Cristiani

The new Libyan leadership’s early moves on the international stage demonstrate its openness to engaging with all actors. Interim Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeibeh's government's closest and most important international partner is Turkey, which, driven by strategic interests has continued to support the internationally recognized Libya government.

Conflict Libya

TURKEYSource

Apr 5, 2021

The end of the Gulf rift may not signal the end of Turkey-Qatar relations

By Meliha Benli Altunışık

Early this year, changing regional power balances drove Qatar and the GCC bloc to a normalization agreement, almost four years after the imposition of an embargo on Qatar. During that time, Qatar and Turkey developed an increasingly close and multifaceted relationship. Although cutting military ties between Qatar and Turkey had been on the original list of demands issued by the Saudi led bloc, don't expect any in Turkey-Qatar relations.

Defense Industry Economy & Business

Turkey News Roundup

Mar 31, 2021

Turkey weekly news roundup – March 31, 2021

By Atlantic Council in Turkey

Below is a selection of articles on Turkey we have been following, covering the most important recent issues. EU-Turkey Relations US-Turkey Relations Afghanistan Talks Turkey’s Economy

Turkey

TURKEYSource

Mar 18, 2021

How to end the US-Turkey dialogue of the deaf

By Matthew Bryza

With Trump and his special affinity for Erdoğan gone, one would predict that the US-Turkey bilateral relationship would become more complicated. But rather than hunkering down for more confrontation, Erdoğan has opened the door for a reset of US-Turkey relations.

Economy & Business Oil and Gas
EU-Turkey

In-Depth Research & Reports

Mar 15, 2021

Europe’s geostrategic sovereignty and Turkey

By Bahadır Kaleağası

A more positive relationship between the European Union and Turkey is a decade-long project of advocates from all over Europe and across the Atlantic. Drawing on history, witnesses see how this relationship can be an excellent win-win algorithm, as much as it can rapidly turn out to be a lose-lose situation or even a triple win-or-lose equation—with political, economic, and social resonance reaching far beyond the Continent.

Climate Change & Climate Action Economy & Business

TURKEYSource

Mar 10, 2021

Turkey is seeking a fresh start with Israel

By Karel Valansi

After a recent period of turbulence in bilateral Turkey-Israel relations, Turkey, driven by economic and geopolitical interests, is now eager to normalize ties.

Crisis Management Economy & Business
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Events

Online Event Tue, April 7, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

US-Turkish defense relations and the upcoming NATO Summit
Defense Industry Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia Geopolitics & Energy Security