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

TURKEYSource

Jun 12, 2020

A time to keep allies as allies

By Namık Tan

Despite the many challenges both sides face separately and together, the world cannot afford to allow this relationship to be ruptured beyond repair. Valuing an important friendship has always been important and treating them as such has never been more crucial than right at this moment. Let's hope both sides have gotten that message loud and clear.

Politics & Diplomacy Turkey

TURKEYSource

Jun 5, 2020

How to maximize Syrian refugee economic inclusion in Turkey

By Bastien Revel

Turkey’s experience on the key issues such as jobs and employment should be examined as lessons for both refugee hosting countries and donor countries alike. The country has provided Syrians under Temporary Protection the right to access work permits and formal employment. But more can be done to help facilitate refugees' access to decent employment.

Inclusive Growth Migration

New Atlanticist

Jun 1, 2020

The world order will need a post-COVID rethink, Turkish VP says

By David A. Wemer

Oktay stressed that the world has changed dramatically since the onset of the pandemic, and will provide opportunities and challenges that all world leaders should be careful not to ignore.

Coronavirus Politics & Diplomacy

TURKEYSource

May 29, 2020

Impact of COVID-19 on the global energy sector and reflections on Turkey

By Grady Wilson

On May 14, the Atlantic Council IN TURKEY organized a virtual event on the impact of COVID-19 on the global energy sector and reflections on Turkey.

Coronavirus Geopolitics & Energy Security

TURKEYSource

May 18, 2020

“Our Humanity Brings Us Together”: A Syrian woman entrepreneur in Gaziantep launches an intercommunal campaign to support families economically touched by COVID-19

By Pınar Dost

Lobna Helli formed a ten-person team consisting mostly of women and started a movement called "Our humanity brings us together." They facilitate connections between Syrian and Turkish families who either want to offer financial support or need financial help. With the funds they collect, they buy grocery cards worth one hundred Turkish lira and distribute them to those in need. They have reached more than one hundred families, so far.

Entrepreneurship Migration

TURKEYSource

May 7, 2020

How Turkey benefits from global LNG glut

By Eser Özdil

While Turkey’s gas supply security is enhanced, the domestic market benefits from the increasing competition in the global gas market. With LNG, Turkey can further diversify its gas supply sources and the state-owned gas company, BOTAS, can decrease the weighted average cost of imported gas.

Oil and Gas Turkey

Turkey News Roundup

May 5, 2020

Turkey weekly news roundup – May 4, 2020

By Atlantic Council in Turkey

Below is a selection of articles on Turkey we have been following, covering the most important issues over the past week. COVID-19 International Cooperation Regional Conflicts

Turkey

TURKEYSource

May 4, 2020

Turkey’s renewables sector in light of COVID-19

By Değer Saygın

Globally, the electricity sector attracts more than $750 billion in investments annually. Much of the sector’s investment portfolio comprises renewable energy and grid infrastructure. The demand in the power sector due to COVID-19 and the impact on prices need to be analyzed carefully to ensure continuity in investment in these areas, which constitute the cornerstone of energy transition along with energy efficiency.

Coronavirus Renewables & Advanced Energy

New Atlanticist

Apr 30, 2020

Idlib ceasefire is holding and could open door to long-term Syria solution, US envoy says

By David A. Wemer

The ceasefire negotiated between Russia and Turkey to halt fighting in the Syrian province of Idlib appears to be holding, US Special Representative for Syria Engagement and Special Envoy to the Global Coalition To Defeat ISIS Ambassador James F. Jeffrey said on April 30. “We have heard from many sources, even many Russian [ones], that there is a general feeling that this ceasefire is living up to expectations,” according to Jeffrey.

Conflict Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

Apr 23, 2020

COVID-19 is transforming education for all: Fast tracking the shift to distant learning

By Robert Feller

The spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has presented the world with a series of challenges that can deepen inequalities across societies, but also (or maybe especially) in the world of education, which is now forced to move into the online realm. COVID-19, however, also gives us the opportunity to increase the quality and access to education for the world’s most vulnerable young people. The impact of new, digital innovations on the education of thousands of young refugees is huge and demands our urgent attention.

Coronavirus Syria
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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