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New Atlanticist

May 16, 2013

How Turkey and Israel Could Force US Action in Syria

By Sarah Grebowski and Maksymilian Czuperski

Early this week, the world looked to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for a response to the bombings in Reyhanli that killed 47 people and left more than 100 wounded. It was the deadliest terrorist attack in Turkey since the 2003 Istanbul bombings, shocking the nation and fueling anxiety over the war in neighboring […]

Security & Defense Syria

New Atlanticist

May 15, 2013

Stand with Our Allies on Syria

By Ross Wilson

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan comes to Washington at a time of domestic crisis over car bombings at Reyhanlı on the Syrian border that killed over 50 and resulted in hundreds of wounded, many seriously. The Turkish public, which has never supported Ankara’s tough line on President Bashar al-Assad, is alarmed. Syria was already […]

Syria Turkey

New Atlanticist

Apr 23, 2013

5 More Questions for Henrik Liljegren

By James Joyner

Henrik Liljegren, an Atlantic Council board member, served 42 years in Sweden’s diplomatic corps, including stints as Ambassador to the United States, Turkey, East Germany, and Belgium.  In June 2009, we discussed the Russia “Reset” and the political climate in Turkey. Today, I had the opportunity to revisit these issues with him.

Russia Turkey

Event Recap

Apr 23, 2013

Private Meeting with Istanbul Stock Exchange Chairman and CEO M. Ibrahim Turhan

The Atlantic Council and Herrick, Feinstein LLP held an off-the-record breakfast meeting with Dr. M. Ibrahim Turhan, chairman and CEO of Borsa Istanbul, on Tuesday, April 23 in New York City. The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) and the Istanbul Gold Exchange have merged to become Borsa Istanbul, which will create new investment opportunities and dramatically […]

Turkey

New Atlanticist

Apr 9, 2013

Kurdish Opening: Opportunities and the Challenges Ahead

By Selin Bolme and Mujge Kucukkeles

On March 21, 2013 Turkey entered a new period with the reading of a letter from Öcalan to the crowds gathered in Diyarbakir on Newruz day, the traditional Kurdish Spring festival, calling for a cease-fire and the withdrawal of PKK fighters from Turkish territory. The letter did not contain the technical details of the withdrawal; […]

Politics & Diplomacy Turkey

New Atlanticist

Mar 22, 2013

Israeli Apology to Turkey Big First Step But Not Sea Change

By Ross Wilson

Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu phoned Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on March 22 to apologize for the May 2010 Mavi Marmara incident and move toward normalizing bilateral relations that have been in the deep freeze since June 2010. President Obama clearly played a direct role in orchestrating the call that took place as […]

Turkey

New Atlanticist

Mar 21, 2013

Kurdish Leader: End Armed Struggle

By Ross Wilson

Turkey’s long-time nemesis Abdullah Öcalan, leader of the so-called Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), delivered an historic message on the March 21 Nowruz holiday that marks the beginning of spring calling for a new beginning between Kurds and Turks.

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Feb 1, 2013

Ankara Embassy Bombing: Not Another Benghazi

By Ross Wilson

Once again, hearts and prayers go out to a victim of a terrorist assault on a US diplomatic establishment.  The February 1 suicide attack on the American embassy in Ankara claimed one wounded, a visiting Turkish journalist, and two dead–embassy security guard Mustafa Akarsu and the bomber himself. 

Turkey

New Atlanticist

Feb 1, 2013

Turkey Needs NATO Just as Much as NATO Needs Turkey

By Sarwar Kashmeri

Dr. Soner Cagaptay from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy talks about the “New Turkey,” and its pivot to NATO with Sarwar Kashmeri, senior fellow, Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security and adjunct professor, Norwich University. (8 ½ minutes)

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jan 11, 2013

Murder in France, Fragile Opening in Turkey

By Ross Wilson

Who carried out the execution of three women prominent in the European branch of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Paris on January 9 and what was their intended message are unclear.

France Turkey

Experts