Turkey

Turkey is a longstanding NATO ally and member of the transatlantic community, strategically occupying the alliance’s southeastern flank. As an important ally in a turbulent region, Turkey has a crucial role to play in tackling many of the world’s most pressing challenges such as the war in Syria and relations between the West and Russia. Turkey is also a valuable partner for Washington on energy cooperation, business, regional relations, and migration.

How will the future of US foreign policy and economic engagement affect Turkey?

Report Sep 13, 2024

A sea of opportunities: Exploring cooperation between Turkey and the West in the Black Sea

By Atlantic Council Turkey Programs

In the political sphere, the interests of Turkey and the West in the Black Sea largely overlap.
Defense Industry Defense Technologies
How will the future of US foreign policy and economic engagement affect Turkey?

TURKEYSource Aug 28, 2024

Turkey wants to end the war in Ukraine—and might have a formula to do it

By Rich Outzen

Turkey would play a role in a cease-fire and post-war arrangement, drawing on a history of balance and deterrence in the Black Sea region.
Conflict Europe & Eurasia
How will the future of US foreign policy and economic engagement affect Turkey?

Issue Brief Jul 8, 2024

Turkey’s emerging and disruptive technologies capacity and NATO: Defense policy, prospects, and limitations

By Can Kasapoğlu and Sine Özkaraşahin

An issue brief exploring Turkey’s defense technological ecosystem and leveraging its capabilities for the benefit of NATO.
Defense Industry Defense Policy

Programs

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.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM

Content

TURKEYSource

Oct 28, 2020

How will the future of US foreign policy and economic engagement affect Turkey?

By Atlantic Council IN TURKEY

We asked three experts to share their thoughts on which policy would best fit Turkey’s perspective and interests, how a Biden administration would affect US foreign policy towards the Middle East as well as in the Mediterranean, and whether the United States can play a mediating role between Turkey and Israel. Additionally, we asked our contributors their thoughts on the prospects of increased economic engagement between the United States and Turkey on trade and investment.

Inclusive Growth Macroeconomics

TURKEYSource

Oct 26, 2020

Managing bilateral disagreements through leader-to-leader rapport

By Atlantic Council IN TURKEY

Should former Vice President Joe Biden prevail against Trump in November, it remains unclear whether the US and Turkish leaders would enjoy the same rapport built between Erdoğan and Trump, while the many disagreements between the two countries would remain.

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

TURKEYSource

Oct 15, 2020

What relationship can the US and Turkey have after 2020?

By Atlantic Council IN TURKEY

In recent years, relations between the United States and its NATO ally Turkey have seen dramatic ups and downs, and Ankara has started to pursue a more independent foreign policy. Regardless of who wins the US elections, it is important to consider whether the United States and Turkey share enough common interests to facilitate strong cooperation moving forward.

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Oct 8, 2020

Shaffer quoted in Asia Times on unification between Iran’s Azeri-speaking provinces, and Turkey and Azerbaijan
Europe & Eurasia Iran
Mediterranean

Report

Oct 7, 2020

Value beyond price: Prioritizing political stability and regional integration when financing Mediterranean gas

By Olgu Okumuş

A comprehensive overview of the tensions surrounding natural gas resources in the Eastern Mediterranean which argues that development projects must take into account geopolitical rivalries as a reality in determining how to leverage East Med gas by mobilizing the power of multilateral dialogue platforms and international development banks.

Europe & Eurasia European Union

TURKEYSource

Oct 5, 2020

Turkish Black Sea discovery: Is it geopolitics or economics?

By Anita Orban

While some expect that a Turkish drilling ship's discovery of the country's largest natural gas reserve to date will give Turkey a more advantageous bargaining position, the country has already had this leverage thanks to its wide variety of pipeline sources and access to the liquefied natural gas market.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

TURKEYSource

Sep 23, 2020

Now let’s see an agreement in the Eastern Mediterranean

By Brenda Shaffer

The Trump administration has demonstrated its ability to bring allies together and promote regional peace and cooperation. The United States should keep up this momentum by helping to reach an agreement between Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus, and de-escalate the conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Conflict Europe & Eurasia

TURKEYSource

Sep 23, 2020

Solving the Eastern Mediterranean crisis requires compromise

By Matthew Bryza

France, Greece, and the entire EU should embrace this de-escalatory approach, recognizing that the entire transatlantic community will be strategically better off with a strong Greece-Turkey relationship that ensures a fair system for sharing Eastern Mediterranean energy resources.

Geopolitics & Energy Security Greece

TURKEYSource

Sep 17, 2020

Eastern Mediterranean tensions require diplomacy, not conflict

By Mitat Çelikpala

Despite the continued challenges and dangerous rhetoric, the only viable path remains through dialogue and compromise. For Turkey, this means openness to dialogue to address the issues at hand and expanding its diplomatic front to build support for its interests.

Conflict Crisis Management

EnergySource

Sep 14, 2020

Turkey’s gas find in the Black Sea: How big is this Tuna?

By Ariel Cohen and Talya Yuzucu

Turkey is a primary destination for US liquefied natural gas (LNG), but a change may be over the horizon. In late August, Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO)'s drilling ship FATIH discovered a 320 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas reserves in the Black Sea, within the western part of Turkey's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Geopolitics & Energy Security Oil and Gas
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Experts

Fellow

Elliot Ackerman

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Defense Policy

Expert

Defne Arslan

Senior Director

Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Ilker Baburoglu

CEO, MedTrade Energy & Commodities

Millennium Leadership Program

Africa Economy & Business

Fellow

Michael Bociurkiw

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Ukraine International Organizations

Fellow

Lesley Chavkin

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Africa Economy & Business

Fellow

Jonathan R. Cohen

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Greece Iraq
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