Turkey

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.

Israel and Turkey are not natural rivals. It’s time to stop treating them that way. 

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
Israel and Turkey are not natural rivals. It’s time to stop treating them that way. 

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
Israel and Turkey are not natural rivals. It’s time to stop treating them that way. 

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

MENASource

Oct 8, 2026

Israel and Turkey are not natural rivals. It’s time to stop treating them that way. 

By Alissa Pavia

The West should find ways of managing rather than entrenching both countries further into this competition.

Conflict Geopolitics & Energy Security

TURKEYSource

Oct 6, 2026

Beyond tariffs: The US–Turkey trade relationship needs a bigger bargain

By Leo Ayala

To reach their longstanding $100 billion trade ambition, the United States and Turkey should look beyond tariffs toward a broader economic bargain.

Economy & Business Europe

UkraineAlert

Sep 15, 2026

With Putin overextended in Ukraine, Armenia is turning away from Russia

By Joseph Epstein

Every day Ukraine keeps fighting, Russian influence grows weaker in the countries of the ex-USSR that Moscow refers to as the “near abroad.” Nowhere is this Russian retreat clearer than in Armenia, writes Joseph Epstein.

Conflict Democratic Transitions

TURKEYSource

Aug 20, 2026

To stop escalation in the Black Sea, Turkey needs a new regional strategy

By Yevgeniya Gaber

As strikes continue to grow on shipping throughout the Black Sea, Turkey must reevaluate its approach to shipping and security in the region.

Europe Maritime Security

TURKEYSource

Aug 11, 2026

Turkey wants a bigger role in NATO. Its defense industry will be key.

By Alp Ozen

With the NATO Summit in Ankara behind it, Turkey’s defense sector now faces the challenge of turning political momentum into action—from defense-industrial cooperation to diplomatic initiatives and NATO capability development.

Defense Industry Defense Technologies

Dispatches

Aug 7, 2026

Why Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey just signed a defense pact

By Atlantic Council experts

Each country pledged to defend the others, but each country also has its own motivations for joining the pact.

Conflict Iran

TURKEYSource

Jul 27, 2026

From grain to drones, the Ukraine-Turkey free trade agreement marks a milestone in bilateral cooperation

By Yevgeniya Gaber

The ratification of the Ukraine-Turkey free trade agreement signals a deepening strategic partnership spanning trade, defense, reconstruction, and European integration.

Economy & Business Russia

TURKEYSource

Jul 24, 2026

Turning to Azerbaijani gas and US LNG, Turkey seeks to break its reliance on Russian energy

By İlker Sezer

Turkeyʼs multifaceted approach to diversifying its gas supplies away from Russia, including by buying from the US and Azerbaijan, may finally be paying off.

Energy & Environment European Union

TURKEYSource

Jul 23, 2026

A NATO ally holds the key to Europe’s drone wall, and it isn’t Washington

By Tolga Demiryol

Europe's drone wall aspirations are constrained by industrial capacity. Turkey may be the NATO ally that can close the gap.

Defense Policy Defense Technologies

Dispatches

Jul 13, 2026

Dispatch from Ankara: Turkey is establishing its own role in ‘NATO 3.0’

By Riccardo Gasco and Alissa Pavia

Turkey is becoming more important to NATO because the current security environment has made its disagreements with the West easier to compartmentalize

Europe & Eurasia NATO
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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

Matthew Bryza

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Yiğit Canay

Nonresident Fellow

Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Economy & Business Middle East
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