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.

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

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

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

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

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

Fast Thinking

Jul 8, 2026

Was the NATO Summit a success?

By Atlantic Council

Atlantic Council experts break down an eventful two days in Ankara.

NATO Security & Defense

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Jul 3, 2026

Braw in DW News on Turkey’s importance in NATO

By Elisabeth Braw

On July 3, Elisabeth Braw was interviewed by DW News on why the Black Sea is so important to Turkey and Russia as the NATO Summit in Ankara approaches.

Europe & Eurasia Security & Defense

Issue Brief

Jul 2, 2026

From burden sharing to strategic delivery: NATO and Turkey’s priorities ahead of the Ankara summit

By Pınar Dost

As allies gather in Ankara, Turkey's rising influence, US retrenchment, and uneven burden sharing will test whether NATO can convert pledges into action.

Defense Policy European Union

Report

Jul 1, 2026

How NATO is facing mounting cybersecurity challenges

By G. Alexander Crowther

NATO's cyber defenses boast strong policy and training, but uneven capabilities and rising state threats will continue to pose major challenges.

Cybersecurity Defense Technologies

Report

Jul 1, 2026

Alliance evolving: The Ankara summit and NATO readiness

By Atlantic Council Turkey Program

As allies gather in Ankara for the 2026 NATO Summit, the seventh issue of the Defense Journal examines the issues at the forefront of the allied agenda.

Defense Policy Defense Technologies
Load More

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

Staff

Kiran Baez

Program Assistant

Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Central Asia Geopolitics & Energy Security

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
Load More