“Turkey: Swing State in Great Power Competition, and the Importance of U.S.-Turkey Relations”

Abstract:

“Turkey and its foreign policies matter greatly to U.S. national interests in multiple regions around the globe. Turkey’s global vocation has shifted under the long tenure of President Erdogan, from an exclusively European and pro-Western orientation to that of a swing state and a “middle power.” What dynamics inform these changes and what do they mean for the U.S.? For starters, Ankara has been playing a key role in ending the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Syria. While new areas of cooperation are emerging between Ankara and Washington in great power competition in Africa and Eurasia, challenges to the relationship remain.

One of the foremost U.S. experts on Turkey, Dr. Soner Cagaptay, will speak to members and guests of the Council on World Affairs on the latest developments in U.S.-Turkish relations. Dr. Cagaptay is Senior Fellow and Director of the Turkey Research Program at The Washington Institute in Washington, DC. He is a frequent expert analyst for the media and has written articles for Foreign Affairs, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post and other national publications. Please join us for what promises to be an extremely informative presentation and question-and-answer period on fast-breaking issues.”