JSIS 495 - Winter 2022: Task Force F: The U.S. Response To Changes in Turkey’s Foreign Policy

In recent years Turkey has been asserting its power and influence in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa independently from the United States and its allies in Europe. This is a significant departure from the Cold War when, as a long-standing member of NATO, Turkey worked closely with its American and European partners. Recent changes in Turkey’s approach to foreign policy has created tensions in its relations with its western allies. Turkey is purchasing land-based missiles from Russia, aggressively fighting Kurdish groups in Syria that are allies of the United States and reaching out to Taliban to gain a foothold in Afghanistan. Turkey has also become an exporter of sophisticated military drones and has made a major push into Sub-Saharan Africa with a series of economic and military agreements. Turkey’s growing assertiveness abroad is taking place at the same time as its government is becoming increasingly authoritarian domestically. Given that Turkey continues to be a partner through NATO and it is in a strategically important point between Europe and Asia, the U.S. is finding it hard to walk away from this partnership. This Task Force will explore how the U.S. might respond to changes in Turkey’s foreign and domestic policy and how it might rethink its relationship with this country.