Article
Henri J. Barkey
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Source: Getty
In The Media
Turkey's Role in the Middle East
Turkey is one of the most economically and politically powerful states in the Middle East and it has recently been taking steps to fill the leadership vacuum that exists in the region.
Published on Jun 8, 2010
Source: Al Jazeera's Inside Story
During the end of the Bush administration, Turkey began to position itself to fill the leadership vacuum in the Middle East. Turkey is one of the most economically and politically powerful states in the region. Its government brokered negotiations between the Syrians and the Israelis. Yet while those negotiations demonstrate the strength of Turkey’s ambitions, Carnegie’s Henri Barkey suggested that “the importance of these negotiations should not be exaggerated;” no real deal could have been made without U.S. involvement and approval.
Addressing concerns that the United States and Turkey are becoming increasingly estranged, Barkey asserted that “the big problem between the United States and Turkey is Iran; everything else is just a sideshow.” Ultimately, he concluded, the Turks and Americans remain important allies and will continue to cooperate on the multitude of regional issues where their interests coincide.
About the Author
Henri J. Barkey
Former Visiting Scholar, Middle East Program
Barkey served as a member of the U.S. State Department Policy Planning Staff, working primarily on issues related to the Middle East, the Eastern Mediterranean, and intelligence from 1998 to 2000.
- Winners and Losers in Turkey’s Election
- The Road to Turkey’s June Elections: Crises, Strategies, and OutcomesArticle
Henri J. Barkey
Recent Work
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