Turkey’s relationship with the United States, as well as with its traditional NATO allies and western partners, is going through a rocky patch as we approach the centennial of the establishment of the modern-day Republic of Turkey in 2023.
A creeping sense of estrangement is taking hold of a longstanding and erstwhile mutually reinforcing partnership between Turkey and the United States. This is a concerning trajectory that is in neither side’s interest—and needs to be reversed.
I say this as a former career Turkish diplomat who has been involved in framing Turkish foreign, defense, and security policies. I know from experience that when Turkey and the United States partner against common challenges, they can make a difference. The legacy of this relationship tells us so, as does my personal experience of more than thirty years, where I saw firsthand the impact that Turkey and the United States can make when confronting regional challenges, threats to NATO, and menaces like terrorism in solidarity.
Naturally, the two countries had their differences then as well. But they chose to handle them with respect and in a mutually palatable manner. It was much more than a so-called alliance then, thanks to their shared commitment and responsible behavior.
Unfortunately, the state of U.S.-Turkey relations is very different today. Gone are the days when the United States was celebrated across Turkey for assisting in capturing the leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, an internationally recognized terrorist organization. Today, Turks are left wondering how an offshoot of this organization can be favored by the United States against Turkey’s perceived national security interests.
Gone are the days when Turkey was considered a default, rock-solid U.S. ally, with no worries about its orientation. Today, the United States and NATO allies alike are left wondering why Turkey seems to be oscillating in its choices, at times displaying a seeming readiness to seek alternatives to its traditional allies.
This is neither a time to reminisce about the past, nor to be complacent. Throwing ones arms up in the air in frustration is also not an option. Times are tough, and this is when the tough need to get going!
Ankara and Washington need to reboot their institutional relationship across the board and refocus their energies on shared interests. At the end of the day, this is a matter of choice. Turkey’s natural desire to follow a multidimensional foreign policy need not come at the expense of its established partnership with its traditional allies, especially the United States. Likewise, Turkey’s allies, particularly the United States, should be clear eyed in their interest of deepening this relationship and unequivocally manifest this in action.
I joined Carnegie in October 2021 with the conviction that Turkey and the United States are both better served by standing together as allies in today’s fraught international landscape. I hope that my work at Carnegie will help shed light on this reality.
As I embark upon this new phase in my life, I am truly thrilled to be partnering with a global network of scholars who excel in multidisciplinary and collaborative research aimed at finding creative and credible solutions to pressing challenges.