US-Türkiye Relations: Synopsis
In this episode of Picking Up Where We Left Off, the podcast discusses the complex relationship between the United States and Türkiye, focusing on how it has evolved into a more transactional and pragmatic relationship. Tensions have arisen over issues such as Syria, Kurdish forces, and Türkiye’s acquisition of Russian missile systems. Despite these challenges, both countries have found common ground in areas like counterterrorism and regional stability. The conversation includes insights from experts Meliha Altunışık and Richard Outzen, highlighting the historical context and strategic misalignments between the nations. They emphasized the importance of pragmatic diplomacy in addressing regional challenges, including conflicts in the Middle East and the influence of Iran. The discussion concluded that building trust through small agreements is crucial for future cooperation.
Guests
Meliha Altunışık is a professor in the Department of International Relations at Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkiye. She is a non-resident fellow at the Middle East Institute, Washington, DC. She has written mainly on international relations of the Middle East and Turkey’s foreign policy, including on cusp states, rentier state theory, humanitarian diplomacy, regional powers, regional rivalries and regionalism.
Richard Outzen is a geopolitical analyst and consultant currently serving private sector clients, as well as a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. He served 30 years in the U.S. Army, including tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkiye, Israel, and Germany, and retired as a colonel. He has taught at the National Defense University, and served policy advisory tours at the State Department’s Policy Planning Office and in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
