The Future of U.S.-Turkish Ties: A New Relationship, Not a Reset

Source:Washington Institute Date:27Jan2024

By Soner Cagaptay. His article heralds some intriguing new developments in the bilateral relationship:

To be sure, the new Turkey still sees itself as part of the West. Yet unlike in the twentieth century, this identity is no longer exclusive or binary. Ankara now freely engages with Washington, NATO, Russia, Europe, Iran, wealthy Gulf monarchies, and other regional and global actors without feeling it has to choose a favorite partner. While twentieth-century Turkey had a deeply emotional attachment to Europe, Erdogan’s Turkey is more in love with itself.

A recent news story suggested that the U.S. government might also revise its policy toward the Syrian Kurdish People’s Defense Units (YPG). Since 2014, Washington has relied on the YPG, the main group within the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), to fight the Islamic State. Yet the YPG is an offshoot of the PKK, so Ankara has objected to the partnership from the start.