Any plans to end arms transfers to the SDF must be handled carefully if Washington hopes to prevent an Islamic State resurgence, alleviate tensions with Turkey, preserve a valuable local ally, and curb Iranian influence. In a November 24 call with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Trump reportedly pledged to stop providing arms to… Keep reading →
PKK
Sign up and get Breaking Energy news in your inbox.
We will never sell or share your information without your consent. See our privacy policy.Turkey’s Regional Charm Offensive: Motives And Prospects
By Soner Cagaptay & James JeffreyAfter years of foreign policy setbacks, Ankara is trying to mend fences with Israel, Egypt, Iran, and Russia, and the potential implications for the United States are mostly beneficial — assuming the Turks can actually pull it off. On June 29, Turkey and Israel are expected to approve a reconciliation agreement that will normalize… Keep reading →
While Ankara’s decision for or against fighting ISIS will be a political one, the military’s lingering resentment toward the AKP, the PKK, and Arabs could be a formidable obstacle to Turkish intervention. In all the discussions about Turkey not being particularly supportive to the coalition fighting the “Islamic State”/ISIS, little has been said about the… Keep reading →