US-Iran Tensions: Trump Seeks a Deal of His Own
In the short and medium term, the interplay between Trump’s need for a deal on…
Resolving the S-400 Standoff
Turkey has traditionally been a strong customer of the U.S. defense industry. However, in recent…
Ending the Confusion over U.S. Withdrawal from Syria
Without admitting a policy failure, the U.S. will not be able to achieve meaningful cooperation…
Is the US Going to Withdraw from Syria or Not?
The U.S. administration has been persuaded to leave a residual U.S. force (400 soldiers), which…
A Safe Zone in Northern Syria is a Must for Turkey
If the U.S. and Turkey can work together on establishing a safe zone in northern…
Protecting the YPG Should not be a Goal of the US Withdrawal
Some argue that the U.S. should not abandon their allies on the ground and leave…
Taking Stock of the Syria Withdrawal Decision
The Syria withdrawal decision is criticized on many fronts but most critics complain more about…
Another Bumpy Week in US-Turkey Relations
The continued U.S. insistence on the use of the general category “Kurds” to describe the…
US-Turkey Cooperation in Syria Requires Serious Strategy
Going forward, the central question will remain the same: what is the U.S. strategy in…
Can the US have its Cake and Eat it too in Syria?
The U.S. balancing act between supporting the PYD and providing reassurances to Turkey to be…
The G20 Summit: A Lack of Leadership and Purpose
Today, what we are seeing is the increasing irrelevance and greater provincialization of multilateral institutions…
Walking Through the Minefields in the US-Turkey Relationship
The U.S.-Turkey relationship is going through interesting times, as both allies are willing to work…
Trump and the New House (of Cards)
The midterms created a split in Congress, which promises major political showdowns between the President…
The Khashoggi Affair Ushers in a New Era in the Region
Mohammad bin Salman’s political ambitions might lead him to future disasters like the Yemen, Hariri…
Turkey-US Relations Post-Brunson
Brunson’s return to the U.S. and President Trump’s hosting of the pastor in the oval…
What are the Implications of America’s New Syria Policy for Turkey?
The U.S. policymakers in charge of the Syria policy would like to see Turkey enlisted…
Towards a New International System Without US Leadership
In the years ahead, if it decides to return, U.S. global leadership will find itself…
Can the Turkish-Russian Deal Save Idlib?
Turkey’s diplomatic success may have just saved thousands of innocent lives as well as yet…
Idlib and the Implications of a Shifting US Policy on Syria
With the recent U.S. appointment of James Jeffrey, the new representative for engagement on Syria,…
Towards the End in the Syrian Civil War?
The Syrian Civil War, which has been raging for more than seven years, is entering…
Turkey’s strategic interests in Idlib
Turkey will remain a major stakeholder in northern Syria and any political agreement for the…
Turkey-US relations as the latest victim of Trumpian foreign policymaking
President Trump’s domestic agenda has driven the foreign policy agenda while he makes little effort…
Iran Sanctions Promise More Trouble for Turkey-US Relations
Finding a comprehensive solution to the standoff with Iran would remove a significant source of…
Mixed Signals in US-Turkey Relations
The U.S. and Turkey can and most likely will work through specific policy issues but…
The Legacy of the July 15 Coup Attempt for Turkish Democracy
We will certainly continue to debate the reverberations of the July 15 coup attempt and…
The Road Ahead After the June 24 Elections
Having handled serious domestic and foreign policy crises over the years, including party closure cases…
The June 24 Elections: Turkey’s Search for Stability
The liberal international order has been challenged by the rise of China, the resurgence of…
Can the Manbij Roadmap Rebuild Mutual Trust Between the US and Turkey?
By partnering with the YPG on the ground, the U.S. lends credibility and legitimacy to…
The New Iran Strategy: Bringing the Regime to its Knees through Sanctions and Isolation
The Trump administration’s new Iran strategy promises to bring the regime to its knees through…
The US Pretends No More in Giving Israel What it Wants
The Middle East as a whole has to live with a reality where the U.S.…
Pulling Out of the Nuclear Deal: Towards a New Status Quo with Iran?
Reversing the deal may well result in catastrophe but it will more likely lead to…
Macron Tries to Nudge Trump on Syria Policy
President Macron might have convinced Trump to reconsider pulling U.S. troops out of Syria “too…
US Strikes do not Deliver a Syria Policy
President Trump has also given the message that he wants a U.S. pullout of Syria.…
Assad Knows Chemical Attacks Will Not End His Regime
The international community has reassured Assad that he may be punished for it but using…
What “America First” May Mean for the Middle East
During the campaign, Trump had benefited immensely from his tough talk on Daesh while criticizing…
Can Manbij serve as a Model for US-Turkey Cooperation in Syria?
If the U.S. and Turkey can work together in northern Syria, they could broaden their…
Is Pompeo the Right Man for a Trumpian Foreign Policy?
Between his campaign promises and disdain for Obama’s foreign policy, Trump is not ready to…
Some Myths about the YPG
Abandoning the myths about the YPG would serve the US interests. Then comes the hard…
The US must end Support to the YPG to repair Ties with Turkey
Recent visits by Trump administration officials have resulted in the creation of a strategic conversation…
The KRG’s Independence Bid Spells Trouble
An independent Iraqi Kurdistan would probably lead to yet another round of conflict in Iraq’s…
