SETA DC

Since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Damascus has rapidly emerged as an internationally recognized actor. By providing internal security and through high-level diplomatic engagements, the Al-Sharaa government has marked Syria’s return to the international arena. At the same time, stability at home has remained fragile, with unresolved challenges related to territorial integrity, so...

As tensions rise between Iran and Israel, the broader Middle East is once again at a critical juncture. Following Israel’s renewed threats against Iran’s nuclear capabilities and the U.S. strike on Houthi targets in Yemen, regional dynamics have grown increasingly volatile. While the United States has reached a ceasefire agreement with the Houthis, Israel signaled its intention to continue militar...

The war in Ukraine entered its fourth year in February. Despite intense efforts by the Trump administration to reach a peace deal soon, there is no clear end in sight. While President Trump is advocating for an immediate peace settlement with Russia to end the bloodshed, Türkiye has emerged as a credible intermediary between the warring parties. The U.S. recently signed an economic agreement with...

The Trump administration has begun a substantial drawdown of its military footprint in Syria, shuttering three of its eight operational bases and reducing troop levels. This development follows the emergence of a post-Assad administration in Damascus. The move represents partial progress toward a long-held goal of President Trump to scale back U.S. involvement in Syria, underscoring his ongoing ef...

As the second Trump administration’s national security and foreign policy policy shapes up, critical strategic issues are expected to define the future of Turkish-American relations. Bilateral defense cooperation, the ongoing war in Ukraine, the U.S. strategy in northern Syria, instability in the Middle East, and the U.S. competition with China will be central to discussions between the Türkiye an...

The SETA Foundation at Washington, DC is pleased to host a book event to discuss Gloria Shkurti Özdemir’s new book, Artificial Intelligence ‘Arms Dynamics’: The Case Of The U.S. And China Rivalry.   Speaker:  Gloria Shkurti Ozdemir, Researcher in the Foreign Policy Directorate, The SETA Foundation   Moderator:  Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington, DC

For the last seventy years, experts have tried to define the nature of Turkey’s partnership with the US. While Turkish-US relations have always been susceptible to different crises, they enjoyed a brief “golden era” in the 1950s. This book argues that a false nostalgia about that period – when the strategic interests of two countries fully converged – has distorted analyses by scholars and policym...

The Biden administration’s unwavering support for Israel’s operations in Gaza has created intense criticism domestically and abroad. Democratic Party’s primary results from key states like Michigan and Minnesota indicated a substantial number of “uncommitted” votes against administration’s refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire. Recent statements from US leaders signaled a growing discomfort w...

The United States has approved the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Türkiye after Turkish Grand National Assembly ratified Sweden’s NATO membership. The State Department notified U.S. Congress of the $23bn agreement to sell the aircraft, modernization kits, and other equipment. These developments indicate that we are nearing the conclusion of the long-debated F-16 issue which should have been a rather...

Weeks of an intense Israeli bombardment campaign following Hamas’s October 7 attack have created unprecedented devastation in Gaza, resulting in the tragic loss of more than 13,000 civilian lives, most of whom are women and children. Survivors grapple with acute scarcity and a dearth of essential commodities, including potable water and medicinal supplies. Alarmingly, the international community&#...

Last week, a critical NATO summit took place in Vilnius, Lithuania, featuring leaders from member states. Turkish President Erdogan set a positive tone by clearing the way for Sweden’s NATO membership. A cordial meeting between Presidents Erdogan and Biden echoed a mutual intention to foster a favorable future for Turkish-American relations. This positive tone peaked with a critical understanding...

This year marks the seventh anniversary of the July 15 coup attempt. Standing as a testament to the Turkish people's unwavering commitment to democracy, the failure of the coup attempt constituted a critical turning point in Türkiye’s recent history. This pivotal event has left a strong imprint on the nation's foreign policy trajectory with far-reaching implications. Türkiye found itself g...

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to convene a panel of experts to shed light on Turkish foreign policy after the elections. Speakers Burhanettin Duran , General Coordinator at The SETA Foundation Kilic Kanat , Research Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC Moderator Kadir Ustun , Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

Türkiye has completed its pivotal presidential elections, with nearly 54 million individuals casting their votes. Erdogan secured 52% of the votes, earning him another presidential term. The question that stands at the forefront is: what were the key factors behind Erdogan's success? What are the messages that the Turkish electorate sought to convey through their votes? Going forward, what wil...

Turkish citizens are going to polls this Sunday for the second round of Turkish presidential elections. The race is a contest between the incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Having registered a 5-point lead in the first round, Erdogan approaches this critical phase with robust support while the opposition has been trying to recalibrate their me...

Turkish citizens cast their votes in one of the most significant elections in the country’s recent history. Over 54 million people exercised their democratic rights during this critical juncture. The People’s Alliance claimed victory in the parliamentary elections, securing a substantial majority. Meanwhile, President Erdogan maintained a lead of at least four points against his main rival, Kilicd...

With the pivotal presidential and parliamentary elections in Türkiye only a few days away, the political climate is intensifying. The People’s Alliance and the Nation Alliance are embroiled in a stiff competition, each striving to secure a majority in the Turkish Parliament. Adding to the high stakes, incumbent President Erdogan faces a challenge from the main opposition’s Kilicdaroglu and ATA’s O...

Türkiye approaches its pivotal presidential and parliamentary elections as the nation's political landscape becomes increasingly more competitive with the People's Alliance and the Nation Alliance vying for majority in the Turkish Parliament. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is being challenged by three candidates including the main opposition's Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Memleket Party’s Muhar...

As the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East continues to evolve, several key developments have introduced new dynamics in Turkish-Iranian bilateral ties. The shifting dynamics in Syria have placed Tehran at odds with Ankara during the crisis, but the two regional powers have managed to engage in dialogue through the Astana process, alongside Russia. As Turkish-Syrian relations have shown sign...

With the start of the war in Ukraine, NATO has been faced with numerous challenges including reassuring allies, reinforcing common defense, and considering the alliance’s enlargement to the north. Finland and Sweden’s requests for a fast-track NATO membership emerged as a significant focus for the alliance, as these countries decided to abandon their historically neutral position toward Russia. Tü...

In recent months, tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean reached new heights amidst war of words between Greek and Turkish leadership. Türkiye has accused Greece of militarizing the Aegean islands in contravention of international agreements while the Greek leadership leveled accused Turkey of threatening Greek sovereignty. Türkiye has also expressed its discomfort with American military hardware t...

Türkiye has pursued a policy of support for Ukraine while maintaining relations with Russia since the outbreak of the war more than six months ago. The Russian invasion has met unprecedented Western sanctions while Türkiye focused on bringing Ukrainian and Russian sides to the table for negotiations to end the conflict. Even though the initial attempts at a ceasefire ultimately failed, Türkiye con...

The July 15 failed coup attempt of 2016 has served as a major turning point in Turkish political history. The event came as a major shock to most observers of Türkiye, leaving a legacy that has continued to impact Turkish politics in even the most fundamental ways. As Türkiye was already grappling with tectonic shifts in the Middle East, the country was faced with an unprecedented challenge of roo...

The July 15 failed coup attempt of 2016 has served as a major turning point in Turkish political history. The event came as a major shock to most observers of Türkiye, leaving a legacy that has continued to impact Turkish politics in even the most fundamental ways. As Türkiye was already grappling with tectonic shifts in the Middle East, the country was faced with an unprecedented challenge of roo...

The July 15 failed coup attempt of 2016 has served as a major turning point in Turkish political history. The event came as a major shock to most observers of Türkiye, leaving a legacy that has continued to impact Turkish politics in even the most fundamental ways. As Türkiye was already grappling with tectonic shifts in the Middle East, the country was faced with an unprecedented challenge of roo...