SETA DC

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 routine and less politicized arms deal between the two NATO allies. Many observers regard the sale of F-16s a glimmer of hope for improving bilateral ties. The sale might serve as an opportunity to begin a new chapter by addressing mutual distrust and promoting cooperation between the two countries.

What are the remaining steps for the completion of the sale? What is the importance of the F-16s for Türkiye’s security needs? What are the implications of the F-16 deal’s for the U.S.-Türkiye defense relations, and how does this influence their broader partnership? Will this momentum spillover to other issue areas where significant differences remain?

The SETA Foundation in Washington DC is pleased to convene a panel of experts to discuss the F-16 deal’s implications for the U.S.-Türkiye relations.

Speakers

Burhanettin Duran, General Coordinator, The SETA Foundation

Mustafa Kibaroglu, Professor of International Relations, MEF University

Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

Moderator

Kilic Kanat, Research Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

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's efforts to address the humanitarian situation have been insufficient in the face of Israel’s refusal to declare a ceasefire. There are worries that the ongoing regional escalation might turn into a broader conflict. Several countries have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and offered to mediate. Türkiye has proposed a guarantorship mechanism, involving regional countries, with the aim of establishing durable peace in Palestine. Given this complicated picture, what immediate actions should the international community take to address the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza? What might the framework of an internationally sanctioned peace settlement look like? Is such an arrangement feasible and attainable in the near term? How can mediation efforts lead to de-escalation, prevent a regional war, and lead to lasting peace?

The SETA Foundation in Washington DC is pleased to convene a panel of experts to discuss Israel’s war in Gaza and the prospects for achieving peace between Israel and Palestine.

Speakers

Khaled Elgindy, Senior Fellow, Director of Program on Palestine and Palestinian-Israeli Affairs, Middle East Institute 

Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft

Randa Slim, Senior Fellow and Director of Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues Program, Middle East Institute

Moderator

Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

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 – the Biden administration’s strong support to supply F-16 fighter jets to Türkiye, resolving a period of uncertainty. The summit left observers pondering the future of this newfound enthusiasm for cooperation between the two countries.

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to convene a panel of experts to shed light on US-Türkiye relations in the wake NATO’s Vilnius summit.

Speakers

Luke Coffey, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute

Kilic Kanat, Research Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

Moderator

Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

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 grappling with a myriad of foreign policy challenges, including the terror threat emanating from Syria, rocky relations with the U.S., and the war in Ukraine among others. What are the long-lasting reverberations of the July 15 coup attempt within the framework of Turkish foreign policy? What facets of foreign policy were predominantly reshaped by the coup attempt? Has the recent NATO Vilnius Summit signaled a potential shift in the dynamics of Türkiye’s relations with the West? The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to convene a panel of experts to shed light on the July 15 coup attempt’s lasting impact on Turkish foreign policy. Speakers Michael Reynolds, Associate Professor of Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University Rich Outzen, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council in Turkey Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC Moderator Kilic Kanat, Research Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

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 will be the nature of the relationship between the legislative and executive branches in the wake of these results? And what will be the implications for domestic and international policy?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to convene a panel of experts to shed light on the Turkish presidential election results, evaluate the candidates' performance since the first round, and discuss policy implications.

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

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 message given the disappointing results in the first round. Election predictions have become more complex as the presidential hopeful Sinan Ogan, who received about 5% of the votes in the first round, endorsed Erdogan, while his supporter the Victory Party declared its support for Kilicdaroglu. How will these new endorsements alter the candidates' likelihood of success? Were there any notable policy position shifts? What sort of Türkiye can we expect to wake up to next Monday?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to convene a panel of experts to shed light on the Turkish presidential election runoff, discuss the trends since the first round, and evaluate candidates' chances of success. 

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

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, Kilicdaroglu. As of Sunday evening, it appears that the country is set for a runoff election in two weeks. Looking ahead, the crucial question that lingers is – what lies in store for the nation? What strategies will the presidential candidates adopt as they move forward? How will the outcome of this election influence Türkiye’s future both domestically and on the international stage.

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to convene a panel of experts to shed light on Turkish election results, discuss the new parliamentary composition and explore potential runoff scenarios.

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

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 Ogan. Memleket Party’s Ince, on the other hand, has unexpectedly withdrawn from the race, rendering the outcome of the elections even more unpredictable. The upcoming elections carry far-reaching consequences, poised to shape the nation’s political landscape for the next five years and define its economic outlook as well as national security. The outcome will also have critical foreign policy implications for the regions surrounding Türkiye.

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to convene a panel of experts to shed light on the forthcoming Turkish elections, explore the candidates’ chances of success, and discuss potential outcomes.

Speakers

Burhanettin Duran, General Coordinator at The SETA Foundation

İlnur Çevik, Presidential Chief Advisor

Moderator

Kilic Kanat, Research Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

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 Muharrem İnce, and ATA alliance’s Sinan Oğan. These elections will have far-reaching consequences, as they will not only shape Türkiye's political landscape for the next five years but also set the tone for economic outlook, national security, and regional stability. The outcome will have significant foreign policy implications for the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, relations with the EU and the US as well as neighboring countries. In the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes, voters will judge the candidates' ability to rebuild the country, address the sensitive topics around Kurdish, Alevi and refugee issues, combat terrorism, and address regional challenges. The stakes are high as the results of these elections will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping Türkiye's future both domestically and on the international stage.
The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to convene a panel of experts to shed light on the forthcoming Turkish elections, explore the candidates' chances of success, and discuss potential outcomes. 
Speakers
Burhanettin Duran, General Coordinator at The SETA Foundation
Talha Köse, Chair, Political Science and International Relations Department, Ibn Haldun University
Moderator
Kilic Kanat, Research Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

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 signs of thawing in recent months, the potential implications for Türkiye-Iran relations remain uncertain. The recent Iran-Saudi Arabia deal, brokered by China, marks a significant milestone in regional diplomacy in a new era of rapprochement between two long-term rivals. The ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran, as well as the lack of progress in the nuclear file, have potentially significant implications for Türkiye’s relations with Iran. How will the Astana process impact their bilateral ties? Can the Iran-Saudi rapprochement open new doors for stability in the Middle East? What role does Iran’s nuclear program play in shaping Türkiye’s perspective on the regional dynamics?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to convene a panel of experts to shed light on the complex regional factors influencing Turkish-Iranian bilateral ties.

Speakers

Alex Vatanka, Founding Director of the Iran Program, Middle East Institute

Hakkı Uygur, President, Center for Iranian Studies (İRAM)

Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

Moderator

Kilic Kanat, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

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. Türkiye sought assurances from these candidate countries regarding terrorism as a prerequisite for joining NATO. Having completed the items outlined in the Trilateral agreement, Finland became the 31st NATO member after receiving Türkiye’s endorsement. Even though Ankara supports NATO’s open door policy as a matter of principle, it expects Sweden to assuage Turkish concerns prior to admission. What implications will Finland’s accession to NATO have on the future of NATO? Can Sweden meet the Turkish expectations before the NATO Summit in July in Vilnius? What are the implications of NATO’s enlargement for Ukraine’s hopes for membership?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a distinguished expert panel discussion on NATO’s enlargement with Finland’s entry, Türkiye’s reservations about Sweden’s application, and the growing support for Ukraine’s membership.

Speakers

Amb. James Jeffrey, Chair of the Middle East Program at Wilson Center

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

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 to be deployed to the islands and the recent lifting of arms embargo to Greek Cypriots. The two NATO allies, Greece and Türkiye, have had these episodes of increased tensions in the past but this latest round might have serious implications for the unity within the alliance in the wake of the war in Ukraine. There are also concerns about traditional U.S. policy of keeping the balance between Greece and Türkiye in terms of arms sales and transfers.

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to organize an expert panel discussion on the dynamics and future implications of recent tensions between Greece and Turkiye.

Speakers

Mitat Çelikpala, Professor of International Relations and the Dean of Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences at Kadir Has University

Nurşin Güney, Professor of International Relations at Nişantaşı University

Kılıç Kanat, Research Director, SETA DC

Moderator

Kadir Ustun, Executive Director

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 continued to push for a diplomatic breakthrough. The most recent Ukrainian grain exports deal has been hailed as a major accomplishment to alleviate the global food crises. Turkish President Erdogan recently paid a visit to Ukraine and signed agreements for reconstruction after meeting Ukrainian President Zelensky. As the West is focused on a sanctions policy and is increasingly threatened by exploding energy prices, Türkiye remains focused on a policy of balancing its support for Ukraine with continued relations with Russia.

What are the dynamics pushing Türkiye to pursue a policy of engagement with both Ukraine and Russia? What are the chances of further diplomatic breakthroughs? How can the Western sanctions be reconciled with Türkiye’s approach?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a panel of distinguished experts to discuss these questions and more.

Speakers

Yevgeniya Gaber, Senior Fellow at Centre in Modern Turkish Studies at Carleton University

Rich Outzen, Nonresident Senior Fellow at Atlantic Council

Kadir Ustun, Executive Director at SETA DC

Moderator

Kılıç Kanat, Research Director at SETA DC

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 rooting out the perpetrators of the coup attempt. Addressing the political, security, bureaucratic, economic, and social impact of this historic moment has been a top priority for Turkish political actors. Domestic changes inside Türkiye have pushed the country towards a more ambitious foreign policy within the region as well. Turkish-American relations have also been redefined amidst regional instability and the war in Ukraine. It has been a challenge for many observers to assess the impact of the coup attempt on Türkiye’s domestic and foreign policies.

How did the July 15 coup attempt change domestic politics? What are the major changes in Turkish foreign policy in the past six years? How has the Turkish-American relationship been impacted by the failed coup attempt?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a conference on the legacy of the July 15 coup attempt in Turkish politics and foreign policy.

Speakers:

Amb. James F. Jeffrey, Chair of the Middle East Program, Wilson Center

Amb. Ahmet Yıldız, Member of Turkish Parliament and Former Deputy Foreign Minister of Türkiye

Moderator: 

Kilic Kanat, Research Director, SETA Foundation at Washington D.C.

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 rooting out the perpetrators of the coup attempt. Addressing the political, security, bureaucratic, economic, and social impact of this historic moment has been a top priority for Turkish political actors. Domestic changes inside Türkiye have pushed the country towards a more ambitious foreign policy within the region as well. Turkish-American relations have also been redefined amidst regional instability and the war in Ukraine. It has been a challenge for many observers to assess the impact of the coup attempt on Türkiye’s domestic and foreign policies.

How did the July 15 coup attempt change domestic politics? What are the major changes in Turkish foreign policy in the past six years? How has the Turkish-American relationship been impacted by the failed coup attempt?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a conference on the legacy of the July 15 coup attempt in Turkish politics and foreign policy.

Speakers: 

Rich Outzen, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council

Muhittin Ataman, Faculty Member, Social Sciences University of Ankara

Moderator: 

Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, SETA Foundation at Washington D.C.

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 rooting out the perpetrators of the coup attempt. Addressing the political, security, bureaucratic, economic, and social impact of this historic moment has been a top priority for Turkish political actors. Domestic changes inside Türkiye have pushed the country towards a more ambitious foreign policy within the region as well. Turkish-American relations have also been redefined amidst regional instability and the war in Ukraine. It has been a challenge for many observers to assess the impact of the coup attempt on Türkiye’s domestic and foreign policies.

How did the July 15 coup attempt change domestic politics? What are the major changes in Turkish foreign policy in the past six years? How has the Turkish-American relationship been impacted by the failed coup attempt?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a conference on the legacy of the July 15 coup attempt in Turkish politics and foreign policy.

Speakers:

Yasin Aktay, Former Member of Parliament and Advisor to the AK Party Chairman

Burhanettin Duran, General Coordinator, The SETA Foundation

Moderator: 

Tugba Eksi, Research Assistant, SETA Foundation at Washington D.C.

NATO will adopt its new Strategic Concept at the 2022 Madrid Summit. As part of the preparations for the new document, an official report titled “NATO 2030: United for a New Era” shared the new priorities of the Alliance with the public in November 2020. The report recommends to the allies to update the Concept regarding the emerging challenge of China, terrorism in all its forms, and increasing role of hybrid threats. It also urges NATO members to be ready not just militarily but also politically. In the context of the Russia-Ukraine war and other challenges facing the alliance, the Concept is expected to clarify NATO’s strategic vision to be implemented in the years ahead.

Which security challenges will define the Alliance’s updated key document? How will the new Strategic Concept help achieve unity mentioned in the 2020 report? How will the new security environment drive NATO’s strategic adaptation and military development?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a panel of distinguished experts to discuss the implications of NATO’s new Strategic Concept.

Speakers

Charles A. Kupchan,Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations

Mustafa Kibaroğlu, Professor, MEF University

Moderator

Kadir Üstün,Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington, DC

Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO last month, breaking their long-standing neutral status following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As fears about potential Russian military actions in Eastern Europe and the Baltic region reached their highest levels in years, Türkiye has voiced its reservations about Finland and Sweden’s membership applications. Citing the two Nordic countries’ stances on terrorism, the Turkish leadership has indicated that Finland and Sweden need to take “concrete steps” to address Türkiye’s concerns. Expressing hope that the Turkish reservations can be overcome, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Türkiye’s concerns about terrorism were legitimate. As we approach NATO’s Madrid Summit at the end of June, it remains unclear how the NATO members will handle Finland and Sweden’s inclusion in the alliance given Turkish objections.

How will Türkiye’s position shape NATO’s enlargement prospects? Can NATO members address the issues raised by Türkiye? What lies ahead for NATO’s internal unity on enlargement in the wake of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a panel of distinguished experts to analyze the future of NATO enlargement and its implications for the international system.

Speakers

Luke Coffey, Director, Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, The Heritage Foundation

Burhanettin Duran, General Coordinator, The SETA Foundation

Moderator

Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

Eurasia’s major powers—China, Iran, Russia, and Turkey—increasingly intervene across their borders while seeking to pull their smaller neighbors more firmly into their respective orbits. While analysts have focused on the role of leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in explaining this drive to dominate neighbors and pull away from the Western-dominated international system, they have paid less attention to the role of imperial legacies. Jeffrey Mankoff argues that what unites these contemporary Eurasian powers is their status as heirs to vast terrestrial empires, whose collapse left all four states deeply entangled with the lands and peoples along their peripheries but outside their formal borders. Today, they have all found new opportunities to project power within and beyond their borders in patterns shaped by their respective imperial pasts. (Yale Press)

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a discussion with Jeffrey Mankoff on his recently published book, "Empires of Eurasia: How Imperial Legacies Shape International Security."

Speaker

Jeffrey Mankoff, Distinguished Research Fellow, Institute for National Strategic Studies at National Defense University

Moderator

Kadir Ustun,Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington, DC

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv during the highest-level visit by U.S. officials to Ukraine since the start of the war. The priority of the US and Western countries in the current phase of the invasion has turned to quickly arming Ukraine against Russia in addition to sanctions. As the West seeks to bolster Ukraine’s military capacity to fight against Russia, Moscow continues to shell Ukrainian cities, use energy as a lever against Europeans, and promises heavy consequences against supporters of Ukraine. Concerns about the spread of the war to neighboring states and a nuclear confrontation are also increasing, as the West struggles to deter Russia.

Will the Western efforts to support Ukraine’s ability to fight lead the country to victory? How can a potential confrontation between Russia and NATO be avoided? How might the US and NATO allies modify their current policy as the conflict deepens?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a panel of distinguished experts to analyze the implications of the war in Ukraine.

Speakers

Steven Pifer,Nonresident Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution

Kathryn Stoner,Senior Fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University

Moderator

Kadir Ustun,Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington, DC

The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has triggered a strong and a somewhat surprisingly unified NATO response. The US policy has focused on supporting Ukraine through economic and military aid foreclosing any direct confrontation with Russia. Despite different interests and diplomatic relations of member countries within NATO, the alliance has been able to sustain its cohesion although this may prove more challenging as the conflict prolongs. As a critical NATO member in the Black Sea and a country who has provided strong support to Ukraine while facilitating high-level diplomacy to resolve the crisis, Turkey’s policy has implications for the alliance as well. As Russia refocuses its military efforts on the east and south, a protracted conflict appears more likely, and NATO’s response will be ever more critical for the course of the war.

How can the alliance sustain its current unity? What are some of the next steps that can be taken to support Ukraine? What can the alliance do in the wake of increasing attacks on civilians? How might the US modify its policy as the conflict deepens? What are some of the implications for the US-Turkey relationship?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a panel of distinguished experts to analyze the implications of the war in Ukraine.

Speakers

John Herbst,Senior Director, Eurasia Center, Atlantic Council; Former US Ambassador to Ukraine

Mark N. Katz,Professor, Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University

Yevgeniya Gaber, Senior Fellow, Centre in Modern Turkish Studies at Carleton University

Moderator

Kilic Kanat,Research Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington, DC

The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has already triggered fears for a new world war with far-reaching geopolitical implications. The war is likely to define the European security structure in the years to come. While NATO and European allies have been united in opposition to the invasion and exacting serious costs on Russia, they have yet to deter Russian leader Putin. Individual NATO allies such as Turkey have shown strong support to Ukraine and conducted high-level diplomacy to resolve the crisis. So far, Putin appears dead set on achieving his goals regardless of the economic and military costs not to mention unprecedented political isolation. The conflict also promises to shape the relations between great powers and the global balance of power between the U.S., Russia, and China.

What are the regional and global implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine? How can Turkey’s policy contribute to a potential diplomatic solution? In what ways does NATO have to rethink its posture to reassure allies and support Ukraine at the same time?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a panel of distinguished experts to analyze the implications of the war in Ukraine.

Speakers

Luke Coffey, Director, Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, The Heritage Foundation

Amanda Paul, Senior Policy Analyst, European Policy Center

Kilic Kanat,Research Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington, DC

Moderator

Kadir Ustun,Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington, DC

During his visit to Kyiv last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated Turkey’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity as he repeated his offer to mediate between Russia and Ukraine to resolve the current crisis. Having inked a series of agreements aimed at deepening economic ties and defense cooperation between Turkey and Ukraine, President Erdogan highlighted the importance of his upcoming meeting with Putin by stressing the multifaceted nature of Turkish-Russian relations. Turkey has also vocally opposed the Russian annexation of Crimea since 2014 and continues to increase its defense cooperation with Ukraine, displeasing Russia. As an essential NATO member, Turkey pledged to fulfill its commitments to the alliance while criticizing Western countries for being unable to contribute to the resolution of the Ukraine-Russia tensions.

What are the main drivers of Turkey’s approach to the Ukraine crisis? Can Turkish mediation contribute to a diplomatic solution? What can we expect from the upcoming Erdogan-Putin meeting? What are the implications of a potential conflict for Turkey and the region?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a distinguished panel of experts to discuss Turkey’s policy on the Ukraine crisis.

Speakers

Jeffrey Mankoff, Distinguished Research Fellow, Institute for National Strategic Studies at National Defense University

Yevgeniya Gaber, Senior Fellow, Centre in Modern Turkish Studies at Carleton University

Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

Moderator

Kilic Kanat, Research Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

The ongoing Russian military buildup along the Ukrainian border, military exercises in Belarus, US military support to Ukraine and NATO’s asset deployments to Eastern Europe all point to increased likelihood of war in Europe. Following the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the seemingly impending invasion of further Ukrainian territory by Russia has serious implications for regional security. Russian President Vladimir Putin has attempted to receive iron-clad guarantees from NATO not to admit any new members along what Russia considers its “sphere of influence.” As NATO has rejected this notion and responded with the threat of a heavy cost in case of invasion, the potential for a diplomatic breakthrough has dramatically weakened. What are the possible implications of the Ukraine crisis for regional security and the future of the international system? What are Putin’s main goals? What are some of the deterrence tools at the West’s disposal? What does this crisis mean for the Biden administration’s promise of American global leadership?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a panel of experts to discuss the Ukraine crisis.

Speakers

Charles Kupchan, Senior Fellow at Council on Foreign Relations and Professor of International Relations at Georgetown University

Steven Pifer, Nonresident Senior Fellow in Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Initiative at The Brookings Institution

Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington, DC

Moderator

Kilic Kanat,Research Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington, DC

Last year, Armenia and Azerbaijan fought for six weeks over Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions in a conflict that took more than 6,500 lives. On November 9, 2020, the two sides signed an agreement brokered by Russia to end the fighting and work towards a comprehensive solution. The 2nd Karabakh War ended a decades-old frozen conflict by reversing the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territory. Since then, both have signaled willingness to improve relations while a new geopolitical reality has emerged. As its influence has grown, Turkey has reiterated its support for Azerbaijan and pushed for normalization of diplomatic relations in the region. Political turmoil in Armenia following the war, Russian recognition of the new conditions through a trilateral working group, and the recent flareup along the Azerbaijani-Iranian border due to Tehran’s discomfort with Baku’s close relationship with Israel have been some of the notable developments in the region.

A year after the Second Karabakh War, how does the future of peace in a region rife with instability look like? How can actors like Turkey, Russia, the US and Europe play a constructive role moving forward? What are some of the potential areas of tension that could threaten peace?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a panel of experts to discuss geopolitics in the South Caucasus.

Speakers
Luke Coffey, Director, Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy at the Heritage
Foundation

Amanda Paul, Senior Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre

Moderator
Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington, DC

Since the foundation of the AK Party on August 14, 2001, Turkish-American relations have gone through major regional and global challenges. The relationship has ebbed and flowed over the past two decades of AK Party governments under the leadership of President Erdoğan and different administrations in Washington. The Middle East has undergone major geopolitical transformations that the US and Turkey have sought to manage in the last twenty years in addition to numerous bilateral issues. The US invasion of Iraq in 2003, Iran nuclear issue, ongoing Syrian civil war are just a few of the regional challenges that both strained the relationship and created opportunities for cooperation. In what ways has the AK Party put its stamp on Turkish foreign policy in general and the US-Turkey relationship in particular? What are the current challenges and opportunities before a more robust partnership can contribute to peace and stability in the region? How can the US and Turkey overcome their bilateral difficulties and work together as NATO allies to tackle regional and global challenges?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a distinguished panel of experts to discuss Turkish-American relations under the tenure of the AK Party.

Speakers

Çağrı Erhan, Professor of International Relations Altınbaş Üniversitesi, Member of Security and Foreign Policies Council of Turkish Presidency

Akif Kireçci, Dean of the Faculty of Political Sciences at Ankara Social Sciences University, Member of Security and Foreign Policies Council of Turkish Presidency

Moderator

Kadir Ustun, Executive Director at The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

Since the failed coup attempt on July 15th, 2016, Turkey’s foreign policy has changed dramatically. Turkey intervened militarily in multiple countries such as Syria and Libya to protect its security and geopolitical interests. Having proven to be a stabilizing actor in these countries and beyond, Turkey has also made major investments in its national defense. Turkey’s acquisition of air defense systems from Russia continues to be an issue in its relations with its Western allies in addition to disagreements over the Eastern Mediterranean and refugee issues. As a regional player with deep institutional ties with the West, how has the Turkish foreign policy evolved since the 2016 coup attempt? How has the Turkish public received these changes? What will the next few years hold for Turkey’s regional posture and its relations with the West?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a distinguished panel of experts to discuss the course and trajectory of Turkish foreign policy since the July 15th coup attempt.

Speakers

Michael Reynolds¸ Director of Princeton University’s Program in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies, and Associate Professor in Princeton’s Department of Near Eastern Studies

Talip Küçükcan, Professor of Sociology at the Marmara University

Moderator

Kadir Üstün,Executive Director at the SETA Foundation at Washington, D.C.

U.S.-Turkey relations have gone through a rocky period over the past few years and there continue to be areas of disagreement between the two NATO allies. Issues such as Ankara’s purchase of the S-400 air defense systems and Washington’s Syria policy remain critical points of tension. At the same time, the two allies cooperate on a number of strategic matters within the NATO framework. The US-Turkish relationship remains a multifaceted and a complex one going back decades, with the changing strategic environment in the region having the potential to create new opportunities for enhanced cooperation. Given the current state of the relationship, how can President Erdogan and President Biden work to improve ties and contribute to overall strength of NATO? What are some of the areas of disagreement as well as potential cooperation that should be brought to the table? What are some of the strategic and security challenges NATO faces today that an improved U.S.-Turkey relationship can help confront?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a panel of experts to discuss the upcoming Biden-Erdogan meeting at NATO and its implications for the U.S.-Turkey relations.

Speakers

Luke Coffey,Director, Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy at the Heritage Foundation

Muhittin Ataman, Director, Foreign Policy Program, The SETA Foundation

Moderator

Kilic B. Kanat, Research Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington, DC

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a book talk with Author Kathryn Stoner on “Russia Resurrected: Its Power and Purpose in a New Global Order.”

For much of recorded history, China was a leading science and technology power. But just as the West rose, China turned in on itself, and missed the Industrial Revolution. The result was the 'Hundred Years of Humiliation', and a long struggle for a modern, yet distinctly Chinese, civilisational identity. Today, technological innovation has returned to the core of national pride and ambition. Since the 1980s, reforms have transformed China into the world's second largest economy and a major global power. Cyber space and other advanced technologies have become a battleground for international dominance; but today's world relies on global supply chains and interstate collaboration--at least, for now. Growing tension between the USA and China could result in the two superpowers decoupling their technology--with significant consequences for humanity's future. The Great Decoupling shows that this technology contest, and how it plays out, will shape the geopolitics of the twenty-first century.

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a book talk with Author Nigel Inskter on “The Great Decoupling: China, America and the Struggle for Technological Supremacy.”

Speaker

Nigel Inkster, Senior Advisor for Cyber Security and China at The International Institute for Strategic Studies, Director of Geopolitical and Intelligence Analysis at Enodo Economics, Author

Discussant

Kilic Bugra Kanat,Research Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington, DC

SETA Foundation at Washington DC's Research Director Kilic Bugra Kanat speaks with Michael Pembroke, the author of "America in Retreat: The Decline of US Leadership from WW2 to Covid-19".

President Biden inherits a strategy from the Trump administration, which was largely a continuation of the Obama policy on Syria. Both Obama and Trump justified U.S. involvement in Syria on countering ISIS, and U.S. policy appears in need of a new framework in the post-ISIS era. In the past, some of the current Biden administration officials have criticized “deployment of troops in endless and unwinnable wars,” but also opposed “the rapid exit of U.S. troops from Syria” (as Trump pushed for). Others opposed US support to the Syrian rebels for “fueling the conflict rather than stopping it.” Given the protracted civil war and an elusive political process, what can the Biden administration realistically do that is different than its predecessor? How can the continuing presence of US troops on the ground be justified? What could a comprehensive Syria policy look like given the Biden administration’s policy? Can Biden work with allies on Syria in contrast to the apparent unilateralism of the Trump administration?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host an expert panel discussion on the Biden administration’s Syria policy.

Speakers

Amb. Robert Ford (Ret.), Senior Fellow, Middle East Institute & Yale University Jackson Institute

Dima Moussa,Member of the Syrian National Coalition

Wael Alzayat,Senior Fellow, Middle East Institute

Moderator

Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

As the new Biden administration enters Washington, the President-elect is poised to employ a different tone toward the rest of the world. The Trump administration has defined its foreign policy in “America First” terms, but Joe Biden has made it clear that he will work to foster relationships with allies and bring the US back to a leading role in global affairs. Biden’s cabinet nominees are looking to strengthen multilateral alliances while championing democracy and human rights around the world. Many expect him to take a drastic turn from his predecessor’s foreign policy strategy by bolstering bureaucracies like the State Department and the Intelligence Community to advance US interests abroad. Biden has made it clear that he will look to reenter multilateral agreements like the Paris Climate Accord, revamp the Iran nuclear deal, and rebuild trust with European allies. With China looming as the greatest challenge for the US foreign policy, will Biden choose to embrace punitive policies or reset relations? Are there elements of Trump’s foreign policy that Biden should maintain? How has Biden’s extensive foreign policy experience in Congress and in the White House prepared him for the foreign policy challenges in a pandemic-ridden world?  The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host an expert panel discussion on the Foreign Policy Priorities of the coming Biden administration.  Speakers   Charles Kupchan, Professor, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University  Shadi Hamid, Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy, The Brookings Institution  Moderator Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

For most of its history, the United States avoided making political and military commitments that would entangle it in European-style power politics. Then, suddenly, it conceived a new role for itself as the world’s armed superpower—and never looked back. In Tomorrow, the World, Stephen Wertheim traces America’s transformation to the crucible of World War II, especially in the months prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. As the Nazis conquered France, the architects of the nation’s new foreign policy came to believe that the United States ought to achieve primacy in international affairs forevermore. 

Scholars have struggled to explain the decision to pursue global supremacy. Some deny that American elites made a willing choice, casting the United States as a reluctant power that sloughed off “isolationism” only after all potential competitors lay in ruins. Others contend that the United States had always coveted global dominance and realized its ambition at the first opportunity. Both views are wrong. As late as 1940, the small coterie of officials and experts who composed the U.S. foreign policy class either wanted British preeminence in global affairs to continue or hoped that no power would dominate. The war, however, swept away their assumptions, leading them to conclude that the United States should extend its form of law and order across the globe and back it at gunpoint. Wertheim argues that no one favored “isolationism”—a term introduced by advocates of armed supremacy in order to turn their own cause into the definition of a new “internationalism.”

We now live, Wertheim warns, in the world that these men created. A sophisticated and impassioned narrative that questions the wisdom of U.S. supremacy, Tomorrow, the World reveals the intellectual path that brought us to today’s global entanglements and endless wars.

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host the author for a discussion of his new book.

In late September 2020, the twenty-six-year-old frozen conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh heated back up. Beyond the battlefield, the conflict has been punctuated by attacks on non-military targets. For example, the ballistic missile attacks on the Azerbaijani city of Ganja resulted in civilian casualties. Seven weeks into the current conflict, Azerbaijan made some gains in capturing its occupied lands from Armenia. In the meantime, several ceasefires have been agreed upon but failed. It remains to be seen whether the most recent ceasefire will hold and we will return to the ‘frozen conflict’ status quo. What are the implications of the recent conflict for the geopolitical dynamics in the region? How do Russia and Turkey’s roles come into play? What are some of the likely scenarios lying ahead?  

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host an expert panel discussion on the geopolitical implications of the conflict in the Caucasus.

Since the end of World War II, the United States has set out to oust governments in the Middle East on an average of once per decade―in places as diverse as Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan (twice), Egypt, Libya, and Syria. The reasons for these interventions have also been extremely diverse, and the methods by which the United States pursued regime change have likewise been highly varied, ranging from diplomatic pressure alone to outright military invasion and occupation. What is common to all the operations, however, is that they failed to achieve their ultimate goals, produced a range of unintended and even catastrophic consequences, carried heavy financial and human costs, and in many cases left the countries in question worse off than they were before.

Philip H. Gordon's Losing the Long Game is a thorough and riveting look at the U.S. experience with regime change over the past seventy years, and an insider’s view on U.S. policymaking in the region at the highest levels. It is the story of repeated U.S. interventions in the region that always started out with high hopes and often the best of intentions, but never turned out well. No future discussion of U.S. policy in the Middle East will be complete without taking into account the lessons of the past, especially at a time of intense domestic polarization and reckoning with America's standing in world.

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host the author for a discussion of his new book.

In his Farewell Address of 1796, President George Washington admonished the young nation "to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world." Isolationism thereafter became one of the most influential political trends in American history. From the founding era until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States shunned strategic commitments abroad, making only brief detours during the Spanish-American War and World War I. Amid World War II and the Cold War, Americans abandoned isolationism; they tried to run the world rather than run away from it. But isolationism is making a comeback as Americans tire of foreign entanglement. In this definitive and magisterial analysis-the first book to tell the fascinating story of isolationism across the arc of American history-Charles Kupchan explores the enduring connection between the isolationist impulse and the American experience. He also refurbishes isolationism's reputation, arguing that it constituted dangerous delusion during the 1930s, but afforded the nation clear strategic advantages during its ascent.

Kupchan traces isolationism's staying power to the ideology of American exceptionalism. Strategic detachment from the outside world was to protect the nation's unique experiment in liberty, which America would then share with others through the power of example. Since 1941, the United States has taken a much more interventionist approach to changing the world. But it has overreached, prompting Americans to rediscover the allure of nonentanglement and an America First foreign policy. The United States is hardly destined to return to isolationism, yet a strategic pullback is inevitable. Americans now need to find the middle ground between doing too much and doing too little.

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host the author for a discussion of his new book.

Long simmering tensions between powers in the Eastern Mediterranean have recently escalated to crisis levels. Competition between Turkey, Cyprus and Greece over gas discoveries, long-standing maritime border disputes, and regional rivalries have led to heightened tensions in the region. With bilateral attempts at negotiation remaining stalled, efforts to reduce tensions within NATO and the European Union have yet to produce results. While the President of the EU Council called on EU member states to discuss a coordinated response to the regional tensions, French President Macron’s confrontational rhetoric against Turkey exacerbates the situation. Will diplomatic efforts lead to a permanent solution, or even reduce tensions? Will other NATO members join France in supporting one side or another or will they sit on the sidelines? How have things gotten so bad in the first place?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host an expert panel discussion to discuss the crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey’s role in regional and global affairs has generated much debate in recent years. Turkish foreign policy initiatives as well as the country’s humanitarian diplomacy in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic continue to shape regional dynamics. Turkey’s continued presence in northern Syria, for instance, has provided stability in the aftermath of the US (partial) withdrawal. Turkish support for the UN-backed Libyan government in Tripoli created a balance of power, which created space for the ongoing diplomatic negotiations. Despite recent tensions in Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey has called for a peaceful resolution of outstanding maritime issues. Turkey continues to host close to 4 million refugees and it was one of the first countries to provide humanitarian help to Lebanon in the aftermath of the Beirut explosion.  

The US-Turkey relationship continues to experience significant difficulties such as the US support for the YPG, extradition of Fethullah Gulen and Turkey’s exclusion from the F-35 program. However, as the Trump administration is willing to listen to Turkey’s concerns seriously, the US’ punitive talk has subsided and President Trump and President Erdogan set a goal to increase bilateral trade to the neighborhood of $100 billion. As the November election draws near, the next administration’s policy toward Turkey will be critically important not only for the two countries’ relations but the NATO alliance as well as the future of Europe.

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is deeply honored to host a high-level discussion with the Vice President of Turkey on Turkish foreign policy and Turkey’s relations with the United States.

Since the end of the Cold War, American-Russian relations have waxed and waned, depending on the administration in Washington, following a pattern of a ‘reset’ and then decline with each successive presidency. Although President Trump sought better relations with Russia, the bilateral relationship has been difficult due to a number of security and geopolitical issues. Strategic competition has been accompanied by assessments and allegations about continued Russian interference in US domestic politics. Nowhere is the continued great power rivalry between the U.S. and Russia more evident than in the Middle Eastern theater, including Syria and Libya.

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a webinar discussion on the future of US-Russia relations and its impact on the Middle East.

Speakers

Angela Stent, Director, Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies, Georgetown University

Mark Katz, Professor of Government and Politics, George Mason University and Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council

Moderator

Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

Since its establishment 19 years ago, Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has transformed the country’s politics, economy, and culture in many different ways. As a result of its consistent electoral and referenda successes for nearly two decades, the party has become the dominant party in Turkish politics in unprecedented ways. As the party sets out to tackle long-standing ethnic, religious and political challenges in the country, Turkey has emerged as a regional power seeking to assume a critical role in global issues.

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a webinar discussion on the transformation of Turkey under the AK Party over the last 19 years.

Speakers

Ravza Kavakcı Kan, Member of Parliament from AK Party and President of Interparliamentary Union Group at the Turkish Parliament

Talip Kucukcan, Professor of Sociology at Marmara University and Former Member of Parliament from AK Party

Huseyin Alptekin, Researcher, Strategy Studies, SETA Foundation in Istanbul

Moderator

Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

Before entering Trump’s personal orbit, John R. Bolton was most famous for his stint as United States Ambassador to the United Nations, where his views contra the multilateral institution, and promoting American unilateralism were espoused in full view of a global audience. Twelve years after his resignation from the position in 2006, he once again caught the eye of a Republican President eager to attack the status quo in foreign policy, Donald Trump. Over the next whirlwind year of 2018, Bolton was made National Security Advisor where he suggested a more hawkish foreign policy, proposing an invasion of Venezuela to oust the leftist government, or further escalation against Iran in the Middle East. By the time Bolton had finally fallen out of Trump’s favor, he had collected a memoir of his experiences which was released in the form a book in late June 2020. Inside his recollections is an incredible firsthand look at how American Foreign Policy during the Presidency of Donald Trump is made.

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a webinar discussion on what Bolton’s book tells us about US foreign policymaking.

On July 24, Turkish President Erdoğan joined hundreds of fellow worshipers for the first Friday prayers in 86 years inside Hagia Sophia. Built in the 6th century as a Byzantine cathedral, the magnificent structure remained the largest church in the Eastern Roman Empire until the conquest of Istanbul in 1453. After serving as a mosque for centuries under the Ottomans, the Turkish government decided to convert it to a museum in 1934. The restoration of Ayasofya as a mosque came after a Turkish high court’s recent ruling, which annulled the 1934 decision. The decision has been met with much celebration in Turkey and the Muslim world while it has received criticism in the West. What does Ayasofya’s restoration signify for the Turkish people and the Muslim world? What are some of the cultural and historical reasons for this decision?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a webinar discussion on the implications of the decision to restore Ayasofya’s status as a mosque.

In 2017, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt severed diplomatic ties with Qatar, launching an economic blockade by land, air and sea. The self-proclaimed 'Anti-Terror Quartet' offered maximalist demands: thirteen 'conditions' recalling Austria-Hungary's 1914 ultimatum to Serbia. They may even have intended military action. Well into its second year, the standoff in the Gulf has no realistic end in sight. With the Bahraini and Emirati criminalisation of expressing support for Qatar, and the Saudi labelling of detainees as 'traitors' for their alleged Qatari links, bitterness has been stoked between deeply interconnected peoples. The adviser to the Saudi crown prince advocating a moat to physically separate Qatar from the Arabian Peninsula illustrates the ongoing intensity―and irrationality―of the crisis. Most reporting and analysis of these developments has focused on questions of regional geopolitics, and framed the standoff in terms of its impact on (largely) Western interests. Lost in this thicket of commentary is consideration of how the Qatari leadership and population have responded to the blockade. As the 2022 FIFA World Cup draws closer, the ongoing Qatar crisis becomes increasingly important to understand. Ulrichsen offers an authoritative study of this international standoff, from both sides.

Join the SETA Foundation at Washington D.C. to discuss "Qatar and the Gulf Crisis" with the author of this new book.

The trade battle between China and the U.S. didn’t start with Trump and won’t end with him, argue Bob Davis and Lingling Wei. The two countries have a long and fraught political and economic history which has become more contentious over the past three years―an escalation that has negatively impacted both countries' economies and the world at large―and holds the potential for even more uncertainty and disruption.

How did this stand-off happen? How much are U.S. presidents and officials who haven't effectively confronted or negotiated with China to blame? What role have Chinese leaders, and U.S. business leaders who for decades acted as Beijing’s lobbyists in Washington, played in driving tensions between the two countries?

Superpower Showdown is the story of a romance gone bad. Uniquely positioned to tell the story, Davis and Wei have conducted hundreds of interviews with government and business officials in both nations over the seven years they have worked together writing for the Wall Street Journal. Analyzing U.S.–China relations, they explain how we have reached this tipping point, and look at where we could be headed. Vivid and provocative, Superpower Showdown will help readers understand the context of the trade war and prepare them for what may come next.

Join the SETA Foundation at Washington D.C. to discuss Superpower Showdown with the authors of this new book.

US-Turkey defense relationship has become more complicated in recent years and served as a source of tension at times. The two NATO allies have long-standing security ties and an overall robust defense partnership, as they make up some of the most capable forces within the alliance. In recent years, Turkey has ramped up its defense capabilities against regional threats and proceeded to acquire missile defense systems from Russia, after failed talks with the US and the EU on procurement of such systems, resulting in frictions within NATO. The US Congress has sought to impose sanctions and remove Turkey’s participation from the F-35 project as a punishment for the procurement of S-400 systems and Turkey’s military operations in northern Syria. The Trump administration sought a middle ground, as Turkey indicated its openness to purchase Patriot systems from the US. Turkey’s nationally produced weapons systems have already demonstrated their effectiveness in the region and the country seeks to cooperate with the US based on common interest. Given this set of dynamics at play, what does the future of US-Turkey defense relations look like? Can the two allies overcome the current difficulties and deepen their security alliance? How can they cooperate better on common defense?

To explore these questions, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a high-level discussion on US-Turkey defense partnership.

Four years after the July 15 failed coup attempt, Turkey finds itself at a significantly changed geopolitical environment. Since that fateful day, Turkish security and foreign policies have been transformed in unprecedented ways so as to render the country a major player in the region including in Syria, Iraq, Libya among others. As it adopted a new counterterrorism doctrine going after the PKK/YPG as well as ISIS along its borders, Turkey also emerged as a main actor in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Gulf region. While Turkey’s relationship with the US has gone through a rough patch in recent years, recent developments have shown reassuring signs. The country’s robust handling of the Covid-19 pandemic has also underlined Turkish efforts to help allies deal with this unprecedented challenge. Given that Turkey has been active and decisive in so many fronts, how have the Turkish security and foreign policies since the failed coup attempt of 2016 evolved? What are some of the guiding principles and persistent interests? Can the US and Turkey cooperate in a region with so many different forces pulling in different directions?

To discuss these questions, SETA DC is pleased to host two panel discussions on Turkish security and foreign policy on the fourth anniversary of the July 15 failed coup attempt.

Four years after the July 15 failed coup attempt, Turkey finds itself at a significantly changed geopolitical environment. Since that fateful day, Turkish security and foreign policies have been transformed in unprecedented ways so as to render the country a major player in the region including in Syria, Iraq, Libya among others. As it adopted a new counterterrorism doctrine going after the PKK/YPG as well as ISIS along its borders, Turkey also emerged as a main actor in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Gulf region. While Turkey’s relationship with the US has gone through a rough patch in recent years, recent developments have shown reassuring signs. The country’s robust handling of the Covid-19 pandemic has also underlined Turkish efforts to help allies deal with this unprecedented challenge. Given that Turkey has been active and decisive in so many fronts, how have the Turkish security and foreign policies since the failed coup attempt of 2016 evolved? What are some of the guiding principles and persistent interests? Can the US and Turkey cooperate in a region with so many different forces pulling in different directions?

To discuss these questions, SETA DC is pleased to host two panel discussions on Turkish security and foreign policy on the fourth anniversary of the July 15 failed coup attempt.

Turkey’s involvement in Libya over the past several months has been decisive in changing the balance of power on the ground. While a potential takeover of the Government of National Accord by Haftar’s forces happened toward the end of 2019, Turkish support to the UN-recognized government in Tripoli dramatically changed the course of the conflict. As a proxy struggle plays out between regional powers including diametrically opposed European positions, Turkey’s Libya policy has been a major subject of discussion. As there appears to be no international consensus on Libya, Turkey seems to be marching forward with deepening its relationship with the North African country. What is the guiding principle of Turkish policy in Libya? What are some of the shared interests between the two countries? What is the Turkish view on how to arrive at a resolution of the conflict in Libya? 

To discuss these questions and analyze Turkish policy in Libya, SETA DC is pleased to host an expert panel discussion.

The world came to a screeching halt after George Floyd, a black man from Minneapolis, was murdered by a police officer. For 8 minutes and 46 seconds, Derek Chauvin put his knee on the back of Floyd’s neck, causing him to die by asphyxiation. This horrific incident caused unprecedented protests not only across the US but around the world on nearly every continent in support of George Floyd and condemning police brutality. The Chinese foreign ministry called racism in the US “a chronic disease of American society” in an apparent jab at the US government, which had condemned the crackdown on protests in Hong Kong. Protests spread to Europe, resulting in clashes in some instances. In the Middle East, the images of support for the protests from war-torn Syria were widely shared in social media. As the US is dealing with how to confront racism at home, the Floyd protests will likely have implications for America’s global image and credibility.  

The SETA Foundation at Washington, DC is pleased to host a distinguished panel of experts to discuss the global reverberations of the Floyd protests with Ho-Fung Hung and Borzou Daragahi. This session is moderated by Kilic B. Kanat.

Since the announcement of Trump peace plan in January as the “solution” to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the expectation for Israel to annex parts of the West Bank has become an increasing likelihood. The recently established unity government in Israel is preparing to present a plan to extend Israeli sovereignty to West Bank at the beginning of July. It remains unclear how far Israel is willing to go and what reaction it will trigger from Palestinians. Would it lead to an escalation or even a renewed conflict? Will such a move lead to a strong or a more muted response from the regional powers? How will the Arab states and countries like Turkey might react?  The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host an expert panel discussion to discuss the implications of Israel’s potential annexation of Palestinian lands in the West Bank with Geoffrey Aronson, Khaled Elgindy, and Lara Friedman. This session is moderated by Kadir Ustun.

The SETA Foundation at Washington, DC is pleased to host an expert panel discussion on the ongoing conflict in Libya with Muhittin Ataman, Director of Foreign Policy Program at the SETA Foundation and Silvia Colombo, Head of Italy's Foreign Policy Program at Istituto Affari Internazionali. The discussion is moderated by Kadir Ustun, Executive Director at the SETA Foundation at Washington DC.

As the United States moves ever closer to the November elections, the competition begins to heat up. For the Democrats, former Vice President Joe Biden is set to be the presumptive nominee to take on the Republican’s President Trump at the ballot box. As in 2016, the candidates are clearly differentiated from one another, not only in terms of policy, but also in form. President Trump is clearly continuing his America First policies, withdrawing from international organizations such as the WHO and turning further into isolationism. Biden, on the other hand, prefers to follow the path of President Barack Obama in engaging with the rest of the world. One thing that both candidates appear to agree on is further antagonism with China, as they accuse one another of perceived weakness in relation to the Asian giant. The coronavirus has thrown the global economic and political situation into chaos and how the next president might define US foreign policy in the years ahead remains an open question.

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a distinguished panel to discuss the foreign policy implications of US Elections in November with The Honorable Robert Wexler, President of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace and Mark Perry, independent author, historian and journalist. This session is moderated by Kilic B. Kanat, Research Director at SETA DC.

We live in a period of great uncertainty about the fate of America’s global leadership. Many believe that Donald Trump’s presidency marks the end of liberal international order-the very system of global institutions, rules, and values that shaped the American international system since the end of World War II. Trump’s repeated rejection of liberal order, criticisms of long-term allies of the US, and affinity for authoritarian leaders certainly undermines the American international system, but the truth is that liberal international order has been quietly eroding for at least 15 years.

In Exit from Hegemony, Alexander Cooley and Daniel Nexon develop a new, integrated approach to understanding the rise and decline of hegemonic orders. Their approach identifies three distinct ways in which the liberal international order is undergoing fundamental transformation. First, Russia and China have targeted the order, positioning themselves as revisionist powers by establishing alternative regional institutions and pushing counter-norms. Second, weaker states are hollowing out the order by seeking patronage and security partnership from nations outside of the order, such as Saudi Arabia and China. Even though they do not always seek to disrupt American hegemony, these new patron-client relationships lack the same liberal political and economic conditions as those involving the United States and its democratic allies. Third, a new series of transnational networks emphasizing illiberalism, nationalism, and right-wing values increasing challenges the anti-authoritarian, progressive transnational networks of the 1990s. These three pathways erode the primacy of the liberal international order from above, laterally, and from below. The Trump administration, with its “America First” doctrine, accelerates all three processes, critically lessening America’s position as a world power.

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a book discussion on Exit from Hegemony: The Unraveling of the American Global Orderwith its authors, Alexander Cooley of Columbia University and Daniel Nexon of Georgetown University. This session is moderated by Kilic B. Kanat, Research Director at SETA DC. 

As the world has turned its focus to the global pandemic, the conflict between the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) and General Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) has continued unabated. Despite multiple calls for ceasefires, Haftar’s forces have continued to advance against Tripoli, bombing hospitals, shelling areas, killing civilians. Turkey’s support for the internationally recognized government in Tripoli has allowed GNA to make significant advances in recent months against LNA, which is supported by regional actors such as Russia, Egypt, and the UAE. As the regional geopolitics bears heavily on the situation in Libya, the ongoing conflict has implications for the Eastern Mediterranean and the broader Middle East.

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host an expert panel discussion on the Libyan conflict with Karim Mezran of Atlantic Council and Talha Kose of Ibn Haldun University. This session is moderated by Kadir Ustun, Executive Director at SETA DC.

The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted vulnerable populations around the world. With a fundamentally ill-equipped healthcare system, continuous bombing of hospitals and the use of humanitarian aid as a weapon of war by the Assad regime, the Syrian population is suffering greatly. While the health risks posed by the coronavirus pandemic remain real, the civil war dynamics and the international players’ positions have not changed significantly in the wake of the outbreak. The humanitarian situation in Syria remains a main concern for the regional countries while the strategic dynamics have implications for the U.S.

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a webinar event to discuss the pandemic’s humanitarian and strategic implications for the U.S. policy in Syria with Colonel (Retired) Richard Outzen of the State Department, Will Todmanof the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and Jomana Qaddourof Atlantic Council. This session is moderated by Kadir Ustun, Executive Director at SETA DC.

The coronavirus pandemic is likely to redefine the US-China relationship in the months and years ahead. President Trump as well as the Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden have both leveled heavy criticism against China, charging that the country exacerbated the problem by misleading the world about the origins and the nature of the threat. The US wariness over the increasing economic and military power of China has been further complicated by the Trump administration’s on-and-off trade war in recent years. Now, the relationship will take on a global public health dimension due to the Covid-19 pandemic that has exacted enormous costs on the world.

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a webinar event to discuss these questions and the future of US-China relations with James J. Carafano of The Heritage Foundation and Matthew Kroenig of Georgetown University. This session is moderated by Kilic B. Kanat, Research Director at SETA DC.

From various military missions around the world to membership in multilateral organizations such as the NATO alliance, the US remains deeply involved in international security despite the Trump administration’s preference for bilateral relationships. Questions and the debate over America’s role in international security have become even more relevant in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The global pandemic has exacerbated the existing uncertain security environment with unprecedented financial and economic consequences for the world. Given the coming budgetary pressures, the US may reevaluate the necessity of many of its security commitments. These new realities will almost certainly trigger a review of the US international security policies, which might result in a renewed isolationism, a reinvigorated internationalism, a greater focus on great power competition or a combination of these.

SETA DC is pleased host an online webinar event to discuss how the US might deal with international security in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic with Mary Beth Long, Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs and Luke Coffey, Director of the Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies at The Heritage Foundation. This session is moderated by Kadir Ustun, Executive Director at SETA DC.

The US leadership, or lack thereof, on a host of global issues has been debated for some time now. The global financial crisis of 2008, international sanctions, Arab Spring, climate change, China’s increasing assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific among other issues all have raised questions about various aspects of US leadership. Whether and to what extent the US should lead has become a recurring theme. Both Presidents Obama and Trump have grappled with this question while offering different visions, namely internationalist and nationalist. In the wake of a historic crisis with the emergence of COVID-19, the US leadership is yet again a major topic of discussion. As countries have dealt with this unprecedented challenge, they have tended to focus within national borders. President Trump even said this was proof that his America First approach has been vindicated. What does the US approach to the crisis tell us about the future of its relations with Europe or China? What is the possibility of creating a global response at this point in time? How will the US leadership be shaped going forward?

SETA DC is pleased to host an online webinar event to discuss the question of US leadership in yet another moment of unprecedented crisis with Philip H. Gordon, Mary and David Boies Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy at Council on Foreign Relations and Shadi Hamid, Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy at The Brookings Institution. This session is moderated by Kilic B. Kanat, Research Director at SETA DC.

Coronavirus has disrupted the world in immeasurable ways, slowing global trade to a trickle, causing mass capital flight from emerging markets, and cratering the price of oil. As nations start to recover from this calamity, new questions emerge about the U.S.’s relations with the states in the Middle East. For instance, will the economic impact of the pandemic lead to a more urgent push to withdraw from the region, in particular, Iraq? Will the Trump administration’s fight against Iranian influence weaken or intensify? How will the historically low oil prices define the relations between the Gulf nations and the U.S.? The U.S. role in the Middle East in the post-coronavirus world will be a critically important question for the region in the years ahead.

SETA DC is pleased to host an online webinar event to discuss the U.S. posture in the Middle East in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic with General Mark Kimmitt, Former Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs and Mike Doran, Senior Fellow of the Hudson Institute. This session is moderated by Kadir Ustun, Executive Director at SETA DC.

As the world struggles to manage the coronavirus pandemic, debates about US leadership and the global order have come to the fore. The rapid spread of the virus has placed an unprecedented pressure on healthcare systems around the world, exposing the shortcomings of the national and global public health policies. The pandemic not only magnified the shortcomings of the American healthcare system but also the absence of global leadership during such a wide-ranging global crisis. The political, economic, and social impact will most likely linger for years as the world has largely failed to contain the virus.

International leadership has escaped the world as nations have been forced to find solutions on their own. While many point to Trump administration’s slow response and failure to lead the world as the reason why the US is now the epicenter of the virus, others emphasize the lack of transparency and disinformation campaign by China for the global spread of COVID-19. Most agree that the world will not be the same going forward and nor will the US-China bilateral relationship. The outbreak serves as a watershed moment that could potentially change the international order as we know it but what that order will look like is open for debate.

SETA DC is pleased to host an online webinar event to discuss the US global role after COVID-19, US-China relations, and the broader international order with Patrick Cronin, Asia-Pacific Security Chair of Hudson Institute and Charles Kupchan, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University. This session is moderated by Kilic B. Kanat, Research Director at SETA DC.

The Trump administration’s recently proposed Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, dubbed “the Deal of the Century,” offers a plan to resolve the decades-old conflict all the while declaring Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel. Although it calls for an eventual Palestinian state, the Palestinian leadership expectedly rejected the plan. This peace plan has sparked controversy from global leaders, who claim that it allows annexation of Palestinian lands, ignores the right of return for refugees, and runs contrary to international law. Turkey was among the countries who opposed the plan, reiterating its support for a negotiated two-state solution. As the Palestinian Authority cut all relations with the U.S. and Israel including security cooperation, there are worries about increased tensions in the region.

SETA DC is pleased to host an event to discuss the Trump administration’s “Deal of the Century” with Khaled Elguindy of the Middle East Institute, Mark Perry, an independent author and journalist, and Kadir Ustun, Executive Director at SETA DC. This session is moderated by Hasan Yucel, Researcher at SETA DC.

Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite IRGC Quds military force and one of the most powerful figures in the Islamic Republic, was killed last Friday in an airstrike in Baghdad conducted by the U.S. While many argue that the tensions will rise and lead to war, the Trump administration has said that the operation was to prevent imminent threat posed to U.S. citizens in the region. The U.S. pullout of the nuclear deal, the ongoing maximum pressure campaign, and the strike against Soleimani in Iraq all increase the likelihood of heightened tensions in the region. What does such an attack on a high-profile Iranian mean for Iran’s regional posture? Is a full-blown war between the U.S. and Iran more or less likely? What is the U.S. policy on Iran going to be as the November elections are on the horizon?

SETA DC is pleased to host an event to discuss US policy on Iran in the wake of the killing of Soleimani with Luke Coffey of Heritage Foundation, Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute, Mark Perry, an independent author and journalist, and Kilic B. Kanat, Research Director at SETA DC. This panel is moderated by Kadir Ustun, Executive Director at SETA DC.

Early in December of 2019, Turkey signed a series of agreements with the Government of National Accord in Libya regarding maritime delimitations in the Mediterranean, mutual security assistance, and military relations. The agreement generated much discussion in the international media as it would have implications for Turkey’s exclusive economic zones. The U.S. Congress recently passed legislation to boost funding for energy development in Cyprus and Greece, as well as increasing security assistance. As Turkey asserts its rights in the Mediterranean, the US-Turkey relationship will likely be impacted by the potential disputes in the Mediterranean.

SETADC is pleased to host an event to discuss Turkey’s Mediterranean policy with Cagri Erhan of Altınbas University and Burhanettin Duran of SETA Foundation. This panel is moderated by Kilic B. Kanat.