How the West should prepare for the Turkish elections
The US and the EU should refrain from making any interventions during Turkey’s election period – but they may need to respond quickly depending on the results of the vote
Turkey
Humanitarian first: Delivering aid to Syria in the aftermath of the earthquake
In the aftermath of the earthquake, minimal aid is reaching north-west Syria, the most affected region in the country. European governments need to put humanitarian imperatives first, even if this means temporarily abandoning longstanding political positions
Grain of truth: Why Russia rejoined the Ukraine food export deal
Turkey’s strength in the Black Sea may have persuaded Russia to return to the Ukraine grain export deal. But the agreement also lends another string to its bow
The Clash of Orders with Aslı Aydıntaşbaş on Turkey
Mark Leonard is joined by Aslı Aydıntaşbaş to talk about Turkey’s understanding of order
Rogue NATO: The new face of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
The SCO is often seen as the anti-NATO, but Putin will struggle to convince the other members – especially the Central Asian states – that his war is more important than Chinese investment
Hedge politics: Turkey’s search for balance in the Middle East
Ankara is trying to normalise its relationships with Middle Eastern governments. The EU needs to adjust to the new Turkey that is emerging from this process.
Turkey, NATO, and the Ukraine war: Why Erdogan’s grievances are about more than Sweden and Finland
The Turkish president is unlikely to veto Nordic membership of NATO – but Turkey’s bigger strategic worry is of a NATO-Russia conflict arising out of the war in Ukraine
Necessary friends: Turkey’s improving relationship with the West
Russia’s war on Ukraine has allowed Turkey to begin to rebuild its relationship with the West. Brussels and Ankara both need to make sacrifices to continue this process and protect their strategic interests.
Acts of normality: The potential for Turkey-Armenia rapprochement
After decades of tension, Turkey and Armenia now feel it is in their interest to normalise their relationship – not least to promote trade and to balance against Russian influence
Unsettled: The impact of the Russia-Ukraine crisis on the Middle East and North Africa
Heightened conflict in Ukraine could have serious consequences for European interests in the Middle East and North Africa. It could further disrupt energy supplies, exacerbate food insecurity, and help states in the region gain leverage over the US and Europe.
Publications
Hedge politics: Turkey’s search for balance in the Middle East
Ankara is trying to normalise its relationships with Middle Eastern governments. The EU needs to adjust to the new Turkey that is emerging from this process.
Acts of normality: The potential for Turkey-Armenia rapprochement
After decades of tension, Turkey and Armenia now feel it is in their interest to normalise their relationship – not least to promote trade and to balance against Russian influence
The fall of the Afghan government and what it means for Europe
ECFR’s policy experts examine what the Taliban takeover means for countries and regions around the world: Europe, the US, the Middle East, Russia, China, Iran, Turkey, and the Sahel
New energies: How the European Green Deal can save the EU’s relationship with Turkey
EU member states should help Turkey manage the impact of the new trade regulations the deal would bring in
Useful enemies: How the Turkey-UAE rivalry is remaking the Middle East
Instead of using the UAE to push back against Turkey or vice versa, Europe should develop its own strategy on their rivalry
A new Gaza: Turkey’s border policy in northern Syria
EU member states can find ways to cooperate with Turkey to support stabilisation in parts of the safe zone, without violating their interests and core principle
From myth to reality: How to understand Turkey’s role in the Western Balkans
Introduction By loading this video, you consent to your personal data being sent to YouTube, a service provided by Google. Google may combine your data…
The discreet charm of hypocrisy: An EU-Turkey Power Audit
The survey reveals the varying motivations of the 28 EU member states for keeping Turkey close — but not too close
Trouble on the tracks: Averting the Turkey-EU ‘train wreck’
Despite the vote in the European Parliament to “freeze” Turkey’s EU accession talks, there is still a chance to save the troubled EU-Turkey relationship
The good, the bad and the Gülenists
The role of the Gülen movement in Turkey’s coup attempt
Articles
How the West should prepare for the Turkish elections
The US and the EU should refrain from making any interventions during Turkey’s election period – but they may need to respond quickly depending on the results of the vote
Humanitarian first: Delivering aid to Syria in the aftermath of the earthquake
In the aftermath of the earthquake, minimal aid is reaching north-west Syria, the most affected region in the country. European governments need to put humanitarian imperatives first, even if this means temporarily abandoning longstanding political positions
Grain of truth: Why Russia rejoined the Ukraine food export deal
Turkey’s strength in the Black Sea may have persuaded Russia to return to the Ukraine grain export deal. But the agreement also lends another string to its bow
Rogue NATO: The new face of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
The SCO is often seen as the anti-NATO, but Putin will struggle to convince the other members – especially the Central Asian states – that his war is more important than Chinese investment
Turkey, NATO, and the Ukraine war: Why Erdogan’s grievances are about more than Sweden and Finland
The Turkish president is unlikely to veto Nordic membership of NATO – but Turkey’s bigger strategic worry is of a NATO-Russia conflict arising out of the war in Ukraine
Necessary friends: Turkey’s improving relationship with the West
Russia’s war on Ukraine has allowed Turkey to begin to rebuild its relationship with the West. Brussels and Ankara both need to make sacrifices to continue this process and protect their strategic interests.
Unsettled: The impact of the Russia-Ukraine crisis on the Middle East and North Africa
Heightened conflict in Ukraine could have serious consequences for European interests in the Middle East and North Africa. It could further disrupt energy supplies, exacerbate food insecurity, and help states in the region gain leverage over the US and Europe.
Turkey’s drone diplomacy: Lessons for Europe
Turkey has shown how drones can be a powerful foreign policy asset. The EU and its member states should work with the country to lead the development and regulation of this technology.
War in Ukraine: Erdogan’s greatest challenge yet
Turkey would attempt to sit on the fence if conflict breaks out in Ukraine. But with domestic challenges rising at home, Recep Tayyip Erdogan may not be able to withstand the pressure from either Russia or NATO allies.
Turkey beyond Erdogan: How the EU risks letting down Turkish democrats
The Turkish president no longer commands all before him. The EU should turn its attention to supporting democratic forces in the country.
Podcasts
The Clash of Orders with Aslı Aydıntaşbaş on Turkey
Mark Leonard is joined by Aslı Aydıntaşbaş to talk about Turkey’s understanding of order
New Energies: The European Green Deal and the EU-Turkey relationship
How will the European Green Deal affect the EU’s relationship with Turkey?
How the Turkey-UAE Rivalry is remaking the Middle East
How can the EU prevent the Turkey-UAE rivalry from destabilising European security and foreign policy?
Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenia and Azerbaijan’s thawing of the ‘frozen conflict’
The contested Nagorno-Karabakh region is at the heart of a decades-long armed standoff between neighbours Armenia and Azerbaijan. The…
ECFR Conversation with Ibrahim Kalin
ECFR Conversation with Ibrahim Kalin, Spokesman and Senior Advisor to the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Chaired by Julien Barnes-Dacey, Director of ECFR’s…
Many elephants in the room: the EU and the Turkey, Syria, coronavirus and refugee crises
The European Union faces a multi-crisis situation at the moment. As the conflict in Idlib and the circumstances at the Greek-Turkish border has erupted, Europe…
The US role in Syria
Anthony Dworkin steps in for Mark Leonard and discusses the US strategy in Syria with Asli Aydintasbas, Julien Barnes-Dacey and Jasmin El-Gamal. The podcast was recorded…
The disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi
Mark Leonard speaks with Asli Aydintasbas, Jeremy Shapiro and Julien Barnes-Dacy about what effect the incident might have on relations between Saudi Arabia, the US…
The Idlib crisis – Can Turkey and Europe avert disaster?
Mark Leonard examines the looming Syrian-Russian military action in Idlib in discussion with ECFR experts Asli Aydıntaşbaş, Julien Barnes-Dacey, and Almut Möller. What do Turks…
Turkey’s financial and economic crisis: A bail-out?
Mark Leonard speaks with Oksana Antonenko, Director for Global Political risk Analysis at Control Risks, and ECFR Turkey experts Asli Aydintasbas and Almut Moeller about…
Events
17 Dec
Europe Debates | German-Turkish relations: Ditching “constructive dialogue”?
Should the next German government ditch Merkel’s “constructive dialogue” with Turkey and join France and Greece for a more confrontational approach?
23 Nov
Conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh: winners, losers, and a new status quo in the Caucasus
The relatively short-lived flare-up between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has ended in early November with a ceasefire brokered by Russia
29 Sep
Tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean: Europe’s mediatory power & Turkish-Greek reconciliation
Virtual debate ahead of the special European Council on Europe’s mediatory power in the Eastern Mediterranean
17 Sep
Turkey’s role in the Eastern Mediterranean: Threats of Conflict and Prospects for Dialogue
A conversation with Ibrahim Kalin to discuss Turkey’s assertive policy, prospects of dialogue, and implications for Turkish-European relations
4 Nov
European Foreign Policy In An Era Of Great Powers Competition
How can the EU demonstrate resolve and respond to the interests of Russia, Turkey, Iran and Saudi-Arabia?
5 Apr
Perspectives sur la situation politique en Turquie
Nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à un Black Coffee Morning, en présence d'Asli Aydintasbas, Dorothée Schmid et Thorniké Gordadzé sur le thème suivant : « Perspectives sur la situation politique en Turquie »
5 Apr
Perspectives sur la situation politique en Turquie
Nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à un événement en présence notamment d'Asli Aydintasbas, Dorothée Schmid et Manuel Lafont Rapnouil, directeur du bureau de Paris de l'ECFR sur le thème suivant : « Perspectives sur la situation politique en Turquie ».
25 Apr
Dwa lata po porozumieniu UE-Turcja: Perspektywy polityki migracyjnej UE
Jak zabezpieczyć granicę przy jednoczesnym poszanowaniu prawa do azylu?
25 Apr
EU-Turkey deal two years on: Prospect of European migration policy
How to secure borders while upholding the right to asylum?
15 Mar
Turkey’s relations with the West: Abandonment, transactionalism or engagement?
How can the West navigate current tensions with Turkey?
In the media
The opposition has to win by a lot
It’s business as usual (after the election) and Turkiye will remain the influential power that everyone looks to work with
It’s business as usual (after the election) and Turkey will remain the influential power that everyone looks to work with
It’s business as usual (after the election) and Turkey will remain the influential power that everyone looks to work with
I think this was the last chance for Turkey to go back to Brussels, knock on Europe’s door and ask about the long-forgotten accession process
Asli Aydintasbas analyses what Turkey’s crucial election results mean and explains how President Erdogan has brought the country to an “anti-American” place