In the past decade, US-Turkey relations have been through several ups and downs. Today however, three problem areas are at the core of the divergence between the two sides. President Obama’s decision to work with notorious terror organisations in Syria, such as the PYD/YPG, in order to combat ISIS was considered in Turkey as a disaster of epic proportions. The consequences of this decision left the PYD/YPG in control of nearly one-third of Syria, constituting a clear and present danger to Turkey’s national security. Secondly, Washington’s reluctance to extradite Fetullah Gulen, the mastermind behind the July 15, 2016, failed coup attempt in Turkey, has tested Ankara’s patience. Additionally, there is the erroneous perception in Washington D.C. that Turkey’s NATO membership is in question. This view tends to gain currency whenever the Turkish leadership opts, in the absence of viable alternative, to purchase weapons systems from other parties. President Trump’s recent decision to approve Turkey’s corridor east of the Euphrates is coherent with the president’s earlier commitment to withdraw from Syria. However, President Trump has been facing mounting pressure in Washington, making it a challenge for the White House to balance its attention between domestic and foreign issues.

Moderator: Adnan Nawaz, TRT World Presenter
• Çağrı Erhan, President of Altınbaş University and Member of the Security and Foreign Council of Presidency of Turkey
• Michael Doran, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute
• Matthew Bryza, Former United States Ambassador to Azerbaijan and Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council
• Kılıç Buğra Kanat, Senior Fellow at TRT World Research Centre
• William J. Parker III, CEO and President of the Eastwest Institute

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trtworldforum/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/trtworldforum/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trtworldforum/
Visit our website: https://www.trtworldforum.com