The Directorate of Communications held a panel in New York during the week of the United Nations General Assembly, titled “Türkiye-U.S. Relations on the Eve of the Centennial”.
The panel featured Chief Advisor to the President on Foreign Policy and Security Akif Çağatay Kılıç, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Security and Foreign Policy Council Çağrı Erhan, former U.S. Ambassador to Ankara and retired diplomat James Jeffrey, and former U.S. Ambassador to Baku Matthew Bryza as speakers. The panel was moderated by Kadir Üstün, Coordinator of the SETA Foundation in Washington, D.C.
Speaking at the panel, Chief Advisor to the President Kılıç underlined the historical depth of the security dimension of Türkiye-U.S. relations. “This does not mean that our relations are based solely on military ties. However, I believe NATO is an important part of our relationship,” Kılıç said.
Describing the period that began in the 2010s and has continued to expand to the present as a “process of strategic transformation” in bilateral relations, Kılıç emphasised that Türkiye is a strong regional actor that does not shy away from articulating its position on any issue related to foreign policy.
Emphasis on President Erdoğan’s resolute leadership
Pointing out that Türkiye, under the “resolute leadership” of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has taken security-driven steps in its region when necessary, Kılıç highlighted the vital role played by the Turkish military in resolving crises in Syria, Iraq, Azerbaijan and other countries. Noting that Ankara had assumed responsibility in all these steps and continues to do so today in pursuing a process towards peace in the Russia-Ukraine war, Kılıç said: “We pursue a different strategy in our relations with Russia, and likewise in negotiations aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the conflict between Iran and Israel.”
“We have an unshakeable core”
Emphasising that the region and geography surrounding Türkiye in the 1950s and 1960s had changed considerably over time, resulting in a very different regional landscape today, Kılıç said, "The constant here, following the Ottoman Empire, has been Türkiye. Today, the Republic of Türkiye remains in the same geography. This is crucial for stability. “We have an unshakeable core.”
Kılıç said that they occasionally encountered individuals in Europe who held prejudiced views towards Türkiye and wielded influence over decision-making processes in their respective countries. Citing two examples, he explained to the participants why such approaches were misguided. Kılıç said: “I think it is important to acknowledge what we need to do. I believe that, as Türkiye, we have been doing this for a long time, but I also understand the points being made regarding the European Union and our region. Going forward, I think everyone will make greater efforts when it comes to policy, particularly international policy."
Erhan outlines the historical dimension of bilateral relations
Erhan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Security and Foreign Policy Council, also analysed Turkish-American relations from a historical perspective, explaining how these relations began and developed during the Ottoman Empire.
He noted that relations between the United States and the Ottoman Empire dated back to the 1830s, when maritime trade, access to ports and related economic ties played significant roles. Noting that security factors had played a significant role in laying the foundations of bilateral relations, Erhan referred to the role played by the US Navy in the building of the Ottoman navy in the 1830s.
Recalling that the United States never declared war on the Ottoman Empire despite entering the First World War, Erhan said, "They declared war on Germany, but they did not declare war on the Ottoman Empire.”
“We inhabit the same world”
Former U.S. Ambassador to Ankara Jeffrey also underlined that Türkiye and the United States shared numerous interests and values, saying, "We inhabit the same world.”
Noting that Türkiye and the United States were not simply partners in organisations such as NATO, the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Jeffrey said: “It is not just about institutions. For example, China, Russia and Iran do not live in this world and want to change it."
Türkiye is in a position to influence the entire Mediterranean or much of Europe
Pointing out that this “world” was beneficial to both the United States and Türkiye, Jeffrey said, "We complement each other. We share a similar worldview with Portugal, but Portugal is not in a position to influence the entire Mediterranean or much of Europe. This is not 1450. Türkiye can do it. That is what makes Türkiye important to us, and the level of coordination between the two capitals is extraordinary."
Jeffrey noted that Türkiye and the United States coordinated closely, particularly when disagreements arose, to keep them contained, and made the following assessment:
"As for Türkiye’s successes, 2019 is a good example. The outcomes achieved simultaneously in the Caucasus, in Syria’s Idlib region—despite the significant cost to the Turkish military—and in Libya turned out, in all three cases, to be successes for us as well. They even changed the entire picture in Syria. They changed the whole approach and the methods employed, and ultimately our successes became Türkiye’s successes.”
Sanctions on Türkiye are “an absurd situation”
Former U.S. Ambassador to Baku Bryza, for his part, described Türkiye as “the country with the most strategic location imaginable” for the United States, particularly in geographical terms, noting that the United States sometimes failed to appreciate its significance fully.
Criticising the lack of historical knowledge about Türkiye even among US politicians, Bryza said, "We need to update our mental maps of each other. This is something we constantly need to do.”
Bryza noted that when something occurred in bilateral relations that appeared hostile, adversarial or unconstructive, people in Türkiye sometimes assumed that it was part of a plan. “There is a perception in Türkiye that there is a plan to push Türkiye-West relations into an even more distrustful state. I assure you that there is no such plan in Washington,” he said.
Bryza said, "But despite all that, we are faced with the absurd situation of a country with an incredible geographical position, NATO’s second-largest military and indeed one of its strongest militaries overall once again being subjected to US sanctions over its defence sector. And then there is the embargo imposed in 1975 over Cyprus.” Bryza suggested that this might stem from certain shortcomings in strategic thinking in the United States.
Turning to the US-Iran conflict, Bryza argued that US President Donald Trump wanted to end the war but could not completely disengage from the region.
Photo exhibition marks 100 years of relations
Meanwhile, a photo exhibition organised by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications to mark the 100th anniversary of Turkish-American diplomatic relations was opened at the entrance to the hall where the panel was held.
The exhibition featured photographs of high-level engagements by Turkish leaders in the United States and visits by U.S. presidents to Türkiye since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Participants showed great interest in the exhibition, which featured around 30 photographs.