Syria Issue in US-Türkiye Relations

Syria was one of the central topics in the Çavuşoğlu-Blinken meeting in Washington in January. As Türkiye has recently expressed its willingness to engage the Assad regime to further its goals around counter-terrorism and return of refugees, the US appears cool to the idea without offering a strategy to bring about the goals stated in the UNSC Resolution 2254. The two NATO allies have not been able to cooperate on Syria and often find themselves at odds with one another’s policies, as exemplified by failed plans such as the Manbij roadmap as well as disagreements over how to fight ISIS. The US has expressed its opposition to engaging the regime, a process that started with the meeting of defense ministers of Türkiye, Russia, and Syria in Moscow in December. For its part, Türkiye continues to emphasize its deep concerns about the US support for the YPG. Given the protracted civil war and an elusive political process, what are the prospects of a resolution of the Syria issue? Can the two NATO allies lead in rejuvenating the political process in Syria? What are some of the opportunities and challenges before peace?

The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host an expert panel discussion on the implications of the ongoing Syrian conflict for the US-Türkiye relationship.

Speakers

Burhanettin Duran, General Coordinator at the SETA Foundation

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

Mike Doran,  Senior Fellow at Hudson Institute

Moderator

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