The Panel “Beyond Alliance: Rethinking the US-Türkiye Relations in a Changing World”, organised by the Directorate of Communications as part of the “Turkish Day Parade” events, was held in New York, USA.
Before the first session of the panel began, a brief video presentation was shown on the history and current situation of Turkish-American relations, followed by a video message from the Presidency’s Head of Communications, Prof Fahrettin Altun, in which he addressed the panellists and participants.
Head of Communications Altun stated that the globe is witnessing profound changes across multiple fields, ranging from security to economy, humanitarian crises and technological transformations, coupled with simultaneous opportunities and challenges.
Head of Communications Altun emphasised that the long-standing Türkiye-US relations should be further enhanced in this process, not solely through an alliance-based approach but also on the basis of mutual respect and common interests, and said, “Türkiye, as a regional power and a global actor, responds to the challenges it encounters through constructive and inclusive policies. Our country acts with a diplomatic stance that promotes global stability and prioritises peace and security.”
Head of Communications Altun went on to say:
“The spirit of alliance between Türkiye and the US arising from the ongoing relations between the two countries under the NATO umbrella, as well as the deepening cooperation across numerous fields, has become more valuable in a global system characterised by uncertainties. At the forefront of the issues causing global uncertainty and chaotic order—and requiring joint efforts—are terrorist organisations and terrorism. Against this backdrop, Türkiye’s resolute fight against terrorism in all its forms, as well as its compassionate, principled stance on humanitarian crises, are of paramount importance not only for national security but also for regional and global peace.”
Head of Communications Altun also noted that Türkiye’s struggle in this regard must also be backed by its allies.
Underlining that addressing occasional divergences of opinion between the two nations through constructive dialogue and a shared vision is crucial for the future of bilateral relations, Head of Communications Altun said, “Türkiye and the United States collaborate in a wide range of fields, from economics and security to defence and technology.”
The panel, “Beyond the Alliance: Rethinking Turkish-American Relations in a Changing World” was held at the Türkevi Centre and attended by Türkiye’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Ambassador Ahmet Yıldız and Türkiye’s Consul General in New York Muhittin Ahmet Yazal, along with representatives of diplomatic missions in New York, academicians, and numerous participants from both the Turkish and American communities.
“We are in a period of transformation in the international system”
In the first session of the panel, “Strategic Ties, Global Impact: Türkiye and the US,” the development of bilateral relations between the two countries from past to present was addressed.
In the session moderated by Dr Kadir Üstün, Washington Executive Director of the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), the first speaker, Prof Çağrı Erhan, member of the Presidential Security and Foreign Policy Council and Chief Advisor to the President, explained that the initial relations between the two countries began in the early 1800s in the field of maritime affairs.
Erhan emphasised that in addition to the historical ties, current relations between Türkiye and the United States continue in areas such as defence and education. He also pointed to the bilateral goal of reaching an annual trade volume of 100 billion dollars.
Erhan noted that a new era in global relations began with President Donald Trump, highlighting Türkiye’s strategic position in the current geopolitical context. Within this framework, he expressed hope that the strategic relations between the two countries in the areas of trade, defence, and socio-cultural cooperation would be further strengthened.
Assoc Prof Çağatay Özdemir, the Presidency’s Deputy Head of Communications, also shed light on developments in Türkiye-US relations, particularly in the post-World War II and Cold War periods.
Özdemir stated, “We are in a period of transformation in the international system. In this era where power dynamics are being reshaped, it has become essential for strategic partnerships to embody both historical depth and adaptability. The alliance between Türkiye and the United States has successfully adapted to the post-Cold War order and has continued to maintain cohesion in the face of new challenges.”
Pointing to the long-term economic developments between Türkiye and the United States, Özdemir cited Turkish Airlines’ direct flights to 14 different destinations in the US as an example of a “soft power practice”.
Prof Kılıç Buğra Kanat, Member of the Presidential Security and Foreign Policy Council and Researcher-Author at SETA, stated that Turkish-American relations have always been exciting with their narratives and storylines, saying, “When you look at the pace and complexity of the relations over time, it sometimes feels like a roller coaster ride at an amusement park.”
Kanat emphasised Turkish soldiers’ gallantry in NATO and the Korean War and remarked that relations between the two countries had ups and downs in the post-Cold War era. He used the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict as an example, saying, “However, in every crisis in the region, Türkiye’s focus and strategic importance suddenly emerge once again.”
Kanat expressed his belief that Türkiye will see favourable advancements in new dimensions with the USA in the defence sector, attributing this to the substantial measures undertaken by Türkiye in defence. He stated, “This domain served as both a fundamental pillar and a fault line. Consequently, we are approaching an era in which the formation of new alliances and systems will be increasingly vital for both Türkiye and the USA in the defence sector.”
“I am confident that we have promising days ahead in our relations”
During the second session of the panel, “Common Challenges, Shared Responsibilities: The Türkiye-US Partnership,” moderated by Burak Akçeşme, the Chicago Communications Attaché of the Directorate of Communications, Michael Scott Doran, Director of the Hudson Institute’s Centre for Middle East Peace and Security, addressed the relations between the two countries in Syria.
Doran, in reference to the recent meeting between the leaders of the USA, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, in which President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan participated via phone, said, “I think it speaks volumes. Trump will analyse Syria’s economy through the lens of Saudi Arabia while assessing security from Ankara’s viewpoint.”
Doran expressed confidence that the problem of US assistance for terrorist groups in Syria will be resolved during the Trump administration, saying, “I am confident that we have promising days ahead in our relations, but we need to overcome that obstacle.”
The President of the Global Policy Institute (GPI), Prof Paolo von Scirach, also recalled the S-400 and F-35 conflicts that transpired in earlier years between the two nations, the repercussions of which persist, including the support provided by the US to the Fetullahist Terrorist Organisation (FETÖ).
Schirarch said, “But the good news is that now the atmosphere has completely changed. In the context of ongoing developments in the region, such as the Ukraine-Russia War, Turkish diplomacy has attained notable victories in fulfilling a positive role and demonstrating crisis resolution capabilities. Türkiye has done its best to mediate between Ukraine and Russia practically from the start.”
Finally, Jennifer Miel, Executive Director of the US Chamber of Commerce’s US-Türkiye Business Council, stated that the two countries should continue collaborating to address the region’s current challenges, which would benefit both parties’ commercial cooperation and prosperity.
Miel stated that Turkish and American companies have made thousands of mutual investments worth billions of dollars and created hundreds of thousands of new jobs, emphasising that resolving the thorny issues between Türkiye and the United States, such as the S-400 sanctions and the F-35 aircraft programme, would benefit both countries.
Following the panel discussions, the speakers and guests visited the “Values of Türkiye” exhibition, which was on display on the ground floor of the Türkevi Centre.