The U.S. Presidential Elections: Implications for the Future of Turkish-American Relations?

Speakers

• Dr. Ian Lesser, Vice President and Executive Director, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
• Dr. Gonul Tol, Executive Director, Turkish Studies Center, Middle East Institute
• Ozgur Unluhisarcikli, Director, Ankara Office, The German Marshall Fund of the United States

Moderator 

• Dr. Kadri Tastan, GMF-TOBB Senior Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States

While U.S.-Turkey relations have come to the brink of collapse on multiple occasions during the past few years, the personal relationship between President Trump and President Erdoğan have saved it from rolling over the cliff. Thus, the outcome of the U.S. presidential election, taking place in less than two weeks, will be highly consequential for future ties between the two allies. Will a second term for President Trump mean more of the same in U.S.-Turkey relations, or will Trump being a lame duck president change the dynamics significantly? The distrust between President Erdoğan and presidential nominee Joe Biden is hard to overlook. Would Biden’s presidency mean a further deterioration of U.S.-Turkey relationship or could Biden prove to be adept at improving the relationship with President Erdoğan?

Please join us for a debate on what the U.S. Presidential elections could mean for U.S.-Turkey relations.

If you have any questions, please contact Annika Vollmer at [email protected].