“The Kiss of Biden” and Foreign Policy in Erdoğan’s Re-Election
![Photo credit: EYEPRESS via Reuters Connect](https://static.jstribune.com/jst-site/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/02144327/biden_n-1024x554.jpg)
Pity Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. The Turkish opposition candidate faced an impossible challenge: running for president with American lipstick on his cheek. Call it the kiss of Biden. In 2020, when Joe Biden was a candidate for president, he told the editorial board of the New York Times that he favored working with “elements of the Turkish […]
Four Reflections on Turkey After the Elections
![Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan addresses supporters following his victory in the second round of elections at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, May 28. Photo credit: REUTERS/Umit Bektas](https://static.jstribune.com/jst-site/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/02144330/erdogan_n-1024x554.jpg)
The JST asked four experts on Turkey from journalism, academia and government service for their thoughts on “whither Turkey” in the immediate aftermath of the May 28 elections. In Turkey, “It’s not the economy, stupid”Alan Makovsky The run-off elections of May 28 ended with Erdoğan winning roughly 52% of the vote, essentially as was expected […]
Defense Minister Gantz Goes to Ankara
![Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz meets with Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar in Ankara. Photo credit: REUTERS](https://static.jstribune.com/jst-site/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/02144529/turkey2_narrow-1024x554.jpeg)
The ongoing rapprochement between Israel and Turkey was reinforced recently on October 27 by the visit to Ankara of Israel’s Defense Minister Gantz, following the groundbreaking and highly symbolic official visit of President Yitzhak Herzog in March. Gantz met with his counterpart, Hulusi Akar, considered to be one of the mainstays of the AKP government, […]
Turkey’s Hinge Election
![Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan (Right), Leader of Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu (Left). Photos credit: via REUTERS, REUTERS](https://static.jstribune.com/jst-site/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/02144532/turkey_narrow-1024x554.jpeg)
In 2023, Turkey will hold a hinge election. An opposition victory would mean a more democratic, pro-Western Turkey—and a Turkey that keeps its distance from Islamist groups. An Erdoğan victory would solidify his hold on the nation and most likely mean diminished freedoms and continued Turkish efforts to balance East and West, as well as […]
Turkey, Israel, and the Road to Capitol Hill
![Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid meet in Ankara. Photo credit: REUTERS](https://static.jstribune.com/jst-site/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/02144636/turkey_narrow-1024x554.jpeg)
On August 17, 2022 when the governments of Turkey and Israel announced their agreement to restore full diplomatic relations, Washington voiced its approval and support. But it was not the Biden administration that promoted the reconciliation between the two states.