SETA DC

SETA DC

Listen to prominent experts on US foreign policy, US-Turkey relations, and the Middle East.

  1. U.S. Withdrawal from Syria and What Comes Next

    24/04/2025

    U.S. Withdrawal from Syria and What Comes Next

    The Trump administration has begun a substantial drawdown of its military footprint in Syria, shuttering three of its eight operational bases and reducing troop levels. This development follows the emergence of a post-Assad administration in Damascus. The move represents partial progress toward a long-held goal of President Trump to scale back U.S. involvement in Syria, underscoring his ongoing effort to redefine America’s global role. While the prospect of withdrawal has circulated in Washington policy circles for years, its implementation remains a source of contention. It is also a sore point in Turkish-American relations, as it relates to the U.S. support for the YPG. Key questions over the potential withdrawal’s strategic implications remain: How will such a recalibration impact the U.S.-Türkiye relations? How will regional actors respond to the reduced American footprint in Syria? What lies ahead for Syria in terms of its security and territorial unity? How might key players like Israel interpret and react to Washington’s shifting posture?   The SETA Foundation at Washington, D.C. is pleased to host a timely panel discussion to examine these critical questions. The discussion will explore how the Trump administration’s recalibration may reshape U.S. policy toward Syria and its neighbors, impact bilateral relations with Türkiye, and influence the balance of power in the region.   Speakers Mike Doran, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East, Hudson Institute   Rich Outzen, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC   Moderator Kilic Kanat, Research Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

    58 phút
  2. Mapping the Fault Lines in Turkey-US Relations

    19/06/2024

    Mapping the Fault Lines in Turkey-US Relations

    For the last seventy years, experts have tried to define the nature of Turkey’s partnership with the US. While Turkish-US relations have always been susceptible to different crises, they enjoyed a brief “golden era” in the 1950s. This book argues that a false nostalgia about that period – when the strategic interests of two countries fully converged – has distorted analyses by scholars and policymakers ever since. To provide a more accurate assessment, this book look at the patterns of crises between the two countries throughout history and how these relate to the current points of tension in Turkish-American relations today. It coins a new conceptual framework to understand the Turkey-US partnership: the “vulnerable partnership”. The book outlines the key causes of this vulnerability, showing that for the last 70 years, there have been recurring frictions and faultlines that have been repeated across different political periods. These especially involve the US congress, public opinion, Russia, and crises in the Middle East. Based on journalistic, archival and scholarly sources, the topic of the book is at the intersection foreign policy studies, Middle East politics, the history of Turkish-American relations, and foreign policy making. The SETA Foundation at Washington, DC is pleased to host a book event to discuss Kilic Bugra Kanat’s new book, Mapping the Fault Lines in Turkey-US Relations.   Speaker: Kilic Kanat, Research Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC   Moderator: Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington, DC

    49 phút
  3. The US Policy on Israel in an Election Year

    28/03/2024

    The US Policy on Israel in an Election Year

    The Biden administration’s unwavering support for Israel’s operations in Gaza has created intense criticism domestically and abroad. Democratic Party’s primary results from key states like Michigan and Minnesota indicated a substantial number of “uncommitted” votes against administration’s refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire. Recent statements from US leaders signaled a growing discomfort with Israel’s strategy to accomplish its self-declared goal of eradicating Hamas. President Biden, who had previously cast doubt on the reported number of casualties in Gaza, drew a “red line” saying he could not accept 30,000 more Palestinians dead. Similarly, Senator Schumer openly criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu, calling for a change in Israeli leadership. Yet, Netanyahu remains defiant, dismissing both leaders’ concerns and asserting that his policies enjoy broad support within Israel. As Israel’s military operations continue to escalate, with Rafah notably not spared from the conflict, the humanitarian situation becomes extremely dire. It is not clear what costs the administration might be willing to impose on Tel Aviv in an election year. As the international community appears unable to change the dynamics on the ground, what are the policy options for the US? Are we witnessing a shift in US policy towards Israel? Can the US pressure halt the humanitarian crisis? The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to convene a panel of experts to shed light on the evolution of US policy on Israel’s war in Gaza.   Speakers Daniel Levy, President, US/Middle East Project, European Council on Foreign Relations Lara Friedman, President, the Foundation for Middle East Peace Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, the SETA Foundation at Washington DC  Moderator Kilic Kanat, Research Director, the SETA Foundation at Washington DC

    59 phút
  4. The F-16 Deal’s Implications for US-Türkiye Relations

    01/02/2024

    The F-16 Deal’s Implications for US-Türkiye Relations

    The United States has approved the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Türkiye after Turkish Grand National Assembly ratified Sweden’s NATO membership. The State Department notified U.S. Congress of the $23bn agreement to sell the aircraft, modernization kits, and other equipment. These developments indicate that we are nearing the conclusion of the long-debated F-16 issue which should have been a rather routine and less politicized arms deal between the two NATO allies. Many observers regard the sale of F-16s a glimmer of hope for improving bilateral ties. The sale might serve as an opportunity to begin a new chapter by addressing mutual distrust and promoting cooperation between the two countries. What are the remaining steps for the completion of the sale? What is the importance of the F-16s for Türkiye’s security needs? What are the implications of the F-16 deal’s for the U.S.-Türkiye defense relations, and how does this influence their broader partnership? Will this momentum spillover to other issue areas where significant differences remain? The SETA Foundation in Washington DC is pleased to convene a panel of experts to discuss the F-16 deal’s implications for the U.S.-Türkiye relations. Speakers Burhanettin Duran, General Coordinator, The SETA Foundation Mustafa Kibaroglu, Professor of International Relations, MEF University Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC Moderator Kilic Kanat, Research Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

    58 phút

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Listen to prominent experts on US foreign policy, US-Turkey relations, and the Middle East.