Join the Atlantic Council on Wednesday, May 31 at 9:30 a.m. US ET / 16:30 Turkey time as we discuss what the results of the election mean for the future of US-Turkey relations and Turkey’s transatlantic relationship.
On May 28, Turkey heads back to the polls to cast the deciding vote in the second round of presidential elections, the first run-off election in the country’s history. Two weeks earlier, on May 14, the Turkish people delivered President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s People’s Alliance a victory in parliament, where they will continue to hold a majority, albeit with a smaller margin. In the presidential vote, while defying many pre-election polls and predictions to open a lead of 4.5 percent on main opposition candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu of the Nation Alliance, Erdoğan fell 0.5 percent short of avoiding a run-off.
Turkey’s elections have been described as the most important elections of 2023 in recognition of Turkey’s increasing influence in regional and global affairs, from Ukraine to the Mediterranean, Middle East and North Africa.
With Turkey’s election season winding to a close, now is the time to revisit United States-Turkey relations and the future of Turkish foreign policy as it relates to topics of importance to transatlantic partners including NATO expansion, Turkey’s role in the Ukraine War, defense ties and Syria.