Publications Archive
The New Turkish Lexicon November 03, 2009 / Ian Lesser
Overtures toward Tehran, Damascus, Baghdad, the Kurdish regional government, and Turkey's own Kurds have contributed to the perception of a "Turkish moment," in which new ground is being broken on virtually a daily basis. Turkey's leadership seems unconcerned by the potential risks of dilution and overstretch, and so far, there has been little to check Ankara's momentum.
The new look in Turkish policy will compel Turkey and its transatlantic partners to think in new ways about what is "strategic," what is "tactical," and the implications of an increasingly ambitious, affinity-based approach to regional relationships. This will be the critical backdrop for Prime Minister Erdoðan's planned visit to Washington in December, where Iran is sure to be at the top of the agenda.



