US Turkey Relations

Today, Roll Call recognized TCA as the fourth largest sponsor of Congressional travel in 2012 following the American Israel Education Foundation, The Aspen Institute and the Congressional Institute. Since 2009, TCA has sponsored 15 trips and taken nearly 150 members of Congress and senior staff to Turkey and its neighboring countries to educate Congress on the importance of a vibrant U.S.-Turkey relationship and to bring balanced dialogue to key issues on Capitol Hill. read more

The US should pursue closer partnerships with four powerful democracies — Brazil, India, Indonesia and Turkey, according to a report released on November 27 by the German Marshall Fund of the US (GMF) and the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). read more

The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi Tuesday evening, which led to the death of U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. We convey our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. read more

Much has been made recently of the unique and ascendant role Turkey is playing in international relations. As a member of NATO, a diplomatic power broker in the Middle East and a rising international economic player, Turkey has become a novelty even in an era of unprecedented global cooperation and political interdependence. read more

As I do every year, today I will visit the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and Arlington National Cemetery to pay my respects to the legion of the dead and their comrades from the United States and 20 other United Nations member countries who selflessly fought to save the South Koreans from the totalitarian threat of North Korean occupation 59 years ago. Despite a 1953 cease-fire, the two countries have yet to sign a formal peace treaty. read more

President Barack Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met last Tuesday at the G-20 Summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, to discuss regional developments and bilateral relations with a focus on Syria and Iraq. read more

In early 2001, as Bush-administration officials were formulating a new global strategy, an Israeli diplomat met in Washington with a top Pentagon official who explained that Washington’s policy in the Middle East would “not be very complicated.” On one side would be the “good guys,” including Israel, Turkey and India. On the other side were the “baddies,” led by Iraq, Iran and Syria. The Israeli diplomat was asked to travel to Ankara to try selling the new “strategy" to officials there. read more

On March 14, TCA hosted a luncheon discussion on the “US-Turkey Alliance and Israeli-Turkish Relations” featuring Ambassador Ozdem Sanberk (R), Former Undersecretary of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Member of the UN Panel of Inquiry on the Gaza Flotilla Incident, and Mr. Memduh Karakullukcu, Vice Chair and President of the Istanbul-based Global Relations Forum. read more

On February 1, the Turkish Coalition of America sent letters to Rupert Murdoch, Chairman of the News Corporation, and Roger Ailes, Chairman of News Corporation-owned FOX News, to register its concern with anti-Turkey sentiments voiced on FOX News during the January 17 Republican presidential debate.

read more

January 9, 2012, Istanbul – On January 7, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) visited Turkey for the first time, and met, also for the first time, her Turkish relatives in an Istanbul reunion organized by the Turkish Coalition of America. read more

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu's visit to Washington this week comes at a pivotal time in U.S.-Turkish relations. The importance of Turkey to the U.S. administration can be traced by the number of high-level visits by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in July 2011, Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta and Vice President Joe Biden in December 2011 while this is Davutoğlu's first reciprocal visit since his last trip to Washington in November 2010. While there is a sense of deja vu given the frenetic pace of meetings, speaking and awards including his selection for the second time to Foreign Policy's top 100 Global Thinkers list for "imagining a new role for Turkey in the world - and making it happen," there is much that has changed since the last time Dr. Minister came to Washington. read more

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton issued the following statement on October 27, marking the 88th Anniversary of the Turkish Republic: On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Turkey as you celebrate the 88th anniversary of the founding of the modern Republic of Turkey this October 29. Sadly, this national holiday comes at a time of great sorrow for the Turkish people after the loss of life and devastation caused by the recent earthquake. read more

On November 2, an international conference on Afghanistan was held in Istanbul, Turkey. Hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, the Istanbul Conference was attended by leaders from the broader region and Europe, as well as senior representatives from NATO, the United Nations, the EU and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). read more

The Turkish Coalition of America applauds the vote by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to support the continued service of Ambassador Francis Ricciardone as the United States Ambassador to Turkey. Ambassador Ricciardone has worked to strengthen one of America’s most important bilateral partnerships," said G.Lincoln McCurdy, TCA president. read more

The world’s fastest growing economy is not China, not India, not Brazil, but Turkey. Yes, Turkey, with GDP expanding by a staggering 11 percent in the first quarter of 2011. This actually comes as no surprise to Turkey observers. The economy has made great strides in recent years, growing by more than $500 billion since 2001, and by nearly 9 percent in 2010.i And Ankara is not being complacent. The Turkish Government has set the ambitious economic goals of becoming the 10th largest economy in the world and reaching $500 billion in exports by 2023 – the 100th anniversary of the founding of the modern Turkish republic. These positive developments present a great opportunity for the United States to increase commercial ties with a strategic partner and growing economy. read more

A letter by Republican Senators Jon Kyl of Arizona and Mark Kirk of Illinois to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta voiced objections to the stationing of a NATO missile defense radar system in Turkey. The Senators preposterously allege that Turkey is not a reliable US ally and, hence, demand that unless Turkey is completely removed from the system’s operation and its data collection and sharing, it should not be positioned in Turkey. read more

A letter by Republican Senators Jon Kyl of Arizona and Mark Kirk of Illinois to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta voiced objections to the stationing of a NATO missile defense radar system in Turkey. The Senators preposterously allege that Turkey is not a reliable US ally and, hence, demand that unless Turkey is completely removed from the system’s operation and its data collection and sharing, it should not be positioned in Turkey. The Senators further demand guarantees that data collected from the system will be shared with Israel, a non-NATO country, placing Turkey and its citizens in the cross hairs in the event of a shooting war between Israel and Iran, a risk Turkey should not have to bear. read more

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will visit Turkey on July 15-16 to participate in meetings of the fourth international contact group on Libya. During her visit, Secretary Clinton will meet with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and other top officials to discuss bilateral relations and exchange views on the conflicts in Libya and Syria. read more

On March 9, 2010, you hosted Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and Greek Orthodox Archbishop Demetrios of America to celebrate Greek Independence Day. While March 25, 1821 represents the launch of the Greek independence movement, it also marks the beginning of a horrible period for the Ottoman Muslims; in the Balkans alone 1,750,000 Ottoman... read more

December 9, 2009 - Washington, DC - A two-day working visit by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to Washington and his meeting with President Barack Obama was used by the two leaders to reiterate their mutual commitment to strengthening what was termed a “model partnership” between the two countries. read more

video in Turkish with English subtitles read more

I recently visited Turkey, where I learned much about our increasingly powerful partner. A deeper and more candid friendship with Turkey will help the United States pursue its interests and support its values around the world. read more

President Obama laid out his new Afghanistan strategy on last week by ordering an additional 30,000 US troops to the country. While the majority of the analysis in Washington has centered on the level of US forces, the President emphasized that the “burden is not ours alone to bear.” Yet the reality is that this international coalition is waning, not surging, and is in desperate need of a regional champion that can serve as a model partner for the US in Afghanistan. Obama’s ideal partner is Turkey. read more

The people of the United States join the people of Turkey in celebrating the anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey. The friendship between our nation is strong, and our alliance is enduring. More than fifty years ago, the United States and Turkey began a partnership based on shared values and mutual respect – a partnership and friendship that has deepened over the years as we have overcome many shared challenges. Turkish-Americans help to forge the bonds that join our nations in friendship, and they continue to contribute to our society, in a wide range of field including arts, athletics, education, business, medicine and science. read more

April 6, 2009, Washington, DC – Following President Obama’s speech in Turkey , Lincoln McCurdy, President of the Turkish Coalition of America, made the following statement: “President Obama’s trip to Turkey , this early in his administration, is a clear sign that the strategic relationship between the two nations has never been more cherished by both sides. Additionally, the inclusion of Turkey in the President’s trip to other European nations signals... read more

January 22, 2009/ Washington, DC - The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) congratulates President Barack Obama on assuming office. read more

The strategic relationship between the United States and Turkey—a decades-long partnership that has advanced both countries’ common interests—remains a key pillar in overall U.S. national security policy. Yet this vital alliance has suffered through serious strains in recent years, mostly due to ill will generated by the 2003 Iraq War. Today, this neglected alliance is in critical need of repair. read more

Energy and Central Asia. Today, we are focusing on the next phase of Caspian development, looking to the Caspian Basin and Iraq to help reduce Europe's dependence on Russia's energy company Gazprom, which provides 25 percent of all gas consumed in Europe. read more

Of all the confederacies of antiquity, which history has handed down to us, the Lycian and Achaean leagues, as far as there remain vestiges of them, … were … those which have best deserved, and have most liberally received, the applauding suffrages of political writers. read more

PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. Prime Minister, welcome back to the Oval Office. As usual, we had a very constructive conversation. Turkey is a strategic partner and strong ally of America. I value our friendship at the state level, at the personal level. read more

On June 28, 2007, Congressman Bud Cramer (D-AL), Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) and Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) sent the following letter to their fellow members of Congress. TCA thanks the co-signers for highlighting Turkey’s contributions to US and international efforts to fight global terrorism, secure stability and peace in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in the world. read more

I am pleased to be back at the Atlantic Council to discuss what is one of the most critical relationships for America in the world today -- the relationship between the United States and Turkey. Fred, thank you for hosting me tonight. I appreciate the invitation by Fred Kempe and the Atlantic Council Board to be here. Thank you to Henry Catto, Chairman emeritus of the Atlantic Council. Thanks to Ambassador Marc Grossman for his warm introduction. It is a pleasure to see the Ambassador of Turkey, Nabi Sensoy, the Ambassador of Armenia, Tatoul Markarian, Ambassador Mark Parris and Jim Holmes here tonight. read more

Mr. STEARNS: Mr. Speaker, the city of Patara in Turkey sports a fantastic beach that sprawls for more than 11 miles. It recently rated number one on the London Sunday Times’ list of the world’s best beaches. But Patara is worth our attention for more than sand and surf. An archeological team led by Akdeniz University Professors Fahri Isik and Havva Iskan Isik recently unearthed an ancient parliament building in Patara -- the meeting place of the first federal republic in recorded human history. read more

Lycia is a gentle peninsula that lies along the southern coast of Turkey, on the Mediterranean Sea. In addition to being one of the most scenic landscapes of Turkey, Lycia in ancient times was the home of a famous league of republics. When James Madison appealed to Lycia in 1787, it was part of the Ottoman Empire, but he was referring to this much earlier era in its history, to the Lycian civilization... read more

Turkey is a vital partner for the United States. As a predominantly Muslim country, Turkey is unique for several reasons for U.S. policymakers. Turkey is a pro-western, secular state with a thriving free-market economy that fully embraces democracy. And Turkey is a country where Islam preaches peaceful coexistence with the west, developed during thousand of years of coexistence of Turks with Christians and Jews first in Anatolia and then in Europe during the Ottoman Empire. read more

The Turks are getting cranky, and who can blame them? Since recovering from a fiscal crisis in 2001, the country has racked up one of the best growth rates in the world, and today it is the 17th largest economy. Last year the budget deficit fell to less than 1% of Gross Domestic Product, while inflation has been in single-digit territory for the past three years. read more

August 12, 2008 - There is still not one representative of Turkish origin among the 435 members of the US House of Representatives. For decisions concerning Turkey, efforts of Representative and Senators sympathetic to Turkey are needed. Democratic Representative Robert Wexler of Florida is among the Congressmen friendly to Turkey. read more

August 8, 2007 - Republican Representative Virginia Foxx of North Carolina is among the Congress members friendly to Turkey. Even more, she has blood ties with Turks because her son-in-law is a Turkish businessman, Mustafa Özdemir. She is the third woman in North Carolina history to serve in the U.S. House. She is known for her conservative values and she was also... read more

Dan Burton (R, IN): “If I lived in Turkey and if I were a Turk, I would want to get those terrorists who cross the border to blow up my family, kill my kids.” When Congressman Dan Burton, (R, IN) was preparing to go to Turkey for the first time 12 years ago, he learned that his wife had been diagnosed with cancer. He canceled the trip and did not have an opportunity to see Turkey again until last May. read more

Helsinki Commission Holds Briefing on Turkish Elections. read more

Americans should pay close attention to the news from Turkey . The August 28 election of a new president, which has provoked strong opposition from the powerful Turkish military, is a test of Turkey ’s democracy. The visit of Turkey’s energy minister to Iran earlier in August to sign energy deals, including the establishment of a joint Turkish-Iranian company to carry up to 35 billion cubic meters of Iranian natural gas via Turkey to Europe, is a test of America’s commitment to bring alternate sources of gas and oil to the world’s energy markets. read more

In the 20th century, Britain's national security came under threat from hostile nations. Today, the threat is from terrorist groups, such as al-Qa'eda, operating within failed states, seeking to fracture the world along religious lines. read more