Talk on Turkey with Katerina Dalacoura: Foreign Policy Implications of the Presidential Referendum

There are fundamental differences/disputes between Turkey and US over Syrian Kurds. The belief in the US is that the YPG is the best ally against ISIS and this is primary concern for the US. As for Turkey, this organisation is a sister organisation of the PKK therefore problematic.

Talk on Turkey with Katerina Dalacoura: Foreign Policy Implications of the Presidential Referendum

Talk on Turkey with Katerina Dalacoura: Foreign Policy Implications of the Presidential Referendum

Overview

1:40
There have been two important developments since the referendum. First is that President Trump congratulated Erdoğan on the result although it is very odd thing for a constitutional referendum to elicit such a response. The second one is that in May there will be a direct meeting of the two Presidents.
2:10
There are important indications coming from Washington that they are prepared to continue attempting to improve relations with Turkey. They are ready to accept the results of the referendum and to do business with Erdoğan.
2:40
There are fundamental differences/disputes between Turkey and US over Syrian Kurds. The belief in the US is that the YPG is the best ally against ISIS and this is primary concern for the US. As for Turkey, this organisation is a sister organisation of the PKK therefore problematic.
4:50
Regarding the Turkey-Russia relations, what we have seen immediately after the referendum is President Putin congratulating President Erdoğan. This is, similar to the case of president Trump, indicating that Russians are ready to do business with Erdoğan too.
6:45
Regarding the relations with the EU countries,there would be less  acrimony in the following months. I think there will be definitely a toning down in the propaganda/rhetoric that has been coming out from Ankara.
9:45
The results of the referendum mean continuity more than change in Turkey’s foreign relations that would be the case for Syria and other neighbouring countries.
11:10
Regarding the Kurdish question, we saw in the referendum that there is a big split in the Southeast. We also saw contradictory promises such as greatest rights even autonomy for the Kurds.

About the Speaker

Dr Katerina Dalacoura

Associate Professor in International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Dr Katerina Dalacoura's research interests include international democracy and human rights norms and Islamism in the Middle East, with special reference to Turkey and Egypt; aspects of Western policy in the Middle East; the international politics of culture and religion, with particular reference to Islam.

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