AHI Highlights Key Takeaways from Atlantic Council Forum on U.S.–Turkey Defense Relations Ahead of NATO Summit

                                                                                                                                                                      No. 28

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) highlighted key takeaways from an April 7 virtual forum hosted by the Atlantic Council on U.S.–Turkey defense relations and the upcoming NATO summit.

The discussion framed Turkey as a strategically important NATO ally, emphasizing its geographic position, military capacity, and expanding domestic defense industry. Panelists pointed to Turkey’s potential role in shaping NATO priorities as the Alliance looks toward its next summit. In doing so, the forum largely advanced a favorable view of Turkey while downplaying or omitting critical issues that continue to strain U.S.–Turkey relations and undermine regional stability.

Panelists noted that Turkey’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system, triggering CAATSA sanctions and removal from the F-35 program, remains unresolved. While one panelist proposed a “hybrid Crete model,” referencing Greece’s S-300 system under NATO oversight, other participants questioned the viability of such an approach, citing political and defense-industrial constraints.

Panelists also characterized U.S.–Turkey relations as improving and increasingly transactional, citing cooperation in defense and regional security. Turkey’s defense sector, now producing a significant share of its own systems, was highlighted as a growing area of capability.

AHI notes, however, that the discussion failed to address key dimensions of the regional security environment. Greek-Turkish tensions were not examined, despite their direct relevance to NATO cohesion and Eastern Mediterranean stability. Israel, an essential U.S. partner and participant in the 3+1 framework, received only passing mention.

AHI will continue to monitor developments related to U.S.–Turkey relations and their implications for NATO and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Panelists

Panelists included Jenna Ben-Yehuda, executive vice president of the Atlantic Council; Can Kasapoğlu, nonresident senior fellow at the Hudson Institute; Rich Outzen, nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Turkey Program; Yavuz Türkgenci, a retired Turkish Armed Forces general; Valbona Zeneli, nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Transatlantic Security Initiative; Defne Arslan, senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Turkey Program; and Matthew Bryza, former U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan and former deputy assistant secretary of state for Europe and Eurasia.