This new year finds Washington in a bind over how to effectively engage with Turkey, a trend we’ve documented for at least half a decade. The tug of war over Sweden and F16s, and Ankara’s stance on the Arab-Israeli conflict, are the latest examples of this. Expert Sinan Ciddi joins Thanos Davelis to break down why a tough stance toward Ankara - setting clear parameters and enforcing them relentlessly - is the only way to defend US regional interests and stop Erdogan’s mercurial and manipulative policies.

Sinan Ciddi is a non-resident senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where he contributes to FDD’s Turkey Program and Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP). He is also an Associate Professor of Security Studies at the Command and Staff College-Marine Corps University and Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

Read Sinan Ciddi’s latest here:

The United States Needs to Play Hardball With Turkey

Erdogan’s electoral strategy for 2024: Vilify Israel

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

Iran, Russia decry Houthi strikes; Erdogan: US, UK want to turn Red Sea into bloodbath

Erdogan accuses U.S., Britain of trying to turn Red Sea into 'sea of blood'

Greek PM faces fierce opposition over pledge to legalise gay marriage

Greek prime minister says legislation allowing same-sex marriage will be presented soon

Samaras rejects idea that ND MPs opposed to same-sex marriage abstain from vote