At a New York panel held during UN General Assembly week, Turkish and American officials celebrated a century of diplomatic ties. the discussion emphasized that the partnership extends beyond military cooperation, anchored by NATO and shared strategic interests.
Tracing diplomatic roots to the 1830s Ottoman era
The relationship between Türkiye and the United States is far older than the current centennial milestone. As Cagri Erhan, deputy chair of the Presidential Council for Security and Foreign Policy, noted during the New York panel, bilateral ties can be traced back to the 1830s during the Ottoman Empire. erhan highlighted a significant historical nuance: although the United States entered World War I, it notably never declared war on the Ottoman Empire.
This deep historical foundation provides a backdrop for the modern partnership.. The event, organized by Türkiye's Communications Directorate, used a photo exhibition to showcase high-level contacts and presidential visits that have defined the last 100 years of engagement between the two nations.
Akif Cagatay Kilic on Türkiye’s role as a regional stabilizer
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s chief foreign policy adviser, Akif Cagatay Kilic, argued that the bilateral relationship is fundamentally different from many other global partnerships. while acknowledging that NATO remains a "key pillar" of the connection , Kilic emphasized that the bond is not strictly limited to military cooperation.
According to the report, Kilic pointed to the dramatic shifts in the regional landscape since the 1950s and 1960s. He asserted that while the geography has changed,Türkiye remains a "constant factor" and a "pivotal point" for maintaining stability in its surrounding region.
Defining a 'shared world' against China, Russia, and Iran
Former US Ambassador James Jeffrey suggested that the US-Türkiye relationship is defined by a shared adherence to a specific global order. Jeffrey identified key institutions—including the IMF, the World Bank, the OECD, and NATO—as the framework of this shared world. he contrasted this alignment with the geopolitical positions of China, Russia, and Iran, noting that these nations do not inhabit the same institutional reality.
Jeffrey further claimed that the two nations complement one another, noting that Ankara possesses the influence to impact much of Europe and the Mediterranean. He described the level of coordination between the two capitals as "extraordinary," particularly in how they manage disagreements within established constraints.
The limits of 'extraordinary coordination' during disagreements
While the panel focused on unity, several questions remain regarding the durability of this partnership. The report mentions that the two nations often disagree, though they aim to keep such disputes within certain bounds. However, the specific nature of current or upcoming points of friction between Washington and Ankara was not detailed in the discussion.
It remains to be seen whether the "extraordinary coordination" described by James Jeffrey can withstand the intensifying competition between Western institutions and the China-Russia-Iran axis. Furthermore, as the centennial approaches, the specific "global challenges" that officials say must be addressed together were not explicitly listed during the panel.
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