Communications Director Duran: "The direct dialogue between President Erdoğan and President Trump has created room for maneuver on issues that have remained unresolved for years"

Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran spoke at the panel titled "Turkish-American Relations as We Enter the 100th Year," organized by the Directorate of Communications in New York, USA, on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 81st United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

Duran stated, "Turkey and the US are approaching the 100th anniversary of their diplomatic relations at a critical historical turning point.

We are going through a period in which the international system is being reshaped. The year 2027 will be a period in which both countries will redefine their roles in the international system. This 100th year is clearly a strategic turning point for both countries. In 1927, our relations were born within a new international system. Today, a hundred years later, the existing international order is once again going through a restructuring process," he said.

"Power is being distributed more widely among multiple centers"

Referring to the world order in 1927, Duran said, "A new system of states was taking shape following the First World War. The United States was steadily increasing its power among these states. The world was witnessing the collapse of empires and a new international order that had not yet been fully institutionalized. Today, we are once again facing a transition period in the international order. Power is being distributed more widely among multiple centers. Regional actors are gaining greater strategic autonomy. While geopolitical competition is deepening, economic interdependence continues. New power politics have emerged alongside new issues based on technological developments. Therefore, our countries must manage all these systemic, regional, and technological transformations simultaneously," he said.

Pointing out that the history of Turkey-US relations is, in many respects, a summary of world history over the last century, Duran said, "The strength of the relationship between our countries does not come from an uninterrupted and linear line of progress. This strength stems from the relationship's capacity to functionally adapt to changing conditions. It comes from its ability to change its function as conditions change," he said.

"The post-war period radically changed the dynamics of Turkey-US relations"

Reminding that the first priorities of the Republic of Turkey at the time of its founding were diplomatic normalization and the recognition of sovereignty, Duran said, "At that stage, a military alliance was not on the agenda. The real strategic transformation for the two countries took place after the Second World War. The post-war period radically changed the dynamics of Turkey-US relations. The relationship shifted from diplomatic contact toward strategic integration. From this point on, Turkey became a part of the European and Mediterranean security environment. Turkey's decision to send troops to the Korean War and its accession to NATO in 1952 were among the most visible stages of this transformation. Turkey's military capabilities were defined as a fundamental element for the future of the Alliance, as stated in NATO's own historical documents," he said.

"Alliances are not always built on complete consensus"

Pointing out that the US and Turkey faced common strategic threats during the Cold War, Duran said, "However, a common threat did not mean identical interests. Issues such as Cyprus and crises in defense relations led to serious disagreements. However, alliances are not always built on complete consensus. Successful alliances have mechanisms to manage differences. In this way, they prevent disagreements from consuming the entire alliance. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the relationship could have lost its importance. Instead, the relationship gained new functions. The Balkans, the Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Black Sea, counter-terrorism, and energy security became part of the agenda," he said.

"The direct dialogue between President Erdoğan and President Trump has created room for maneuver on issues that have remained unresolved for years"

Emphasizing that the most remarkable feature of the last century is that the US and Turkey have continued to talk to each other even during the most difficult periods, even if they did not always agree, Duran said, "This is an important part of the strategic resilience of Turkey-US relations. Over time, our areas of common cooperation have created a habit of institutional dialogue. This dialogue is extremely important for the future of the relations. As we have seen throughout the history of bilateral relations, strong political will and dialogue between leaders make it much easier for countries to understand each other's priorities. Today, the direct dialogue between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Donald Trump has created room for maneuver on issues that have remained unresolved for years. Their direct contact has helped create a more constructive atmosphere and has once again demonstrated the importance of high-level political leadership in Turkish-American relations," he stated.

"Strategic relations should not only limit disputes, but also generate opportunities"

Stating that Syria, counter-terrorism, and defense issues will continue to be important in the relations between the two countries, Duran said, "However, a strategic partnership must also create new areas of cooperation. The defense industry, energy, trade, investment, advanced technology, artificial intelligence, academia, science, supply chains, and critical minerals should be the sectors of the second century. Strategic relations should not only limit disputes, but also generate opportunities," he said.

Expressing that modern alliances cannot be built on dependency, Duran said, "Turkey's defense production, military capabilities, diplomatic reach, energy and transport connections, and crisis management capacity should be seen as assets. The Ankara NATO Summit reinforced this logic with its emphasis on stronger defense production. This means Allies taking more responsibility and deeper industrial cooperation," he said.

Stating that the second century of Turkey-US relations cannot be built only by governments, and that it is also a relationship between societies, Duran said, "The Turkish community in the United States has served as a lasting bridge between our countries. From Ahmet Ertegün, the founder of Atlantic Records, to our Nobel laureate scientist Aziz Sancar, members of our community have made lasting contributions to American science, culture, and art. The Fulbright Program, established with an agreement signed in 1949, has brought together thousands of Turkish and American students and academics for more than 70 years. Universities, businesses, students, scientists, diasporas, cultural institutions, media, and research centers provide the social foundation that makes strategic relations durable. Therefore, our 100th year should serve three purposes: Preserving the memory of the past, connecting our societies today, and preparing the generation that will carry this relationship into the next century," he said.

Announcing that the Directorate of Communications is planning a wide range of cultural and diplomatic events throughout 2027, Duran announced that these events will include panels bringing together participants from both countries, a high-level 100th-anniversary gala, friendship concerts, photo exhibitions, digital archives, traveling exhibitions and documentaries, Turkey-US friendship matches, academic symposiums, publications, and press tours to be organized in Turkey for American journalists. Duran expressed their hope to celebrate the friendship and cooperation between Turkey and the US through these events.

News Source: 12punto