U.S.-Turkey Relations: Independent Task Force Report

Turkey has long been an important, if underappreciated and poorly understood, American ally. The remarkable changes the country has undergone over the past decade --economically, politically, and religiously --have produced new interest and debate about Turkey's future and its relations with the West, in particular with the United States.

Today, Turkey is an influential actor in the Middle East and North Africa. It plays important roles in Afghanistan and Pakistan, is deepening its ties with Russia, and is active in Central Asia. Ankara is also expanding its presence in other parts of Africa and in Latin America, following the lead of Turkish business professionals who have invested in those regions.

This Task Force Report examines a broad range of issues related to Turkish domestic politics, the country's economic development, ongoing geopolitical changes in Turkey's neighborhood, and Washington's present approach to Ankara. The report offers a series of recommendations for how the United States can work with Turkey to develop complementary policies to advance mutual interests.