On February 23, the EastWest Institute hosted Ambassador Burak Akçapar, Director General for Policy Planning at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, for a frank and informative discussion on the country’s growing political and economic roles, as well as numerous challenges and current events unfolding in the region.

Akçapar, who served in Washington D.C. from 2004 to 2008, also spoke at length about the currently strained relations between his country and the United States, Turkey’s place within NATO, as well as its relationships with countries like China and India.

Discussion also focused on the Turkey’s engagement with Syria and ongoing conflict with the YPG militia, as well as its role as the largest host country of registered Syrian refugees at over 3.5 million.

EWI Chief Operating Officer Dr. William J. Parker III moderated the discussion.

Photo: "Turkish flag (2006-10-248)" (CC BY 2.0) by Argenberg