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With the presidential election in the United States only days away, Turkey is watching the vote closely. While Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan enjoyed a close working relationship with Donald Trump when he was president, analysts warn that a second term for Trump wouldn't come without risks for Ankara. Erdogan has avoided commenting on the US election, but Ankara sees the outcome of the 5 November vote as key for Turkish-US relations.Each of the contenders, Vice-President Kamala Harris and Trump, are expected to take significantly different approaches to Turkey's long-time leader."During the past Trump presidency, the political relationship at the highest level between Erdogan and Trump was a strong one," says Sinan Ulgen, head of the Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies, an Istanbul think tank.Ties with President Joe Biden have been notably less friendly, however, if Harris were to win the relationship with Erdogan is likely to be a much more shallow one, Ulgen believes.Face-to-face timeErdogan met Trump nine times during his 2017-21 presidency, including on a state visit to Washington.In contrast, he met Biden only briefly on the sidelines of international summits, with US-Turkish relations mainly conducted at foreign-minister level."Erdogan has been in power for more than 20 years and Biden is the only US president who has refused to meet him in an official capacity, either in the US capital or in the Turkish capital," says international relations professor Serhat Guvenc of Istanbul's Kadir Has University."For Erdogan, leader-to-leader talks are key to achieving his goals. And probably, he thinks deep down that he can sort out many things through personal contact, connections or personal engagement."Such interaction, especially with the most powerful person in the world, is also seen as vital to Erdogan's status at home."It's very important for his domestic standing and legitimacy," says Asli Aydintasbas, a political commentator and visiting fellow at the Washington-based Brookings Institution."He has built a personalised system but also convinced voters, particularly his base, that he is a consequential leader, that Turkey is rising, that he is very important, he is on par with the US president and the Russian president, that everybody is looking up to Erdogan."Turkey and Russia closer than ever despite Western sanctionsLack of chemistry?Aydintasbas questions how easy it would be for Erdogan to develop a relationship with Harris, even if she were ready to engage more directly than Biden."I cannot imagine what type of chemistry Harris and Erdogan would have. They don't come from similar backgrounds. It's difficult to imagine the two developing a very close personal relationship, to be honest," the analyst says.Erdogan has often spoken warmly of his relationship with Trump – despite the fact he got hit by sanctions during his time in the White House over the detention of an American pastor, prompting the Turkish lira to crash in 2018.Trump once even vowed to "totally destroy and obliterate" the Turkish economy over Turkey's threats to attack US-backed Syrian Kurdish forces."We have memories of the threats and sanctions," warns Murat Aslan of the pro-government Seta Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research in Ankara.Invoking the 2018 crisis, Aslan said: "Rather than words, I think deeds are important."Erdogan hopes a U-turn can salvage Turkey's floundering economyHigh-risk candidateThe Middle East is another potential sticking point.Trump is calling for more support for Israel in its wars against Hamas and Hezbollah, and analysts say differences could again emerge between the US and Turkish leaders."Trump's approach to the Middle East and the conflict between the Palestinians and Israel could actually escalate the tension in the Middle East to the extent that a regional war could be unavoidable," warns Ozgur Unluhisarcikli, who directs the German Marshall Fund's office in Ankara."So yes, a Trump presidency has many opportunities for Turkey – but at a very high risk."Meanwhile, though there has been little direct contact between Biden and Erdogan, Turkish-US relations have shown signs of improvement in recent months.With the two Nato allies increasingly cooperating and better managing their differences, Aydintasbas suggests, there are merits for Ankara to both candidates."A Kamala Harris administration would mean more continuity, but the promise of stability in Turkish-US relations," she says. "Whereas Trump is so unpredictable that it could be very good one day, very bad one day."With the Middle East war continuing to rage, Trump's unpredictability remains a risk to Ankara – but Erdogan will likely still covet the opportunity to renew his relationship with the US strongman.

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports Palestinians hold a funeral procession for a US-Turkish activist shot dead in the West Bank.

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Elton John makes first appearance since revealing limited vision After Grenfell How fire safety differs at a luxury London tower block and Margate estate Udaipur stabbing A school fight ended in murder and sparked violence in Indian city Kamala Harriss pain free campaign faces first crunch moment Thieves snatched his phone in London he tracked it to China Georgia school shooting Parental responsibility faces tough new test Man, 20, held in Canada accused of terror plot against NY Jewish centre Boeing Starliner to return to Earth without its astronauts Former Vice President Dick Cheney to vote for Kamala Harris Aysenur Ezgi Eygi UN urges inquiry into killing of US Turkish protester in West Bank

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Udaipur stabbing A school fight ended in murder and sparked violence in Indian city Thieves snatched his phone in London he tracked it to China After Grenfell How fire safety differs at a luxury London tower block and Margate estate Kamala Harriss pain free campaign faces first crunch moment Aysenur Ezgi Eygi UN urges inquiry into killing of US Turkish protester in West Bank Man, 20, held in Canada accused of terror plot against NY Jewish centre Boeing Starliner to return to Earth without its astronauts Former Vice President Dick Cheney to vote for Kamala Harris Georgia school shooting Parental responsibility faces tough new test Elton John makes first appearance since revealing limited vision

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Boeing Starliner to return to Earth without its astronauts Udaipur stabbing A school fight ended in murder and sparked violence in Indian city Elton John makes first appearance since revealing limited vision Kamala Harriss pain free campaign faces first crunch moment Aysenur Ezgi Eygi UN urges inquiry into killing of US Turkish protester in West Bank After Grenfell How fire safety differs at a luxury London tower block and Margate estate Former Vice President Dick Cheney to vote for Kamala Harris Man, 20, held in Canada accused of terror plot against NY Jewish centre Georgia school shooting Parental responsibility faces tough new test Thieves snatched his phone in London he tracked it to China

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Udaipur stabbing A school fight ended in murder and sparked violence in Indian city Boeing Starliner to return to Earth without its astronauts Thieves snatched his phone in London he tracked it to China Kamala Harriss pain free campaign faces first crunch moment Georgia school shooting Parental responsibility faces tough new test Former Vice President Dick Cheney to vote for Kamala Harris Elton John makes first appearance since revealing limited vision Man, 20, held in Canada accused of terror plot against NY Jewish centre Aysenur Ezgi Eygi UN urges inquiry into killing of US Turkish protester in West Bank After Grenfell How fire safety differs at a luxury London tower block and Margate estate

The Israel Defence Forces say it is investigating after Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was shot at a protest in Beita. Also: Starliner capsule heads home to Earth without stranded astronauts.

Donald Trump's hush money sentencing is delayed until after the election, Talks between US and Nicaragua lead to a major prisoner release, A US-Turkish dual citizen is killed by Israeli forces while attending a protest in the West Bank, Emmanual Macron names Michel Barnier as France's new prime minister, Ukraine presses the US on allowing missile strikes deep within Russia, Trump pledges an Elon Musk-led government efficiency commission if elected, Hunter Biden pleads guilty to nine tax offenses, Colt Gray and his father, Colin Gray, face charges in the Georgia school shooting, A tragic dormitory fire kills at least 17 students in Kenya, and China is banning the practice of overseas adoption of its children. Sources: verity.news

In this bulletin, a US-Turkish woman killed in West Bank, after Israeli forces opened fire; An earthquake strikes New South Wales's Hunter region; and in Tennis, Jannik Sinner becomes the first Italian man in history to reach the US Open singles final.

As Turkey's rapprochement with the United States gathers pace, the future of Turkish-purchased Russian S-400 missiles is increasingly in question. The missile deal is a potent symbol of Ankara's close ties with Moscow, but Washington is offering to sell Turkey its advanced F35 military jet for the removal of the Russian weapons. Ankara was kicked out of the jet program after it purchased Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missiles, which Washington said compromised the F-35's stealth technology.Now Turkey's purchase of the advanced F-35 military jet could be back on the agenda.Acting deputy of Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, during a visit to Istanbul last month, offered to revive the jet sale if the Russian missiles were removed.Along with the $2.5 billion (€2.3 billion) price tag for the Russian missiles, Ankara paid a heavy price militarily and economically by being expelled from the F-35 program.Founding partnerTurkey was one of the founding partners of the jet program, with Turkish companies building numerous parts for the plane.Diplomatically the missile sale created a deep divide between Turkey and its NATO partners, raising questions over its allegiance to the Western military alliance."After the purchase of the anti-aircraft missiles, which was unprecedented, some people in [President] Erdogan's cabinet also admitted this was a big mistake," says Onur Isci, a Russian affairs expert at Istanbul's Kadir Has University told RFI."Turkey's purchase of the S-400s was a very costly endeavor." The escaping Russians finding a better life in TurkeyThe S-400 missile sale was a powerful symbol of deepening Russian Turkish ties and deteriorating relations with Washington.The sale came in the aftermath of Ankara's accusations of Washington's involvement in the 2016 failed coup attempt against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.Russian President Vladimir Putin was among the first leaders to offer Erdogan support during the attempted putsch.Important symbolWhile the Russian missiles sit in a warehouse undeployed, they remain an important symbol of Erdogan's close ties to Putin, making their removal difficult for the Turkish president."The buying of the S-400 air defence system from Russia was a diplomatic catastrophe of historical magnitude," says former senior Turkish diplomat Aydin Selcen, now a regional analyst."Unfortunately, it is not possible. I am led to believe that Erdogan will walk back from that mistake ... It was an unforced error. It was an own goal, whichever metaphor you like." Turkey's bid to join EU back on the table at upcoming summitHowever, US-Turkish ties are improving with Ankara's ratification of Sweden's NATO membership and Washington's reciprocating by allowing the sale of F16 jets to Turkey.But the F16 is inferior to the F35, which neighbor and rival Greece is set to purchase as part of its military modernisation, causing alarm in Ankara."When you read Turkey's hawks, everybody is afraid that the air force balance over the Aegean is not tilting or is going to be tilting in favor of Greece," warns Soli Ozel, who teaches international relations at Istanbul's Kadir Has University. Waiting gameWhether Ankara takes up Washington's offer of F-35 jets in exchange for removing the Russian-made missiles – possibly to a Turkish ally like Azerbaijan, Qatar, or even Libya – depends on the progress of improving relations with the United States."It's very important if we see any more moves from Washington," says Yoruk Isik, a geopolitical analyst in Istanbul with the Washington-based Middle East Institute. "The F35 was the first signal in years that that was a really positive signal from Washington. Ankara is waiting to hear the continuation of that message."Erdogan's close ties with Putin have benefited Turkey in deferments on energy payments for Russian energy. The Turkish leader is predicted to be looking to Washington to pay a high price to remove the Russian weapons. "Turkey can easily renounce on S-400; it's a political decision, it's not a military necessity," said Huseyin Bagci, head of the Foreign Policy Institute, a research organisation in Ankara.  "So far, the S-400 has helped Turkey to increase the level of negotiations with NATO and the United States of America."Ankara's purchase of Russian missiles was widely seen as a diplomatic triumph for Moscow, dividing Turkey from its NATO allies.Their removal would be a similarly significant victory for Washington.

Swedish hopes of early Nato membership are fading as Turkey continues to hold up Sweden's bid as part of a standoff with the United States. In July, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson declared he had secured Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's support for Sweden's membership bid at the Nato summit in Vilnius and that ratification would follow shortly.But hopes of Sweden joining the military alliance by the end of this year have turned to dust, with ratification still not even on the Turkish parliament's agenda.Whether Turkey signs off on Sweden's membership depends on Erdogan's relationship with US President Joseph Biden."In July, at the Nato summit in Vilnius, President Biden and Erdogan agreed to reset their relations – a sequence of events, a deal and a handshake that would start with Turkey ratifying Sweden's EU accession in the parliament," explains Asli Aydintasbas of the Washington-based Brookings Institution.For Ankara, the sale of American F-16 fighter jets to Turkey is at the centre of the rapprochement with Washington.The deal has been held up over ongoing US-Turkish tensions. Washington says it has green-lit the sale, but the purchase also needs to be ratified by Congress. Continuing lack of trust between the Nato allies has led to the ongoing impasse."It's become like a chicken-and-egg story about who should act first," suggests Ozgur Unluhisarcikli of the German Marshall Fund."Now the United States is concerned that they could actually give the F-16s, and Turkey can still not ratify. And Ankara is concerned that Turkey could drop its only remaining card, and the United States may still not respond," says Unluhisarcikli. "That's the problem."Sticking pointsErdogan said this month that Turkey will only ratify Sweden's bid if Congress votes to sanction the F-16 sale, calling for the votes to be held simultaneously.However, there is strong bipartisan opposition to the arms sales in Congress over Erdogan's aggressive stance towards neighbour Greece.Erdogan has reached out to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, holding a summit this month in Athens at which both leaders pledged to improve relations. Ankara is banking on rapprochement with Greece quelling opposition in Congress.But as one diplomatic fire was put out, another erupted. Erdogan's backing for Hamas after its attacks on Israel appears to have scuppered any hopes of a breakthrough in Congress. Turkey under fire after declaring Hamas a 'liberation' groupTrump card?But the impasse may suit Erdogan's agenda. Given the importance of securing Sweden's Nato membership to Washington and its European allies, the need for Turkey's green light gives Erdogan powerful leverage."I think one of the reasons why that ratification has not happened is because Erdogan and the Turkish government want to maximise the return on that card because this is something that you can only play once," says Sinan Ulgen of the Istanbul-based Edam think tank."What sort of leverage this card is going to give to Ankara is not a simple question to answer," says Ulgen. "It may be that, for instance, that Ankara believes that the fact that it still holds the card protects it against some of the harsh rhetoric that Turkey's partners in the West may have on Turkey's policy towards Hamas – the pressure that these governments may want to bring on Ankara regarding the current rhetoric on Hamas."So indeed, that may be the reason Turkey is holding on to that card." Erdogan weighs benefits of friendlier ties with Turkey's Western alliesWith Congress yet to schedule a vote on sanctioning the military sale to Turkey and the Turkish parliament yet to put ratification of Sweden's Nato membership on its agenda, there is no end in sight to the impasse.Analyst Aydintasbas suggests Ankara could be already eyeing American presidential elections next year and looking to the return of Donald Trump, with whom Erdogan had good relations."It was Erdogan who started trying to see if he could [drag out Swedish ratification] if he could get more. Maybe on some level, they're also thinking the Trump administration could come to power," she said.

On Wednesday the Supreme Court ruled that the Turkish state-owned Halkbank remains subject to criminal prosecution in US courts for fraud, money laundering, and sanctions offenses related to the bank's alleged participation “in a multibillion-dollar scheme to evade US sanctions on Iran.” The case has strained US-Turkish relations. Jonathan Schanzer, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies' Senior Vice President for Research with an expertise on terror financing, joins Thanos Davelis to look into this Supreme Court decision, discuss what it could mean for Turkey's President Erdogan, and explain why it sends a strong message to illicit actors that the US justice system cannot and will not shield them.Read FDD's analysis with expert commentary from Jonathan Schanzer: Supreme Court Allows Iran Sanctions-Evasion Case Against Turkish Bank to ProceedYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:US Supreme Court gives Turkey's Halkbank another chance to avoid chargesIn Prosecution of Turkish Bank, the Supreme Court Issues a Mixed RulingEU lawmakers greenlight migration plan, set clock tickingEU lawmakers endorse pact to revise migration rulesMinistry publishes commission report on Tempe rail disaster

One of the biggest hurdles in US-Turkish relations has been the stalled sale of F-16 fighter jets, that Ankara requested back in October 2021. Being stuck in Congress for a year and half, a small part of the deal could be about to move forward. The US State Department recently approved the sale of F-16 software upgrades to Turkiye, in a deal worth $259 million. US President Joe Biden has notified Congress, putting the onus on them to officially approve the sale. But the agreement is just a fraction of a much wider package that Turkiye is seeking, which includes 40 F-16 fighters and dozens of modernisation kits, worth about 20 billion dollars. The deal was a compromise after Turkiye was removed by the US from the F-35 fighter programme, due to Washington's complaints that Ankara had purchased air defence systems from Russia. But this latest deal being pushed by President Biden comes after Turkyie's approval of Finland's entry into NATO, and easing tensions with Greece. Guests: Jaroslaw Strozyk Former Director at Polish Military Intelligence Ahmet Keser Associate Professor at Hasan Kalyoncu University

In Turkey, the political and diplomatic fallout continues after a deadly bombing on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul. Turkey blames Kurdish militants backed by the United States for the attack, which comes months before fraught elections. On Saturday, Bulgarian prosecutors charged five people in connection with the blast. Mourners continue to lay flowers at the site of the 13 November bombing in Istanbul's most famous shopping street. The attack killed six, including a mother and son, and a father and daughter. Dozens more were injured. Shop owners are clearing up the devastation and, like the rest of the city, trying to come to terms with this latest attack. "It has been a disaster, " said shopkeeper Lokman Kalkan. "People were fighting for their lives. There was blood everywhere, and screaming and crying. There was nothing we could do." While the country grieves for the dead, the political repercussions are already being felt. Security forces, after detaining the alleged bomber just hours after the attack, claimed it was carried out by the Kurdish militant group the Kurdistan Workers' Party or PKK, a charge it denies.  The PKK is fighting the Turkish state for greater minority rights. But Devlet Bahceli, leader of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's parliamentary coalition partner the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), has called for the closure of the political party that represents Kurds in parliament, the Peoples' Democratic Party or HDP. "We don't want to see separatists in the parliament. We cannot stand seeing terrorists. We cannot tolerate the HDP for even a second," Bahceli bellowed to cheers from his parliamentary deputies. The HDP is already facing closure, accused of having links with the PKK, a charge it denies. Many of its parliamentary deputies are jailed on terrorism charges, convictions condemned as politically motivated by the European Court of Human Rights.  Tension with the US The bombing fallout is also threatening to strain US-Turkish relations further. The police allege the bomber was trained by the Syrian Kurdish militia, the People's Defense Units (YPG), which Ankara says is affiliated with the PKK. Washington backs the Syrian Kurdish group in its fight against Islamic State extremists near the border between Syria and Turkey. Speaking at the site of the bombing, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Turkey should rethink its relationship with the United States. "We refuse the condolences of the American embassy," Soylu said. "We cannot accept an alliance with a state that sends money from its own senate to these groups, feeding the terror zones in [border town] Kobani, which aims to disturb Turkey's peace. Such a state is in a contradictory situation. This is open and clear." Turkey lays the ground for a smoothing of relations with Syria Turkey and Russia closer than ever despite Western sanctions There is a large audience in Turkey for such anti-American rhetoric, argues Senem Aydin-Duzgit of the Istanbul Policy Centre. "You have the Americans' alliance with the Kurds, in particular in northern Syria. So there is this perception that America is sort of in an alliance with the PKK and the Kurdish nationalist movement. And that creates hostility," she says. "And there is a lot of anti-Americanism in Turkey as well – some of it historical, ideological, because you have anti-Americanism both on the right and the left of the political spectrum." Ghosts of 2015 election Diplomatic fallout between Ankara and Washington appears contained, at least for now. Despite strong words at home, Erdogan recently met US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Indonesia. But analysts suggest the real impact could be on Turkey's presidential elections next year. Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party, the AKP, are currently languishing in the opinion polls. Soli Ozel, a professor of international relations at Istanbul's Kadir Has University, is wary of a repeat of the 2015 general elections, when the AKP lost its absolute majority in parliament and an alternative government couldn't be formed. As elections loom in Turkey, Erdogan pulls plug on opposition social media How Turkish voters are beating internet press clampdown before polls That forced the vote to be repeated five months later, and in between violence escalated, says Ozel. "There were terrorist incidents, and one of the most awful terrorist incidents in the country's history with the largest number of deaths took place only 20 days before the repeat election," he recalls. Erdogan's AKP party eventually won the second election with a large majority. Opposition parties are already raising questions over the investigation into the Istiklal Avenue bombing, particularly the speed of the inquiry and its swift conclusions. That scrutiny is only likely to grow given the high political stakes, as many in the country look towards next year's election with increasing foreboding.

Turkey surprised its NATO allies last week by saying it would not view the applications of Sweden and Finland positively, and on Monday Turkish President Erdogan doubled down on comments last week indicating that the two Nordic countries´ path to NATO would be anything but smooth. Erdogan also cited Greece to express his disagreement over Finland and Sweden joining the transatlantic alliance. Expert Alan Makovsky joins Thanos Davelis today to break down what the key issues are, look at what Erdogan hopes to gain with this policy, and break down what this means for US-Turkish relations. Alan Makovsky is a senior fellow for national security and international policy at the Center for American Progress, and has worked on Turkey and the region in several capacities, including as a senior staff member on the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the House of Representatives and at the State Department.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Erdogan says Swedish, Finnish delegations should not bother coming to TurkeyTurkey objects as Sweden, Finland seek NATO membershipBiden praises Greece for ‘moral leadership' after Russia invasionNATO does not need more tension between Greece and Turkey, Mitsotakis tells university audienceEU growth forecast cut as war in Ukraine fuels inflationCommission delivers gloomy numbers but tries to bat away stagflation fears

US President Joe Biden has held talks with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Rome amid tensions over human rights and a request from Turkey for F-16 fighter jets.Biden told Turkey's Erdogan his request for F-16 fighter jets had to go through a process in the United States and expressed a desire to handle disagreements between the two countries effectively.A different US administration official says that Biden would warn his Turkish counterpart that any precipitous actions would not benefit US-Turkish relations and that crises should be avoided after Erdogan threatened to throw out the US ambassador to Turkey and other foreign envoys for seeking the release of jailed philanthropist Osman Kavala.

US President Joe Biden has held talks with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Rome amid tensions over human rights and a request from Turkey for F-16 fighter jets.Biden told Turkey's Erdogan his request for F-16 fighter jets had to go through a process in the United States and expressed a desire to handle disagreements between the two countries effectively.A different US administration official says that Biden would warn his Turkish counterpart that any precipitous actions would not benefit US-Turkish relations and that crises should be avoided after Erdogan threatened to throw out the US ambassador to Turkey and other foreign envoys for seeking the release of jailed philanthropist Osman Kavala.

US President Joe Biden has held talks with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Rome amid tensions over human rights and a request from Turkey for F-16 fighter jets.Biden told Turkey's Erdogan his request for F-16 fighter jets had to go through a process in the United States and expressed a desire to handle disagreements between the two countries effectively.A different US administration official says that Biden would warn his Turkish counterpart that any precipitous actions would not benefit US-Turkish relations and that crises should be avoided after Erdogan threatened to throw out the US ambassador to Turkey and other foreign envoys for seeking the release of jailed philanthropist Osman Kavala.

On Sunday President Biden held a meeting with Turkish President Erdogan on the margins of the G20 Summit. During their meeting, President Biden raised concerns about Turkey's possession of the Russian S-400 missile system, emphasized the importance of respect for human rights and called for the countries to cooperate more and handle “disagreements effectively”. Going into the meeting, President Erdogan had also stressed that he would raise the issue of Turkey - which was kicked out of the F-35 program - purchasing F-16s from the US. Expert Steven Cook joins the Greek Current to analyze the Biden-Erdogan meeting and the broader challenges in US-Turkish relations.Steven Cook is the Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).Read Steven Cook's analysis of US-Turkey relations prior to the Biden-Erdogan meeting: What Erdogan's Struggles Mean for U.S.-Turkey RelationsYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Readout of President Biden's Meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of TurkeyBiden tells Erdogan that US and Turkey must avoid crisesTurkey eyes five new targets for possible offensive in SyriaPappas Leads Colleagues in Opposing Sale of F-16s to TurkeyZoran Zaev to step down as North Macedonia's PMN.Macedonia opposition seeks election after local poll sweep

Snaps declining ad revenues possible contagion effect. What is behind the diplomatic tussle fuelling the drop in the Turkish lira? Why are champagne prices going up? Michelle Martin and Ryan Huang go beyond the headlines and market buzz in this edition of Market View.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Turkish relations remain on life support with Turkey's refusal to relinquish Russian made S 400 missiles. Turkey could face further US sanctions if Turkish president Erdogan acts on his talk about buying more Russian equipment. Turkey analyst Alan Makovsky believes this could lead to final rupture between Turkey and the NATO alliance.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reuters reported this week that Turkey made a request to the US to buy 40 Lockheed Martin-made F-16 fighter jets and nearly 80 modernization kits for its existing warplanes, as Turkey looks to modernize its Air Force after it was kicked out of the F-35 program. The deal, which would be worth billions, would need the approval of both the US State Department as well as Congress, which can block deals. The request comes as Turkey's President Erdogan recently stated that Turkey is looking to buy a second batch of S-400s from Russia. Expert Aaron Stein joins The Greek Current to discuss this latest request by Turkey, explain why it could be the endpoint of Turkey's S-400 to F-35 to CAATSA saga, and place it within the broader context of US-Turkish relations. Aaron Stein is the Director of Research at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) and an expert on Turkey, arms control and nonproliferation. He is also the co-host of Arms Control Wonk, a podcast on nuclear weapons, arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: Turkey asks U.S. to buy 40 F-16 jets to upgrade Air Force -sourcesWhite House plans to nominate George Tsunis as new US ambassador to GreeceGov't promises investigation into migrant pushback accusationsCroatia confirms police pushed back migrants on Bosnian borderCyprus won't sign pact if EU doesn't budge

On Wednesday Turkish President Erdogan traveled to Sochi, Russia, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for nearly three hours. While there was no official readout from either side detailing what was discussed, reports indicate that a number of key issues were on the table, including tensions in Syria, energy, and weapons deals. The meeting came after Erdogan's visit to New York for the UN General Assembly summit, where he did not conceal his dissatisfaction with President Biden or the state of US-Turkish relations, even suggesting that Turkey would buy more Russian S-400s. Nicholas Danforth joins our host Thanos Davelis to analyze the latest summit between Erdogan and Putin, and look at the balancing act Turkey is trying to play between the US and Russia. Nicholas Danforth is a Non-Resident Senior Research Fellow at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy, ELIAMEP, and the author of the newly published “The Remaking of Republican Turkey: Memory and Modernity.”You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: Amid Tensions With U.S., Erdogan Praises Ties With RussiaErdogan says Turkey is looking at further defence steps with RussiaSyria to be key topic in Erdogan-Putin summitErdogan-Putin summit highlights Turkey's fragile balancing actMDCA negotiations are nearing endUS renews partial waiver on arms embargoHALC tweet on US renewal of partial waiver of Cyprus arms embargo by the US

U.S.-Turkey relations have gone through a rocky period over the past few years and there continue to be areas of disagreement between the two NATO allies. Issues such as Ankara's purchase of the S-400 air defense systems and Washington's Syria policy remain critical points of tension. At the same time, the two allies cooperate on a number of strategic matters within the NATO framework. The US-Turkish relationship remains a multifaceted and a complex one going back decades, with the changing strategic environment in the region having the potential to create new opportunities for enhanced cooperation. Given the current state of the relationship, how can President Erdogan and President Biden work to improve ties and contribute to overall strength of NATO? What are some of the areas of disagreement as well as potential cooperation that should be brought to the table? What are some of the strategic and security challenges NATO faces today that an improved U.S.-Turkey relationship can help confront? The SETA Foundation at Washington DC is pleased to host a panel of experts to discuss the upcoming Biden-Erdogan meeting at NATO and its implications for the U.S.-Turkey relations. Speakers Luke Coffey, Director, Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy at the Heritage Foundation Muhittin Ataman, Director, Foreign Policy Program, The SETA Foundation Moderator Kilic B. Kanat, Research Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington, DC --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/seta-dc/support

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Joe Biden are scheduled to hold their first meeting since Biden took office on the sidelines of next week's NATO summit in Brussels. Turkey's growing ties with Russia, symbolized by its acquisition of S-400 missiles, has driven a wedge between Ankara and Washington that is threatening to grow ever wider. Can the two leaders reverse this downward spiral? Veteran journalist Asli Aydintasbas, who is a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, believes both leaders are aiming for damage control.Privacy Policy and California Privacy Notice.

As President Biden prepares to meet with Turkey's President Erdogan next month, the focus will undoubtedly be on the long list of foreign and security policy issues that have caused a rift in US-Turkish relations. In her latest piece, expert Tugba Tanyeri Erdemir, who joins us today on The Greek Current, makes the case that President Biden also needs to include cultural heritage diplomacy in his approach to Turkey. She explains that cultural diplomacy focused on the heritage of at-risk communities and carried out in collaboration with local stakeholders has the potential to engage a wider segment of Turkey's population, and can go hand in hand with the promotion of pluralism and peace building.Tugba Tanyeri Erdemir is the coordinator of the ADL's Task Force on Middle East Minorities, and is a Research Associate at the University of Pittsburgh in the Department of Anthropology with an extensive background in cultural heritage preservation.Read Tugba Tanyeri Erdemir's latest piece here: Cultural heritage diplomacy needs to be part of Biden's Turkey outreachYou can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: PM to meet Turkish FM on May 31 visitCyprus says people under 50 should use mRNA-based vaccinesCyprus adopts restrictions for AstraZeneca

Talking Geopolitics dives deep into Russia's geopolitics. Chairman George Friedman explains modern Russian foreign policy and the historic attitudes still driving it. Russia expert Ekaterina Zolotova lays out the building blocks of Russian geopolitics. Also, analyst Phillip Orchard explores the future of US-Turkish relations in the wake of President Joe Biden's acknowledgment of the Armenian genocide. Hosted by Christian Smith. Go to www.geopoliticalfutures.com/podcast for more.

Murat Mercan, Turkey’s Ambassador to the United States, discusses the prospects for enhanced US-Turkish cooperation during the Biden Administration; his country’s purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system; Turkey’s position on Syria, the Kurds, Ukraine, Greece, Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean; and more.

In this episode, Joe talks with Dr. Yetkin Borlu on the importance of Turkey's position among global agro-industry, as well as the country's relationship with the United States. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In what has been described as a move that signals a shift in US-Turkish relations, the Justice Department and the State Department sent a strongly worded amicus brief asking a federal appeals court to uphold a ruling that Turkey can be held liable for assaulting protesters in Washington, DC on the day Turkish President Erdogan met with former President Trump nearly four years ago.  The brief follows a letter to Secretary of State Blinken from leaders in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee urging the State Department to support the protesters.Andreas Akaras, an attorney from the firm Bregman, Berbert, Schwartz & Gilday, LLC who also represents the anti-Erdogan protesters, joins us to break down why this latest move by the Biden administration is so significant. You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: Biden Admin Tells Court Turkey's Not Immune for Assaults During Trump White House VisitTime for Turkey to pay up for Sheridan Circle attackBoris Johnson rules out return of Parthenon marbles to GreeceBritain is legitimate owner of Parthenon marbles, UK's Johnson tells GreeceGreek culture minister challenges British PM's claims on Parthenon sculpturesIs Turkey-Egypt maritime agreement dead in the water?

Journalist Amberin Zaman analyzes Turkey's latest attempts at a diplomatic “reset” with the United States, and discusses what is in store for the US-Turkey relationship as the new Biden administration takes over. We also take a look at Syria, and whether the appointment of Brett McGurk to the National Security Council will cause more friction in US-Turkish relations. Finally, we break down recent reports that point to a rift in the governing coalition in Turkey, and examine if that means early elections may be on the horizon.Amberin Zaman is a roving staff correspondent for Al-Monitor covering the Middle East, with a particular focus on Syria, Iraq, and Turkey. Prior to Al-Monitor, Amberin Zaman served as The Economist's Turkey correspondent between 1999 and 2016.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here: Turkey's nationalists threaten AKP alliance with calls to ban pro-Kurdish partyTurkey's scapegoating of McGurk rooted in revisionismCan Syria be stitched back together again?Turkey launches charm offensive to ease tensions with EUEU, Turkey cautiously eye improved ties after tough 2020Athens eyes even stronger ties with US

Expert Nicholas Danforth joins The Greek Current to discuss why letting Turkey go may be the best way to repair US-Turkish ties in the long run. In the piece in Foreign Policy Magazine “It Is Time To Let Turkey Go” he also makes the case that the US cannot single-handedly rescue the US-Turkish alliance, nor will Erdogan ever offer any real or lasting reset—no matter how many times he appears to do so.Nicholas Danforth is a Non-Resident Senior Research Fellow at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy, ELIAMEP, and author of the forthcoming book The Remaking of Republican Turkey.Read Nicholas Danforth's op-ed in Foreign Policy here: It Is Time To Let Turkey GoYou can read the articles we discuss on The Daily Roundup here: Covid: Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine approved for EU statesConcerns About Coronavirus Variant Cut Off U.K. From EuropeTravel From U.K. Shut Down As Nations Assess Threat Of New Coronavirus Strain7 things to know about Europe's coronavirus travel ban on UKMassive operation planned for transfer of vaccinesVaccination against covid-19 to start in mid-January

It's time to take a firmer approach when it comes to Turkey. That's the argument Boris Zilberman, the Director of Public Policy and Strategy at Christians United for Israel Action Fund, makes in his latest op-ed. Boris is with us today on The Greek Current to explain why continuing on the current path in the US-Turkish relationship is a mistake, and discuss what definitive action the US Congress and the incoming Biden administration should take to hold Turkey accountable.Read Boris Zilberman's latest op-ed here: America Needs to Take a Firm Approach to TurkeyYou can read the articles we discuss on The Daily Roundup here: EU to start vaccinations on December 27EU countries may go their own way on coronavirus vaccinationsGreece to receive first batch of Covid vaccine on Dec 26, PM saysTurkish rights activist Osman Kavala to remain in prisonTurkish court extends detention of philanthropist Osman KavalaTurkish philanthropist Osman Kavala denies charges in new trial

Congress is ready to pass this year's National Defense Authorization Act - the annual defense policy bill - with provisions that mandate the President of the United States to sanction Turkey for its acquisition of Russian S-400s within 30 days of passage of the bill. The legislation could get floor votes in the House and Senate as soon as next week. Alan Makovsky joins us to break down what this latest move by Congress means for US-Turkish relations.Alan Makovsky is a senior fellow for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress, and has worked on Turkey and the Middle East in several capacities, including as a senior staff member on the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the House of Representatives and at the State Department.You can read the articles we discuss on The Daily Roundup here: Sanctioning Turkey over the S-400 would be mandatory in new defense billU.S. Lawmakers Target Russia and Turkey in Annual Defense Policy BillGreek FM: Turkey's moves to ease tensions 'unconvincing'Dendias: Turkey's decision to de-escalate not convincingPost-Brexit trade talks paused amid 'significant divergences'Brexit: Johnson and Von der Leyen to take over with direct talks

Georgetown University lecturer Sinan Ciddi and top human rights advocate Sebnem Korur Fincanci told Ahval editor David Lepeska how President Erdogan has remade Turkey’s government and justice system in the four years since the failed coup, including a sharp rise in torture and terrorism cases, and why the issue of Fethullah Gulen’s possible extradition continues to undermine US-Turkish relations.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Michele Greenstein, a correspondent with RT America.Today is Super Tuesday 2.0 with primary elections in Michigan, Washington state, Missouri, Mississippi, Idaho, and North Dakota. Michigan is a must-win state for Bernie Sanders, which he carried over Hillary Clinton in 2016. And all eyes are on Mississippi as pundits look to the numbers of African American voters who will go to the polls for Joe Biden. As the coronavirus spreads across the United States and around the world, Italy has literally closed. The entire country has put itself in quarantine. International flights and cruises are being canceled. People are hoarding toilet paper, canned food, and water. And we still don’t have enough test kits available to health professionals. Is the government response enough to keep Americans safe? Should we be doing more? Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious disease physician and vice chair of the Infectious Disease Society of America’s Global Health Committee, joins the show. There was no disguising the tension today at the European Commission during talks between Turkish President Erdogan and the two EU presidents on Turkey’s new policy of pushing Syrian and other refugees across the Greek border by force. The Europeans insisted that the Turks abide by an earlier agreement providing Ankara with funding to handle the refugee crisis inside Turkey. Erdogan skipped the post-meeting press conference and went straight to the airport. Brian and John speak with Ambassador Robert Pearson, a former US Ambassador to Turkey and former Director General of the US Foreign Service and a non-resident scholar at the Middle East Institute, focusing on US-Turkish relations. Chinese President Xi Jinping made a surprise visit to Wuhan, the city where the coronavirus outbreak began. Xi announced that the virus had been contained as cases in Wuhan drop dramatically. As the number of coronavirus victims skyrocket around the world, the number has plummeted in China. KJ Noh, a peace activist and scholar on the geopolitics of Asia, and a frequent contributor to Counterpunch and Dissident Voice, joins the show. Julian Assange’s extradition hearings in London are on hiatus while US authorities regroup and hone their strategy to have the Wikileaks co-founder sent to the United States for trial on espionage charges. In the first round of hearings, the British judge exhibited disturbing bias in favor of US and British authorities. The next round will begin in a little more than a month. But what is the role of the European Court of Human Rights? Steve Poikonen, host of the Slow News Day podcast and cohost of the Free Assange online vigil series, joins Brian and John. Today is Loud & Clear’s weekly series about the biggest economic news of the week with special guest -- Prof. Richard Wolff. Professor Wolff, a professor of Economics Emeritus, University of Massachusetts, Amherst and founder of the organization Democracy at Work whose latest book is “Understanding Socialism,” joins the show.Tuesday’s regular segment is called Women & Society with Dr. Hannah Dickinson. This weekly segment is about the major issues, challenges, and struggles facing women in all aspects of society. Hannah Dickinson, an associate professor at Hobart and William Smith Colleges and an organizer with the Geneva Women’s Assembly; Nathalie Hrizi, an educator, a political activist, and the editor of Breaking the Chains, a women’s magazine, which you can find at patreon.com/BreakChainsMag; and Loud & Clear producer Nicole Roussell join the show.

On this week's show: Canada's liberals brace for an election battle, Turkey's military offensive in northern Syria puts US-Turkish relations on edge, and the widow fighting to uncover the truth about her husband's murder during Northern Ireland's Troubles. Plus, the environmentalists striving to protect Australia from the damage caused by gold mining.

In early August, Washington seemed to be on “red alert” over Turkey's threat to take unilateral military action in northern Syria. A deal was struck to avert the crisis after three days of intense talks, but is it possible that Turkish President Erdogan's threats to invade were a negotiating tactic? Our guest Steven Cook, makes the argument that this is a possibility. We also discuss CAATSA sanctions, and the future of US-Turkish relations. Steven Cook is the Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), and is an expert on Arab and Turkish politics as well as US-Middle East policy. Read Steven Cook's latest piece in Foreign Policy Magazine: “Erdogan Plays Washington Like a Fiddle”

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Garland Nixon and Lee Stranahan discuss the current crisis in Turkey and its impact on US-Turkish relations. Disobedient Media founder William Craddick joins the hosts to give his thoughts on the situation and whether or not Turkey's time in NATO is coming to a close.Scheduled Guests:Andrei Nekrasov - Writer and Director of the film, 'The Magnitsky Act. Behind the Scenes' | The Director of 'The Magnitsky Act Behind the Scenes' Discusses Film's New Release on Vimeo.comElbert Guillory - Former State Senator from Louisiana | Inner City Gun Violence: Searching for SolutionsDerek Hunter - Contributing Editor at the Daily Caller & Columnist at Townhall | Omarosa Goes Rogue and Charlottesville Round 2...William Craddick - Founder of Disobedient Media | Crisis in Turkey - A Strained Relationship with The West and NATOThe film that exposed the actions of hedge fund manager Bill Browder, 'The Magnitsky Act. Behind the Scenes,' is now available to the American public on the video website Vimeo.com. The film's director, Andrei Nekrasov, joins Garland and Lee to discuss his efforts to get the film shown to the masses in order to get out the truth about Browder.Gun violence has plagued the city of Chicago for years, and the past few weeks have highlighted the severity of this problem. Former Louisiana State Senator Elbert Guillory returns to the show to give his thoughts on inner city culture and potential remedies for the problematic gun culture in many communities. True to form, infamous reality show star Omarosa is at it yet again releasing secretly recorded audio from her time working in the Trump White House. Additionally, protests and rallies based around the 1-year anniversary of the controversial Charlottesville event occurred over this past weekend. Author and political commentator Derek Hunter joins the show to discuss these stories and their relevance to our current political moment.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, a constitutional rights lawyer and the executive director of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund, and Jim Kavanagh, the editor of thepolemecist.net.The Senate Intelligence Committee yesterday heard testimony from social media and technology experts, who said companies like Facebook, Google, and Twitter must do more to prevent the spread of misinformation and propaganda. But where does one draw the line between that and freedom of speech? Are Americans in danger of losing their civil liberties? Thursday’s “Criminal Injustice” is about the most egregious conduct of our courts and prosecutors and how justice is denied to so many people in this country. Kevin Gosztola, a writer for Shadowproof.com and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, Paul Wright, the founder and Executive Director of the Human Rights Defense Center and editor of Prison Legal News (PLN), joins the show. The Intercept reported today that former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was fired thanks to pressure from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Tillerson had intervened to mediate those countries’ dispute with neighboring Qatar. Saudi Arabia had intended to invade and conquer Qatar with UAE help. Brian and John speak with Ali al-Ahmed, the director of the Institute for Gulf Affairs. The Trump Administration this morning announced that it was freezing fuel efficiency requirements for all cars and trucks through 2026 as part of a dramatic rollback of Obama-era environmental regulations. The announcement comes on the heels of a weakening of air and water quality regulations. Fred Magdoff, professor emeritus of plant and soil science at the University of Vermont and the co-author of “What Every Environmentalist Needs to Know About Capitalism,” joins the show. Israel has blocked the delivery of fuel and gasoline to the besieged Gaza Strip, saying that it was in retaliation for Palestinians setting fire to Israeli land with flaming kites. Only cooking gas, wheat, and flour will be allowed into Gaza until further notice. Dan Cohen, a journalist and filmmaker whose work is at KillingGaza.com, joins Brian and John. Pope Francis announced this morning that the death penalty is inadmissible under any circumstances and that the church will work toward its abolition around the world. The announcement marks an evolution of the Catholic Church’s official view of the death penalty that began under Pope John Paul II in 1978. Gregory Joseph, communications director at the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, joins the show.The Trump Administration has imposed sanctions on the Justice and Interior Ministers of Turkey in retaliation for the continued incarceration of American pastor Andrew Brunson. Brunson was arrested two years ago and charged with espionage for preaching. He has yet to go on trial. Turkish President Erdogan said the move will jeopardize longstanding US-Turkish relations and that Ankara will consider retaliatory sanctions. Brian and John speak with Max Zirngast, an independent writer studying philosophy and political science in Vienna and Ankara.

Turkey has poured a lot of money into its indigenous defense industry. To talk about the state of Turkish aerospace, Aaron spoke to Tony Osborne, London Bureau Chief at Aviation Week, about Ankara’s indigenous development programs, spanning unmanned aerial vehicles to 5th generation fighter aircraft. The two also discussed on-going US-Turkish tensions and what that could mean for the F-35 fighter program in Turkey and how that could impact Turkish Air Force planning.    Support Turkey Wonk over at Patreon.com/acwpodcast, the Patreon for both Turkey Wonk and Arms Control Wonk!  

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Dr. Gerald Horne, a professor of history at the University of Houston and author of many books, including “Blows Against the Empire: U.S. Imperialism in Crisis.”The so-called BRICS countries—that is, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—are completing their 10th summit today in Johannesburg. All of the countries are represented by their heads of state and they met to discuss international peace and security, global governance, and trade. On today’s regular Friday segment covering the upcoming midterm elections, the hosts talk about Ocasio-Cortez, DeLeon over Feinstein, and the House Democrats’ ridiculous new slogan. Jacqueline Luqman, the co-editor-in-chief of Luqman Nation, and the co-host of the Facebook livestream “Coffee, Current Events & Politics” Thursdays at 9 p.m., joins the show. Today marks the 65th anniversary of the armistice agreement in the Korean War, but the peninsula technically remains in a state of war to this day. To mark the occasion and push forward towards a permanent peace treaty, North Korea today repatriated the remains of 55 US servicemen killed during the Korean war, the result of a promise North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made to President Trump when they met in Singapore last month. More than 7,000 Americans are still listed as missing in action in North Korea. Brian and John speak with Simone Chun, a fellow at the Korea Policy Institute and a member of the Korean Peace Network. President Trump called today’s news that Gross Domestic Product had grown at a very robust 4.1 percent for the second quarter of 2018 “amazing.” He didn’t comment, however, on the fact that much of the growth was due to consumers making major purchases before the effect of tariffs begins. He also promised that GDP “would go a lot higher than this.” Dave Lindorff, an investigative reporter and founder of This Can’t Be Happening!, as well as a columnist for CounterPunch, joins the show. National Public Radio, a government funded operation, cited the online news site The Daily Beast which reported unequivocally today that “the Russian intelligence agency behind the 2016 election cyber attacks targeted Senator Claire McCaskill as she began her 2018 reelection campaign.” The Daily Beast cites as proof its own “forensic analysis” and specifically blames the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence service. Joe Lauria, the editor-in-chief of Consortium News, founded by the late Robert Parry, and author of the book "How I Lost, By Hillary Clinton," and Ted Rall, an award-winning editorial cartoonist and columnist whose work is at www.rall.com, join Brian and John. Donald Trump thought he had a deal with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan to release a US pastor being held in Turkey on trumped up espionage charges in exchange for Israel releasing a Turkish woman being held on espionage charges there. But that deal fell apart, leading to angry and threatening tweets between the two leaders. The result has been a quick and significant downturn in US/Turkish relations. Gönül Tol, the founding director of The Middle East Institute’s Center for Turkish Studies, joins the show.The hosts continue the regular segment of the worst and most misleading headlines. Brian and John speak with Steve Patt, an independent journalist whose critiques of the mainstream media have been a feature of his blog Left I on the News, where you can find more ridiculous headlines from the week, and Loud & Clear producer Nicole Roussell.

Turkey and the F-35 has made a lot of news in the past few weeks. First, Turkey had an interesting cultural display at the Lockheed ceremony in Fort Worth.   Second, the Senate’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act included language that could threaten the Turkish role in the F-35 consortium. Against this backdrop, Ankara continues to tell the world it will import the Russian made S-400, potential triggering American sanctions and raising questions about US-Turkish defense-industrial cooperation.   To make sense of it all, Aaron spoke with Valerie Insinna, Air Warfare Reporter for Defense News.    Links of Note: Valerie's reporting on the F-35 delivery. Van Hollen-Graham amendment.   Support Turkey Wonk over at Patreon.com/acwpodcast, the Patreon for both Turkey and Arms Control Wonk!

Earlier this week, Trump made comments about withdrawing US forces from Syria. Shortly after, this comment was reneged and effectively stamped out by the establishment. Meanwhile, US coalition forces continue to occupy the Syrian-Kurdish enclave of Manbij with Kurdish YPG forces in defiance of the invading Turks.  To help me dissect these unfolding events, I am joined once again by Kyle Anzalone, host of the Foreign Policy Focus Podcast & the resident foreign policy expert at the Libertarian Union. Follow Kyle’s Work: The Foreign Policy Focus Podcast Immersion News Foreign Policy Focus at the Libertarian Institute Record Afghan Opium Crop Signals Violent Year for U.S. Forces (Co-authored with Will Porter) syria.liveuamap.com Episode 65 of the Liberty Weekly Podcast is Brought to you by: The Liberty Weekly Amazon Affiliate Link The Liberty Weekly Patreon Page: help support the show and gain access to tons of bonus content! Become a patron today! Become a Patron!   Our Nord VPN Affiliate Link Our Liberty Classroom Affiliate Link Show Notes: Ron Paul, Daniel McAdams Ron Paul Liberty Report: "Trump: 'Just Kidding. We're Staying In Syria' AP: In Private, Trump Has Mused About Syria Pullout for Weeks CBS News: Nikki Haley Issues New Warning Over Syria Chemical Weapons Attacks AP: US Forces in Syria Seen Setting Up New Front-Line Positions Antiwar.com: Turkey Says France Must Choose Ally, Turkey or Kurdish YPG CBS News: American Service Member, British Armed Forces Member Killed in Syria Antiwar.com: Turkey Seizes Full Control Over Syria's Afrin District

The case of Reza Zarrab, a Turkish-Iranian businessman charged in the Southern District of New York with evading international financial sanctions on Iran has become one of the most important stories in US-Turkish relations. Ashley Swearingen sits down with BPC policy analyst Jessica Michek to breakdown the Zarrab case and discuss what lies ahead for the U.S. and Turkey.  This podcast can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play.

US-Turkish relations have plunged to a new low following America's decision to suspend issuing any non-immigrant visas to Turks. Gideon Rachman discusses how the rift came about and how serious it is with Daniel Dombey and Mehul Srivastava See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.