Turkey, the Kurds, and the Struggle for Order in the Middle East

The American-led campaign against the Islamic State (ISIS) has empowered Syria’s Kurds and, as a result, alienated Turkey. Meanwhile, Russia and Iran have expanded their presence in Syria. Washington, Moscow, and Tehran now find themselves in a complicated diplomatic contest over the orientation of Turkey and various Kurdish polities and factions.

How should the U.S. manage its role in this contest? On January 23rd, Hudson Senior Fellows Eric Brown and Michael Doran discussed the current state of affairs in the region and offer recommendations for future U.S. policies. Hudson Fellow Peter Rough moderated the conversation.