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China's President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People on April 21, 2026, in Beijing, China. (Getty Images)
Hudson Institute will host a debate on the latest developments in Syria and Turkey, the impact on U.S. interests, and the future of U.S. Middle East policy. Hudson Senior Fellow Mike Doran and former Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Mark Kimmitt will argue in favor of the president’s withdrawal, while Hudson Fellow Blaise Misztal and Former Assistant Secretary of Defense Mary Beth Long will present the counterargument that this move is detrimental to U.S. interests in the region. The discussion will be moderated by PBS NewsHour's Ali Rogin.
The Trump administration’s decision to move U.S. forces out of the way of a Turkish military operation in northeastern Syria is a fundamental change to the last five years of U.S. policy in the region. The decision appears to bring to an end the U.S. partnership with Syrian Kurdish forces, forged in the fight against the Islamic State, while potentially reinvigorating the flagging U.S.-Turkish alliance. The debate will explore the broader implications throughout the region.
**NOTE: This event is open to the press. All members of the media should RSVP to press@hudson.org.**
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