Alan Makovsky on Ankara's diplomacy pivot and US-Turkey ties

Description

Alan Makovsky (https://www.americanprogress.org/people/makovsky-alan/) , a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, joins Turkey recap editor Diego Cupolo to discuss Ankara’s pivot to diplomacy and US-Turkey relations. This podcast covers Turkey’s growing efforts to mediate conflicts and host diplomatic meetings like this weekend’s Antalya Diplomacy Forum and the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara. Also discussed are recent comments by US Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrack on democracy in the Middle East and on a possible resolution to the S-400 sanctions on Turkey as well as European security and opportunities for Turkey’s defense industry. Referenced in this talk: Submit a question with this form (https://forms.gle/953tUNACVoZjpyPa7) In Turkey, Middle Powers Ponder Diplomacy With a Rogue U.S. (NY Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/20/world/middleeast/turkey-diplomacy-antalya.html?unlocked_article_code=1.c1A.TsQq.hkJAHAilQ48K&smid=url-share) ) US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack Speaks at Antalya Diplomacy Forum (YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmE5oXT9bCY) ) Envoy expects U.S.-Turkey to ‘soon’ solve issue of sanctions over S-400 defences (Reuters (https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/envoy-expects-us-turkey-soon-solve-issue-sanctions-over-s-400-defences-2026-04-17/) ) ‘Turkey: Managing an unfriendly ally’ by Alan Makovsky (Brookings (https://www.brookings.edu/articles/turkey-managing-an-unfriendly-ally/) ) Other ways to watch & listen: Our webcasts are also available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@turkeyrecap) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/1KzyzWkguHP5t9jPWRChEZ) , Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recap-radio/id1813696945) and other podcast players. Turkey recap is an independent, reader-supported newsletter that helps people make sense of the fast-paced Turkey news cycle. Contact us: info@turkeyrecap.com (mailto:info@turkeyrecap.com) . Subscribe here on Substack (https://turkeyrecap.substack.com/subscribe) (or on Patreon