Policymakers in the United States and European Union are struggling with how to manage their relations with Turkey. What makes the country such a conundrum is that its problematic leadership faces real threats. Turkey is confronting challenges from the aftermath of the July 2016 coup attempt and the destabilizing effects of the Syrian war. Yet the country’s president is growing more authoritarian. This paper examines the main domestic and regional challenges facing Turkey, as well as how these issues impact the country’s relations with its Western allies. Furthermore, it outlines three possible policy responses for the United States and Europe.

A publication within the framework of the initiative Brookings - Robert Bosch Foundation Transatlantic Initiative (BBTI).