EGF Turkey File, July 15 — August 25, 2016

Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics

15 July — 25 August 2016

By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Guest Analyst

Key Points:

• Turkey's suppression of those suspected of ties with the Gulen Movement and the July 15 coup continues. Yet the reaction in the West and its focus on the crackdown has drawn the ire of many Turkish citizens.

• In energy news, the thaw in Turkish-Russian relations brings opportunity for the resurrection of the TurkStream Pipeline.

• TurkStream"s newfound progress has the potential to undercut EU hopes for Azerbaijani and Iraqi KRG gas supplies outside of Russia.

• With the U.S. and Ankara at odds concerning the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, there are concerns that the time is right for Turkey to remove itself from Western entanglements.