The West, the failed coup attempt in Turkey, and what it means for the Middle East

The failed coup of 15 July sent shockwaves through Turkish society and institutions. Its implications continue to be felt well beyond Turkey’s borders, with the fall out impacting both Turkish-Western relations and raising questions about Ankara’s positioning in the conflict-ridden Middle East. Ankara has been visibly unhappy with Europe’s seeming prioritisation of the post-coup environment over a recognition of the threat posed by the coup event, while its restoration of ties with Russia and recent intervention in Syria could significantly shift dynamics in the Middle East.

This discussion explored how the coup attempt and its aftermath are impacting bilateral cooperation, including on the EU-Turkey refugee deal, as well as the manner in which it is likely to affect Ankara’s cooperation with the West on the most pressing issues facing the Middle East, namely the war in Syria and the fight against ISIS.

Taha Ozhan is Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commission at the National Assembly of Turkey.

Wadah Khanfar is President of the Al Sharq Forum and Former Director-General of the Al Jazeera Network. He was named as one of Foreign Policy's Top 100 global thinkers of 2011.

Daniel Levy is the President of USMEP and the former MENA Director at ECFR.