U.S.-Turkey Strategic Dialogue
Abstract
The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) hosted a Track II dialogue on Weapons of Mass Destruction and Regional Security in Istanbul from October 31 to November 2, 2012. This event was supported and executed by the Project on Advanced Systems and Concepts for Countering WMD (PASCC) of the Center on Contemporary Conflict. PASCC is sponsored by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). The participants included four main presenters from Turkey and the United States who specialize in security, global proliferation, disarmament, and weapons of mass destruction policy. Also present were observers from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, DTRA, the U.S. Department of State, United States Institute of Peace, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, and the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul. The dialogue was structured like an academic seminar with multiple sessions during which each panelist had the opportunity to deliver 20 minutes of prepared remarks. Each session provided a period for open discussion among all the participants. At the end of the three-day event, there was a "Ways Forward" session involving all participants in a frank review of all topics that had been addressed as well as consideration of points for further discussion. The overall tenor of the dialogue was forthright and free-flowing. U.S. and Turkish participants, including observers, stressed how much they had learned from the exchange. Participants noted that there are only a handful of experts in Turkey who specialize in nuclear security. Track II dialogues, such as this, are an ideal venue to bring nuclear experts together with members of Turkey's nascent civil society, government, and other local sectors. This report describes major themes of discussion at the dialogue.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA569926
Entities
People
- Ryan Gingeras
- Victoria Clement
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School