Turkey, Iran and Nuclear Risks, Summer 2004

Sunday, September 5, 2004

In his assessment of Turkey’s approach to WMD risks the author includes the perceptions and internal dynamics among various regional actors, capabilities of involved players, and the role of evolving strategic alliances. Analyzing possible Turkish responses to the advent of an openly nuclear Iran, Lesser estimates that the extent and character of Turkish security ties –with the US, within NATO, and with European partners– will be key factors, as well as internal political developments. The effects of a nuclear Iran on Turkey’s regional and international policies are explored and the influence of Turkey’s prospect of EU membership on Turkey’s potential responses are analyzed. In this framework Lesser identifies the costs and benefits of Turkey’s cooperation with the US and Israel as well as the role of NATO and the EU in determining Turkey’s stance regarding WMDs in general, and specifically regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions...Please click here to read the text in full.

CONTRIBUTOR

Ian O. Lesser

Dr. Ian O. Lesser is the Executive Director of the Transatlantic Center, the Brussels office of the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), and GMF’s Senior Director for Foreign Policy.

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