Ukraine, Turkey, and NATO: U.S. Interests in Europe

<p>The United States has vital economic and national security interests in deterring aggression and maintaining peace and security in Europe. But almost six months ago on February 24, a clearly undeterred Vladimir Putin launched the largest invasion on the European continent since WWII.</p> <p>As the Ukrainian people continue the fight to defend their country, the war grinds on with no end in sight.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Putin's disregard for the sovereignty of Russia's neighbors prompted Finland and Sweden to seek admission into NATO — even as NATO member Turkey fluctuates between cooperation and competition with Russia.</p> <p>How are Russian and Ukrainian forces currently performing on the battlefield? What role has Turkey played in the conflict, and will this impact the future of U.S.-Turkey relations? Are recent changes to NATO's military posture sufficient? How should we view the likely addition of Finland and Sweden to the NATO alliance?</p> <p><a href='https://www.fdd.org/team/bradley-bowman/'>Bradley Bowman</a> — senior director of <a href='https://www.fdd.org/projects/center-on-military-and-political-power/'>FDD's Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP)</a>, filling in for host Cliff May — poses these and related questions to two experts.</p> <p><a href='https://www.fdd.org/team/lt-gen-ret-ben-hodges/'>LTG (Ret.) Ben Hodges</a> previously served as the Commanding General of the U.S. Army in Europe and is now the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis.</p> <p><a href='https://www.fdd.org/team/eric-s-edelman/'>Amb. Eric S. Edelman</a> previously served as U.S. Ambassador to both Turkey and Finland and at the Pentagon as Undersecretary of Defense for Policy. He's now a senior advisor at FDD where he also serves on the Board of Advisors for FDD's CMPP.</p>