Roundtable with
Dr. Nihat Ali Özcan,
Security and Foreign Policy Expert, Columnist at the Milliyet Daily
March 14, 2017

On March 14, 2017, Dr. Nihat Ali Özcan, Security and Foreign Policy Expert and Columnist at the Milliyet daily, addressed GRF and GRF Community members at a roundtable meeting. In his presentation entitled “Ethnic and Religious Fragmentation at the Mashriq,” Özcan stated that while undertaking geopolitical and structural assessments about the Mashriq, a decisive region for Turkish policy, one should take into consideration the ethnic, religious and sectarian differences rendered increasingly visible by globalization and radicalization. Concerning Turkish foreign policy, Dr. Özcan underscored the need to create a roadmap which takes into account the regional actors and the economic, political, and humanitarian catastrophes that were caused by the ongoing war in the region. Following his presentation, Dr. Özcan answered the questions of the participants.