Turkey’s ambivalence toward joining a US coalition against IS reflects the country’s difficult strategic position

The United States has been in the process of building a coalition of countries against IS militants in Iraq during September 2014. Although Turkey has been involved in these discussions, it did not sign a joint statement on the 11 September 2014 which was backed by a number of other states in the region.

Ryan Kennedy and Halil Bilecen write on Turkey’s difficult strategic position, noting that the country is attempting to balance several competing interests. These include attempts to free 49 Turkish hostages currently held by IS, and Turkey’s complex relationship with the Kurdish populations both within and beyond its borders.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Six EU countries join group to 'destroy' Islamic State http://www.europeansources.info/record/six-eu-countries-join-group-to-destroy-islamic-state/

BBC News, 12.09.14: Has Turkey woken up to Islamic State threat? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29163361

BBC News, 11.09.14: Will Obama's anti-IS strategy work? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-29154485

Deutsche Welle, 11.09.14: Coalition of the willing reaches out to Gulf states and Turkey http://dw.de/p/1DAcb

Deutsche Welle, 11.09.14: Britain, Germany not to join US campaign against IS http://dw.de/p/1DAZv

BBC News, 12.09.14: Kerry in Turkey to boost support for anti-IS coalition http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-29172524

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 12.09.14: Obama presents strategy against IS http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER150302-Obama-presents-strategy-against-IS

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 21.09.14: IS causes mass exodus into Turkey http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER150771-IS-causes-mass-exodus-into-Turkey

Euro|Topics: Who saying what: Broad alliance against IS http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/debatten/links-2014-09-koalitiongegenis/

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