183rd Bergedorf Round Table

Navigating a Shifting International Order:
Türkiye and Europe in an Age of Geopolitical Instability

13- 14 October 2023 in Istanbul

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is a watershed event for Europe and the wider world, underlining Türkiye’s significance as a strategic international partner and, at the same time, the complexity of its relations with Western allies. Amidst geopolitical shifts, resulting not only from the war but also increasing great power rivalries, Türkiye, one of NATO’s earliest member states, pursues an independent foreign policy which seeks to balance competing interests and to expand its influence in a world of multipolarity. With President Erdoğan entering his third decade in power, the future of Ankara’s foreign policy is also determined by challenges at home, including repercussions of a devastating earthquake and the need for economic consolidation. Faced with the effects of geopolitical instability on multiple levels, what path will EU-Türkiye relations take?

The 183rd Bergedorf Round Table explored Türkiye’s and the EU’s role in an era of geopolitical volatility.

The participants of the 183rd Bergedorf Round Table were 35 high-ranking politicians, government officials, and representatives of think tanks, academia and media from Germany, Türkiye, Europe, Central Asia and the United States.