Former US ambassadors to Turkey praise Turkey as rising power

Former US ambassadors to Turkey, Ross Wilson and James Jeffrey, on January 14 joined a televised discussion on Turkey's growing economic and strategic influence with Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish Research Program at The Washington Institute. During the discussion, Jeffrey said that Turkey which previously has asked the Obama administration to do more about the Syria issue was right. Furthermore, Jeffrey listed Turkey among current regional powers along with Russia, South Africa and China. For his part, Wilson said that Turkey has been going through a huge economic transformation, which has led to a demographical and social transformation as well. Wilson also said that relations between Turkey and the US has never been this much good and close throughout history. During the meeting, Cagaptay presented his report titled "The New Turkey and US Policy." Cagaptay argued that Turkey should maintain its economic growth, liberalize its constitution, relieve its "fault lines" such as the Kurdish issue, get along with the US and should not go to war with Syria in order to become a regional power. Cagaptay added that Ankara has confirmed its cooperation with NATO and the West with such decisions as the deployment of missile shields and Patriots in its territory.