Obama's Foreign Policy: Opportunities and Challenges

Obama's election represents an important opportunity to put US-Turkish relations on a new, more cooperative footing. On many issues especially those related to the Middle East -Obama's position overlap or closely coincide with those of Turkey more than the policies pursued by the Bush administration. This particularly true regarding İran and Syria, which should reduce the issues as irritants in US-Turkey relations. The critical question is what position the Obamas will take regarding the Armenian genocide resolution which is likely to be reintroduced in Congress in 2009. Passage of the resolution could deal a severe blow to prospects for putting US-Turkish relations on a new, more stable looting as well as undermine recent efforts at promoting Turkish-Armenian reconciliation that have oppened up since presidents Gul's historic vist to Yerevan in September.