Turkish-American relations in the Middle East after 2003 within the framework of preventive diplomacy

Since the invasion of Iraq on March 20, 2003, Turkish-American relations have experienced radical transformations and complex processes in the light of rapid regional international developments affecting the Middle East region. In this context, preventive diplomacy has emerged as one of the main tools adopted by Turkey to protect its national interests and reduce tensions arising from differences in policies and attitudes on various regional issues. Preventive diplomacy is based on adopting permanent dialogue and negotiation mechanisms aimed at preventing conflicts from turning into military disputes or open crises. This strategy has been strengthened in line with the aim of ensuring common interests in Turkey's relations with the United States, especially in the context of crises related to Iraq, Syria and Palestine, terrorism and armed groups in the Middle East. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of preventive diplomacy as an effective tool in Turkish foreign policy and examine its role in the management of crises experienced by the United States (US) from 2003 to the end of 2024. While the study focuses on assessing the regional impacts of this tool, it will also discuss the strategies adopted by Turkey to deal with complex files, especially the crises in Iraq and Syria and the American role in the region. Additionally, the impact of preventive diplomacy on the policies of both Türkiye and the United States and the success of this tool in achieving strategic goals will be analyzed. In this context, the study aims to link preventive diplomacy analysis with realist theory, which emphasizes that national interests and power are the determining factors in shaping foreign policy in international relations.