From Tripoli to Baku, and several points in-between, Turkey finds itself today on the front-lines of many regional conflicts. Meanwhile, on the
home front, alleged followers of Turkish Islamic cleric Fetullah Gülen, who Turkey blames for the 2016 attempted military coup, continue to be
arrested, the threat of renewed attacks by the Kurdish PKK lingers and the Turkish economy suffers. How will Turkey’s Middle East end-game play out? Join us for a discussion that will include insights gleaned from the speakers last visit to Ankara and Istanbul in November 2019, and his recent research and upcoming book chapters on Canada-Turkey relations and Canada’s strategic engagement in the Middle East and North Africa.

Speaker: Dr. Chris Kilford is a member of the national board of the Canadian International Council (CIC) and President of the CIC Victoria branch. He holds a PhD in history from Queen’s University with a focus on civil-military relations in the developing world. Chris enjoyed a 36-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces. Chris has served in the Department of National Defence in Canada’s Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan as the Deputy Military Attaché, and also at the embassy in Ankara, Turkey as the Canadian Defence Attaché. Since retiring from the military Chris has become a recognized expert on Turkish foreign policy and Middle Eastern political issues.