Turkey's Election Results: Implications for Democracy and International Relations

Turkey's upcoming presidential election, which will go to a runoff on May 28, has implications for the country's relationship with the U.S. and Europe, as well as its role in NATO. Incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been criticized for democratic backsliding and human rights abuses, faces a challenge from Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who has campaigned on restoring trust with the U.S. and Europe and returning Turkey to democratic norms. The outcome of the election could potentially mean big changes for NATO and the region as a whole. The Biden administration has so far avoided picking sides.