Can Kasapoglu
Dr. Can Kasapoglu is a defense analyst. Dr. Kasapoglu holds a M.Sci. degree from the Turkish Military Academy and a Ph.D. from the Turkish War College. Dr. Can Kasapoglu was an Eisenhower fellow at the NATO Defense College in Rome and a visiting scholar at the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence in Tallinn. Currently, Dr. Kasapoglu is the director of the defense and security program at the Istanbul-based think-tank EDAM.
He previously held research posts at reputable think-tanks, such as the SWP of Germany, FRS of France, and the BESA Center of Israel.
His works can be followed @EdamDefense
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Articles by Can Kasapoglu
Turkish Drone Strategy in the Black Sea Region and Beyond
Introduction: Turkey as a ‘Dronized’ Military Power on Russia’s Doorstep Geopolitically, Turkey is a game-changer. Without Turkey being a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the transatlantic Alliance
A Dangerous Drone for All Seasons: Assessing the Ukrainian Military’s Use of the Bayraktar TB-2
The Ukrainian military’s employment of the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB-2 combat drones showcases some categorical differences from how the Azerbaijani Armed Forces utilized this system during the 2020 Second Karabakh War.
Turkish Closure of the Straits Can Hurt Russia’s Syrian Route Should the War Prolong
On February 24, Ukraine asked Turkey to close the Turkish Straits (the Bosporus and Dardanelles) to Russian warships under the 1936 Montreux Convention (Daily Sabah, February 24). The Straits connect
Turkish-Azerbaijani Exercises in Nakhchivan: A Turkic Axis on Iran’s Doorstep?
Since signing the 2010 Strategic Partnership Treaty, Turkey and Azerbaijan have transformed their rhetorically close ties, encapsulated in the oft-repeated slogan “one nation, two states,” into a real military alliance
The Long Arm of Turkish Drones: A Post-Mortem Analysis of the Life and Times of Syrian Born PKK Leader Sofi Nureddin
Contemporary Turkish counterterrorism campaigns rest on sophisticated, close cooperation between the Turkish military and national intelligence with a pronounced use of drones. This was reflected in a recent operation, which
Can Turkish Drones Bolster NATO’s Eastern Flank Against Russia?
Turkish unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are becoming popular strategic assets and affordable military modernization solutions on the international arms market. Following Azerbaijan’s dramatic achievements in the Second Karabakh War (September
Maximum Pressure: Turkey’s Anti-PKK Counter-Terrorism Campaigns in Northern Iraq
In late April, the Turkish military launched a large-scale cross-border counter-terrorism campaign into northern Iraq, targeting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its network. The push into northern Iraq followed
Russia and Syrian Arab Army Targeting Turkish-Backed Opposition’s Energy Infrastructure
The local Russian Aerospace Forces (Vozdushno Kosmicheskikh Sil—VKS) contingent and the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) have shifted their operational focus to targeting energy infrastructure in northwest Syria, including in areas
The Syrian National Army and the Future of Turkey’s Frontier Land Force
From the summer of 2016 to early 2020, the Turkish military launched four expeditionary military campaigns into northern Syria. The first campaign, Operation Euphrates Shield, marked the first time that
Turkey Enters Tunisia’s Weapons Market With Combat-Proven Arms: A Technical and Strategic Assessment
In late 2020, Turkey finally secured a lucrative arms sale package to Tunisia after a long period of negotiations. The $150 million portfolio, which attracted key players of the Turkish
Veiled Counter-Balancing: The Peacekeeping ‘Arrangement’ Between Turkey and Russia in Karabakh
In the wake of Azerbaijan’s successful offensive against the dug-in Armenian forces in Karabakh and surrounding Azerbaijani districts, the defense ministers of Turkey and Russia, General (ret.) Hulusi Akar and
Jamestown Analyst Can Kasapoglu Interviewed on Turkish Geopolitics by Strategy & Future
On December 8, Strategy & Future released its video interview with analyst Can Kasapoglu, who discussed the geopolitical future of Turkey in the region and whether Turkey can eventually become
Analyst Can Kasapoglu Interviewed by Washington Post
On November 29, The Washington Post published an article on Turkey's use of drone technology in foreign military campaigns, in which it extensively quoted Turkish defense expert Can Kasapoglu.
Turkey’s ‘African Eagle’ Trains Turkish-Speaking Troops in Somalia: Where Next?
Africa has become an important pillar of Turkey’s widely debated expeditionary military policy and forward-basing posture. The Turkish contingent stationed in Mogadishu, Somalia has an official patch with the Afrika
Turkey and Ukraine Boost Mutual Defense Ties
Turkey and Ukraine have been building the pillars of a promising defense cooperation partnership for some time. The two countries currently engage in joint endeavors in game-changing military areas such
Turkey Transfers Drone Warfare Capacity to Its Ally Azerbaijan
During the fierce clashes along the Karabakh front, which erupted on September 27, Azerbaijan demonstrated advanced drone warfare capabilities, showcasing its defense-technological edge over Armenian forces. Interestingly, the Azerbaijani drone
Turkey Makes New Advances in Land and Naval Warfare with Introduction of Aksungur ASW Drone
Turkish drone warfare capabilities have made a significant impression in operations against Russian-supported Syrian forces in Idlib, Syria in February and March, 2020, and more recently through the ongoing Azerbaijan-Armenia
Can the Turkish Military’s Fight Against the Pandemic Set an Example for NATO?
In March 2020, eight personnel in the German-led, multinational North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) battalion in Lithuania tested positive for the novel coronavirus (The Baltic Times, March 24). From a
Hot Issue – Turkish Airpower has a Fifth Generation Aircraft Problem
Executive Summary: Major NATO nations have already begun receiving fifth generation aircraft, while some others, such as France and Germany, have preferred temporarily flying with 4.5 generation platforms in order
Could Russia Lose the Syrian Arab Army to Iran or General Maher al-Assad?
The security apparatus remains the key pillar of political power in the contemporary Arab state system. Whatever the post-war outlook of Syria will look like, its fabric will not change
Jamestown Analyst Can Kasapoglu Interviewed About Global Security and Geopolitics
On June 8, the Turkish Heritage Organization posted a video interview with Jamestown analyst Can Kasapoglu, in which he discussed the future of global security, NATO and geopolitics in a
Turkey’s Heavy ‘Tiger’ Rocket Spotted in Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Exclave
Baku has initiated large-scale weapons readiness efforts in Nakhchivan. The official YouTube channel of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense features a video showing Turkish-manufactured multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) stationed in
Turkey’s Growing Military Expeditionary Posture
A glance at the Turkish Armed Forces’ recent combat record demonstrates that Turkey’s defense policy now extends well beyond its borders. Drones loitering in the Syrian airspace, navy frigates along
Turkey’s Critical ‘S-400 Moment’ Has Arrived
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Ankara has apparently postponed the activation of the S-400 air-defense missile system it had purchased from Russia that had been planned for April 2020 (Hurriyet
Turkey’s Drone Blitz Over Idlib
Between February 27 and March 5, Turkey conducted Operation Spring Shield to halt the Syrian Arab Army’s blitz offensive in Idlib and to press Moscow into brokering a ceasefire. Due