Is Donald Trump playing nuclear chicken with Turkey?

Oct 16, 2019

2 min

Glen Duerr, Ph.D.

As Elvis Presley used to sing “Wise men say, only fools rush in…” and it seems America’s hasty retreat from northern Syria and its seemingly unprepared rhetoric with Turkey may have landed America in a bit of a pickle.


Unbeknownst to most, the United States has an arsenal of nuclear weapons in Turkey, and senior officials are now scrambling with what they can or may have to do.


“And over the weekend, State and Energy Department officials were quietly reviewing plans for evacuating roughly 50 tactical nuclear weapons that the United States had long stored, under American control, at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, about 250 miles from the Syrian border, according to two American officials.


Those weapons, one senior official said, were now essentially Erdogan’s hostages. To fly them out of Incirlik would be to mark the de facto end of the Turkish-American alliance. To keep them there, though, is to perpetuate a nuclear vulnerability that should have been eliminated years ago.


“I think this is a first — a country with U.S. nuclear weapons stationed in it literally firing artillery at US forces,” Jeffrey Lewis of the James Martin Center for Non-proliferation Studies wrote last week.” October 14 - New York Times


It’s quite the conundrum, and if you are a journalist covering this escalating issue – let our experts help.


Dr. Glen Duerr's research interests include comparative politics and international relations theory. Glen is available to speak to media regarding this topic– simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.



Connect with:
Glen Duerr, Ph.D.

Glen Duerr, Ph.D.

Professor of International Studies

Dr. Deurr's research interests include nationalism and secession, comparative politics, and international relations theory

International TerrorismDomestic TerrorismInternational RelationsBrexit
Powered by

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from Cedarville University

Canada-U.S. Tariff Dispute Puts Trade Policy and Consumer Costs in Focus featured image

1 min

Canada-U.S. Tariff Dispute Puts Trade Policy and Consumer Costs in Focus

Tariffs between the United States and Canada are again testing one of the world’s closest economic partnerships. New U.S. actions targeting select Canadian imports, along with Canada’s retaliatory measures on certain U.S. products, have moved the dispute beyond trade policy and into the everyday concerns of manufacturers, farmers, retailers and consumers on both sides of the border. The issue also arrives as the United States, Canada and Mexico assess the future of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, making trade negotiations a significant government and diplomatic priority. From a government perspective, tariffs are being used as leverage to address market access, domestic production and perceived unfair treatment of national industries. From an economic perspective, however, the costs can spread quickly through integrated supply chains—particularly in automotive manufacturing, steel and aluminum, agriculture, energy and consumer goods. Companies may face higher input costs and greater uncertainty, while households could see higher prices or fewer choices. The central question is whether tariff pressure will produce a negotiated resolution—or prolong a dispute that affects businesses and consumers in both countries. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Return to England featured image

1 min

Prince Harry and Meghan Return to England

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have returned to England with their children for an extended stay after more than six years living in California. While the family is not expected to resume official working roles within the royal family, the move places them again at the center of ongoing public interest in the British monarchy and its future. The return comes amid continued strain between the Sussexes and other members of the royal family, alongside Prince Harry’s expressed desire for reconciliation with his father, King Charles III. Their renewed presence in the United Kingdom raises questions about the monarchy’s public image, the role of nonworking royals and how personal relationships within the royal family may shape public perception in the months ahead.

Elevated Interest Rates in the United States featured image

1 min

Elevated Interest Rates in the United States

Interest rates in the United States remain elevated, with the Federal Reserve holding its benchmark rate near its highest level in more than two decades as of late summer 2026. The Fed’s stance reflects its effort to fully tame inflation, which has cooled significantly from its 2022 peak but still shows pockets of persistence in areas like housing and services. Higher borrowing costs continue to ripple through the economy: mortgages remain expensive, business loans are harder to justify, and consumers face steeper rates on credit cards and auto financing. The broader economy is feeling the strain. Growth has slowed as companies delay expansion, hiring becomes more cautious, and households pull back on discretionary spending. At the same time, elevated rates have strengthened the dollar and helped stabilize inflation expectations, giving policymakers confidence that price pressures are gradually easing. The result is a mixed landscape — one where the labor market is steady but no longer surging, investment is cooling, and many sectors are waiting for clearer signals about when rate cuts might begin. 

View all posts