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How does U.S. military education build influence among foreign officers? A new paper by our Institute researcher Ilker Kalin jointly with Carla Mart\u00ednez Machain from the University at Buffalo, examines this question through the case of Turkey, a long-standing NATO ally where anti-American sentiment nevertheless remains widespread among military ranks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Existing research on U.S. foreign military training has often focused on norm diffusion, professionalization, and strategic alignment, but has rarely examined the individual-level mechanisms through which training translates into influence. The paper addresses this gap by proposing two distinct pathways from training to influence: an extrinsic pathway based on material incentives and acceptance of U.S. hierarchy, and an intrinsic pathway based on interpersonal trust, reciprocity, and informal networks formed during military education programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The paper argues for the intrinsic pathway. Rather than cooperating because they see themselves as subordinate to the United States, U.S.-trained officers are more likely to view themselves as part of a shared professional network with American counterparts. This, in turn, facilitates informal cooperation and reciprocal expectations in future military-to-military interactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The empirical analysis combines semi-structured interviews with retired Turkish officers and a pre-registered survey experiment with Turkish military personnel. The findings show that officers who received U.S. military training are more likely both to grant informal requests from American counterparts and to make informal requests themselves. Importantly, these effects are significantly stronger among officers who participated in longer-term programs, suggesting that extended exposure plays an important role in building trust and durable professional ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The findings contribute to broader debates on soft power, military diplomacy, and alliance politics by showing how foreign military education can create influence through personal relationships rather than coercion or material dependence. At the same time, the paper highlights that such influence is reciprocal and relational: cooperation depends on sustained trust and mutual respect rather than automatic alignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n