Türkiye's relationship with the United States has been a key component of global politics since the end of World War II. As a major ally during the Cold War, Turkey's geographical advantage made it an outpost of resistance to Soviet expansion and provided key support to U.S. military and economic interests. This article will explore how the relationship between Türkiye and the United States affects the global situation and how this relationship has been adjusted to this day.
In 1947, President Harry Truman's Truman Doctrine established the U.S. security commitment to Turkey and Greece, a policy that led directly to large-scale U.S. military and economic support for both countries. Against this background, Türkiye also joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and became one of its important members.
The Truman Doctrine, aimed at protecting democracies from the spread of communism, made Türkiye an outpost against the Soviet Union.
During this period, Turkey sent troops to South Korea to participate in the Korean War to demonstrate its support for the Western camp, and also joined the Marshall Plan in 1948 to help rebuild the European economy and bring it closer to the United States.
After the end of the Cold War, Türkiye's geostrategic importance has become increasingly prominent. Turkey not only serves as an energy transmission channel connecting the Turkish-speaking countries of Central Asia with Europe, but also becomes a key ally of the United States in the Middle East and the Caucasus due to its geographical proximity to surrounding areas.
After the end of the Cold War, Türkiye's strategic value shifted from preventing the expansion of communism to geopolitical influence in the Middle East.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Turkey established close economic and political ties with the newly independent Turkish-speaking countries, further strengthening its influence in the region.
Currently, Turkey's relationship with the United States faces many challenges, including Turkey's military involvement in Syria and its cooperation with Russia, which makes the United States uneasy. Türkiye's shift in gun sales and its strategy toward Kurdish militants have also raised concerns in the United States. On the surface, these factors make their alliance more complicated.
In its cooperation with the United States, Türkiye has gradually demonstrated a more independent foreign policy, especially in its response in the Middle East.
Such changes reflect Türkiye's strategic depth, trying to find a balance of interests between the Israeli state and the Western world. Türkiye's cooperation with Russia, such as consultations on the Syrian issue, has made their influence in the region more significant.
Looking ahead, how the relationship between Türkiye and the United States develops will affect the entire geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and Europe. Faced with uncertainty in global politics, Türkiye will need to balance its traditional alliance with the United States with growing cooperation with other countries.
As the situation changes, Türkiye's foreign policy may also need to be readjusted. Whether Türkiye's response to international declarations and different countries will gradually change will be another challenge affecting its future foreign relations. Against this backdrop, how will the relationship between Türkiye and the United States face these challenges and affect the adjustment of the global landscape?