The changes in NATO defense concept and Turkish foreign policy

In this study, the relations between North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and Turkish Foreign Policy are examined. The changing strategies of NATO throughout periods and how Turkish Foreign Policy is affected in this period are discussed. NATO has developed four main strategies during cold war period : 1. Classical Defense Strategy, 2. Massive Retaliation Strategy, 3. Flexible Response Strategy, 4. NATO's Renewed Confrontation after Detant period. It has been difficult for Turkish Foreign Policy to develop and take a stand against NATO's developing new strategies. For Turkish Policy makers rule the country mainly with domestic and external development has been trouble. It was aimed to use nuclear power against the Soviet threat so Massive Retailation Strategy was also developed in this manner. Correspond to Turkey's onset on NATO membership resulted in discussions. The country was going to be center of nuclear war and targeted of nuclear weapons. Also if nuclear weapons were fired without knowledge of Turkey, the country would be a victim of disaster war. The developed strategy 'Flexible Response' following the Detant process opened a new discussion that Turkey would be the first target in the conventional war because it was a wing country near to Soviet state. The planned of new strategy was to stop Soviets by using first conventional powers so that Turkish lands would possibly be invaded by the Soviets. The developed process of Detant and Flexible Response Strategy in 1960 and 1970's has weakened later times. Particularly two events in the 1970s stopped the new developments in the way of disarmament. During 1970's, the Soviets and Americans signed SALT I and SALT II disarmament talks however Islamic Revolution in Iran, the biggest ally of the Americans in Middle East and the Soviet invasion to Afghanistan prevented disarmament process in the world. On those years, Turkey wasn't able to solve its economic and political problems so a military coup was occurred on September 12, 1980. Throughout 1980s, both NATO parties and Turkey tried to be adopted for the new world's conditions when the Soviets began to lose its power. The subject of this thesis : "NATO's Defense Concept and Turkish Foreign Policy" will be analyzed in the framework cause-effect relations. Furthermore, how Turkish Foreign Policy's changes under external events affected the inner Turkish policy will be answered.