Turkish foreign policy analysis from the two military coups (1960?1980)

Military Coup held on 27th May 1960 was the end of the Democrat Party government which had ruled Turkey for ten years, and brought Turkish state and society to a new and different process.In that period, governments assigned by Gursel reconstructed domestic policy and legal affairs, and went on developing the current structure of foreign affairs. New governments stating loyalty to UN, NATO and CENTO alliances pleased all states including USA and made them free from concerns about new administration of Turkey.New governments paid effort to develop good relationships with Arabic states without maintaining a negative attitude against Western countries.Turkey did not have close relationship with Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and kindly refused all financial aids offered by USSR. On the other hand, the core point of the ongoing relationships with USA was financial aids.With the elections held on 15th October 1961, the administration passed into hands of civil government.In spite of being the matter of negotiation, the bargain was realized in the absence of Turkey during the Cuba Missile Crisis in 1962. This showed that USA could easily lead policies disadvantageous to Turkey for protecting its own interests.The Cyprus crisis in 1964 unfolded that ?Western centred foreign policy? of Turkey drove the country to isolation. By having a great shock effect on Turkey, the letter of Johnson made revision of the relationships with USA and the West unavoidable.During Demirel Governments period starting on 27th October 1965, radical decisions about foreign affairs of Turkey were taken and multi dimensional foreign policy was adopted instead of single focused one.The Cyprus problem in 1967 was ruled out before causing a war. During Arabic- Israel war that blew up in the same year, Turkey developed its good relationships with Middle East countries.After the memorandum given on 12th of March, the government of Demirel resigned and the crisis was overcome with political reconstruction. With the oppression of USA, the political agenda was made up of prohibition of farming opium poppy between 1972 ? 74, 1974 Cyprus Crisis and Agean Sea problems with Greece. Moreover, the relationships with Muslim countries was developed thanks to the works of Organisation of Islamic Conference.Turkey, shocked by USA?s deciding on implementing a weapons blockade on 5th February 1975, became successful in lifting the embargo as a result of its diplomatic tactics. But the developments in foreign affairs came to a halt because of the domestic anarchy. On 12th September 1980, Turkish Armed Forces seized power again by means of another military coup.Keywords:Military coupTurkish foreign policyNATOCyprusAmerican arms embargo