Turkish-Soviet Union relations (1945-1965) during the Cold War and Turkish foreign policy (1 valume)

Russia (Soviet Union) has a significant position with regard to Turkey and the world policy. Russia has maintained this position since the czarism and communism periods. The Soviet Union has played a vital role in defining the world policy and Turkish foreign policy during the Cold War era. An analysis of Turkish-Soviet relations in the Cold War era would entail a review of Turkish-US relations, even Turkey's general relations with the West. Turkish-Soviet relations between 1945-1965 have been reviewed both in terms of the international policy of the Cold War era and the foreign policies of Turkey and Soviet Union in order to determine how and to what extent Turkish and Soviet mentalities had influenced the development of foreign policy in these countries. Moreover, the mutual effects of the artificial tension between the two countries and the Cold War era are the subject of analysis. Without any background knowledge of Turkish-Soviet relations in the Cold War era, it is not possible to comment on the policies and the stance taken by Turkey for securing its existence in that period which was the most tense period for Turkish foreign policy. The general course of Turkish foreign policy, the long-term objectives and her aim of becoming a regional power can be frequently observed in the Cold War era. As the intellectuals of both the leftist and the rightist wings have rightfully pointed out, Turkey has drifted apart from balance policy at the time as a result of being over influenced by United States and NATO, followed a unilateral, fully dependent policy to United States and even carried out a pro- Cold War policy from time to time against detente efforts. Turkey, who was running a veiled balance policy concurrently with the two super powers, realized during the Cold War era that the policies other than the objective of becoming a regional power would damage her general foreign policy. Another worth mentioning hypothesis developed by the early policy makers of the Republic is that Turkey plays a leading part in tense533 circumstances whereas she somewhat loses her crucial position in detente periods. Although there is some truth in this hypothesis, it led Turkey to try to extend such tense periods and even to create artificial tensions. On the contrary, in tense times Turkey has particularly become more dependent on the US and as a result of external pressures has had to hold back her national interests. The shift in the defense strategy of the USA left a profound effect on Turkish foreign policy in 1 960s. This change in the strategy is the basis of many events that troubled Turkish-American relations and even occasionally caused a trust problem on the part of Turkey (such as Cuba crisis and Cypriot issue). As the Cold War slowed down since 1954, Turkey lost her strategic importance for the US but again came into prominence when The Soviet Union launched Sputnik in 1957 and gained ground on intercontinental ballistic missiles. However, when the USA developed intercontinental Polaris missiles usable by submarines and accepted Flexible Response in lieu of Massive Retaliation, Turkey once again lost her strategic importance for the USA. The consequences of the implementation of Flexible Response and of the fact that Turkey no longer held a significant position for the USA were reflected on the Cuba crisis and went on with the Cypriot problem. This situation prompted Turkey to follow policies independent of the USA and to try to gain a strategic importance for the USA. it would be wiser to interpret the convergence of Turkey with the Soviet Union and Europe in this framework. In the mid-60s, Turkish foreign policy underwent a crucial transformation in the aftermath of the negotiations that took place in the absence of Turkey during the Cuba Crisis, the Johnson letter (June 5, 1964) and the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Feridun Cemal Erkin to the Soviet Union (October 30-November 6, 1964). Turkish foreign policy has evolved into a multidimensional policy rather than having a single focal point and being merely involved with the West led by the USA. Particularly the534 steps taken for the normalization of the relations with the Soviet Union and renewed relations with the Balkan and Middle Eastern countries have given a multilateral nature to Turkish foreign policy. It is obvious that Turkey did not merely want to rearrange relations with the Soviet Union, but was searching for ways to become a regional power and saw that in order to achieve this, she would have to establish friendly relations with her neighbors and the regional states. Turkey has always been, even when she strictly followed a unilateral, fully dependent policy in the Cold War era, in search of ways to become a regional power, as her historical mission demanded and has amended her foreign policy accordingly. The rise of national bourgeois in Turkey put its national interests before the US global interests and supported and accelerated the transformation of Turkish foreign policy into a multidimensional form. If in this context Turkey could form a balance between her historical mission, her national interests and the world, not only her strategic but also geopolitical importance would be longstanding. Therefore, Turkey would both be a regional power and by becoming a regional model for liberal economy and democracy, be least subject to conjecture and would not have to worry about finding external aid by solely claiming her geopolitical position. The fact that Turkey wants to be a regional power and that her past somewhat compels her to do so and the necessity to secure her existence and maintain her strategic importance have led Turkey to follow a multidimensional foreign policy. In addition to the demands of a change in foreign policy by national bourgeois and the fact that unilateral, fully dependent policy to the USA does not meet Turkey's foreign policy needs, it is Turkey's past and historical mission that compel her to become a regional power. The way the Turkish-Soviet relations and the Turkish-American relations evolved in the Cold War era is the most significant indicator of this.