World War II impact of İsmet İnönü on Turkish foreign policy

WORLD WAR II IMPACT OF İSMET İNÖNÜ ON TURKISH FOREIGN POLICY This thesis examines the foreign policy of the Republic of Turkey during World War II, which took place between 1939 and 1945, in the context of the leadership of then-President İsmet İnönü. The research analyzes the diplomatic basis for Turkey's policy of neutrality, which aimed to stay out of the war, and reveals İsmet İnönü's decisive influence on this process. This study examines the declarations of cooperation signed by Turkey with Allied Powers such as the United Kingdom and France since the pre-war period, the diplomatic relations with Germany, the cautious dialogues maintained with the Soviet Union, and the neutrality strategies developed within this framework, all in accordance with a periodic chronology. Turkey's position is detailed through the Turkish-German Non-Aggression Pact, the Turkish-Soviet Declaration of Non-Aggression, the Adana Talks, and the international conferences held in the final stages of the war. This research uses the Republic Archives affiliated with the State Archives of the Republic of Turkey, the Turkish Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Military History Archives (ATASE) of the Ministry of National Defense, the Turkish Grand National Assembly Minutes, the İsmet İnönü Foundation Archives, and the Turkish press of the period (Cumhuriyet, Ulus, Son Posta, etc.). Furthermore, İsmet İnönü's statements, memoirs, and speeches are indispensable sources for understanding the political decision-making processes of the period. In addition to these domestic sources, documents from the official archives of the three countries were also used to assess the international diplomatic relations and foreign policy reflexes of the period. These include the British National Archives (London), the Bundesarchiv (Berlin), and the U.S. Department of State (USA). This combined analysis of Turkey's internal correspondence and diplomatic decision-making processes, as well as their impact on the international arena, was conducted. According to the findings, Turkey pursued a policy of balance between the Axis and Allied blocs throughout the war; thanks to İnönü's diplomatic efforts, direct conflict was avoided. In 1945, war was declared on Germany, leading to its entry into the United Nations, thus securing a place in the post-war international order. İnönü's leadership shaped not only the war period but also Turkey's long-term foreign policy orientation. Keywords: Diplomacy, İsmet İnönü, World War II, Axis Powers, Allied Powers, Neutrality (Balance) Policy, Republic of Turkey, International Conferences