Defense and Economik Coorperation Agreement (DECA) in Turkey-USA relations and its current issues

The Defense and Economic Cooperation Agreement (DECA), which constitutes the framework of military relations between Turkey and the United States of America (USA), was signed on March 29, 1980. The scope of military relations between Turkey and USA has been determined by DECA and ranges from defense support to defense industry cooperation to the legal status of the facilities in Turkey where US military elements are deployed. In the first chapter of the study, Turkey-US relations were examined in order to better understand DECA. In the second chapter, DECA and the complementary agreements annexed to DECA are examined and interpreted together with other agreements related to DECA and the relevant Turkish legislation. Second chapter also examines up-to-dateness of DECA, which has an important place in Turkey-US relations, is evaluated within the context of the changing conjuncture. It is evaluated that this study will bring a new perspective both to the officials of both parties implementing DECA and to Turkey-USA relations in the context of DECA. Keywords; Republic of Turkey, United States of America (USA), Defense and Economic Cooperation Agreement (DECA)