Turkey-Italy relations (1928-1940)

In this thesis, the political, economic, and military relations between Turkey and Italy for a period covering the years 1928-1940 were examined. The subject of the examination is domestic and foreign, belonging to the period; archival documents, official publications, books and articles and the press of the period were examined, and the findings and results were explained in the thesis. In the period we examined, Turkey-Italy relations continued from enmity to friendship, from friendship to enmity, by constantly repeating and fluctuating. The Turkey-Italy relations of this period, in which friendship and enmity were intertwined, are defined by many western diplomats with the term "amiadversion(amity-adversary): friend-enemy". After the settlement of the Mosul issue, the Republic of Turkey wants to improve its relations with Western states, which have the technology and finance they need to reach the level of modern civilization. In this period, as a product of mutual efforts between Fascist Italy and Turkey, the "Impartiality, Conciliation and Judicial Resolution Treaty" was signed on 30 May 1928. After this first political agreement signed by the Republic of Turkey with one of the Western powers, a period called the "golden age of relations" began between Turkey and Italy between 1928 and 1932. During this period, there will be positive developments in commercial relations and Italian shipyards will win the tender for the construction of modern warships needed by the Turkish navy. Fascist Italy sees itself as the heir to the Roman Empire and considers the Mediterranean as "Mare Nostrum- Our Sea". The "aggressive policy" followed by Fascist Italy, especially in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean, is carefully followed by Turkey and policies are being developed against it. Mussolini explains that the main goals of Italy are "Asia and Africa", and he entrusts these goals to the Italian generations. Undoubtedly, the Eastern Mediterranean and Anatolian lands are among these targets. As a reflection of this policy, Italy poses a constant and important threat to Anatolia with the naval and air bases it has established in the Menteşe Islands (Rhodes, Dodecanese and Meis). This threat will be one of the most important factors accelerating the establishment process of the Balkan Pact. As a result of Italy's attack on Abyssinia and the change in the balance in the Mediterranean, Turkey will begin to get closer with England and France in response to Italy's aggressive policies. The main event that directly affected the foreign policy that Turkey would follow in the years when Europe was being divided into two main blocs and being dragged into the Second World War, would be Italy's occupation of Albania and the establishment of a bridgehead in the Balkans for its subsequent strategic moves. This invasion will be perceived by Turkey as a "clear and definite threat" against it. In the international environment created by the approaching war, Turkey will leave its traditional policy of neutrality and enter an alliance with England and France. Mussolini, who wanted to wage a "parallel war" with Nazi Germany, which had become quite strong during this period, decided that the whole fate of Italy was transferred to Germany, Hitler, and his decisions with the signing of the "Italian-German Friendship and Alliance Treaty" called the Steel Pact (Patto di Acciaio). Thus, Turkey and Italy were on opposite sides in the blocks that took place in Europe before the Second World War. Mussolini and Fasist Italy who were initially non-belligerent after the war broke out in Europe with Germany's attack on Poland on 1st September 1939, declared war on England and France on 10th June 1940, after it was certain that France would lose the war, as a reflection of the philosophy of "wait, see and profit from the situation". With the entry of Italy into the war, the worst-case scenario for Turkey was realized. In the face of England and France's demand for Turkey to enter the war against Italy in accordance with the Triple Alliance Treaty, the Turkish Government, using the "Soviet Reservation" in the Triple Alliance Treaty as a justification, declared the "non-belligerent" situation and not involved in the war. In the period we examined, it is possible to compare the threat posed by Fascist Italy in the Mediterranean and the Balkans and its effects on Turkish foreign policy, with the Soviet threat, which became evident at the end of the Second World War and led to Turkey's integration into the Western world.