Watergate Scandal and its effect on Turkish foreign policy

During the Détente Period of the Cold War, the President of the United States of America, Richard M. Nixon, was involved in an event which would have an impact that would last for many years. It was revealed that there were many illegal operations and irregularities planned by Nixon and his team behind the scenes of this event that took place in 1972 and was known as the "Watergate Scandal". The Watergate Scandal, which resulted in the resignation of the President approximately two years later, made Henry Kissinger a voice in foreign policy. However, there were also changes in the US political system; Different interest groups and lobbies have increased their activities, and the domestic and foreign policy of the USA has been affected in many ways. The results of the Watergate Scandal also had an impact on the US-Turkey relations. The study is being prepared at that time considered to be among the major foreign policy issues for Turkey, especially the Cyprus issue in the American foreign aid and poppy matters, the effects of the Watergate Scandal was analyzed. Especially in the Cyprus issue, it has been determined that Kissinger followed a foreign policy within the scope of the Acheson Plan and in this context, the Greek junta administration tried to keep the coup d'etat against the Greek Cypriot leader Makarios on the island and the Cyprus Peace Operation that took place right after it, through bilateral diplomacy. In addition to these, it was seen that the Watergate Scandal increased the influence of the Congress on the US administration and in this direction, it caused a power struggle between the Congress and Kissinger. This situation can also be seen in the difference of opinion between the Congress and Kissinger, which emerged during the embargo decision on Turkey. As a result, this study reveals that the effects of the Watergate Scandal are reflected on Turkey-US relations in a concrete way and that it effects Turkish foreign policy, in the light of the available resources.