Britain’s Post-War Defence Policy in the Middle East and Its Impact on Turkey, 1945-50

Behçet Kemal Yeşilbursa

Research Article

Year 1999, Volume: 15 Issue: 45, 1121 - 1148, 01.11.1999

Abstract

The object of this article is to expose and analyse the gradual stages in the implementation process of Britain's defence policies in the Middle East after the Second World War, taking into account the impact of these policies on Turkey. Britain was concemed about the future of her bilateral defence agreements with local States, as the people of the region were struggling to free themselves from British colonial dependence. In addition, growing Soviet threats towards the region were a cause of concern. Britain's economic and financial difficulties in this period also had negative effects on her projected defence policies in the region. In order to overcome these difficulties Britain tried to secure the United States' cooperation. The article is based on archival material-British and American- as well as secondary sources in English and Turkish

Keywords

Britain, Turkey, Middle East

References

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