The United States, the Defence of the Middle East and Türkiye: 1946-1952

Year 2024, Issue: 113, 193 - 211, 20.03.2024

Muhammet Faruk Çakır

https://doi.org/10.36484/liberal.1438746

Abstract

This study analyses the early years of cooperation between Türkiye and the United States (US) in the field of security and defence by utilising US government documents and the secondary sources that heavily depend on primary sources. It emphasizes the link between the elements of the strategic context in which the US developed its approach to the defence of the Middle East and the American interest
in developing defence ties with Türkiye. The major outcomes of Turkish-American cooperation were American support for Türkiye against the Soviet Union in 1946, the provision of American military assistance in 1947, the modernization of the Turkish military, the construction of military bases on Turkish territory, American support for Turkish membership in NATO and Turkish willingness to conduct its
relations with the Middle East in coordination with the West. This study reveals that those outcomes reflected for the most time American political and strategic preferences. For this reason, the typical characteristics of those relations between great powers and small states can be observed in Turkish-American security relations during their formative years.

Keywords

Strategy of Containment, Defence of the Middle East, Defence of Türkiye, American Military Assistance

Amerika Birleşik Devletleri, Orta Doğu’nun Savunulması ve Türkiye: 1946-1952

Abstract

Bu çalışmada Türkiye ile Amerika Birleşik Devletleri (ABD) arasındaki güvenlik ve savunma ilişkilerinin ilk yılları analiz edilmektedir. Çalışmada, Amerikan hükümet belgeleri ve büyük ölçüde birincil kaynaklara dayanılarak yapılan ikincil çalışmalar kullanılmıştır. Bu çalışmada, ABD’nin Orta Doğu’nun savunmasına yönelik yaklaşımını geliştirdiği stratejik bağlamın unsurları ile ABD’nin Türkiye ile savunma bağlarını
geliştirmek istemesi arasındaki bağlantıya vurgu yapılmaktadır. Türk-Amerikan iş birliğinin başlıca çıktıları arasında; 1946’da Sovyetler Birliği’ne karşı Amerika’nın desteği, 1947’de Amerikan askeri yardımı verilmesi, Türk ordusunun modernizasyonu, Türk topraklarında askeri üsler kurulması, Türkiye’nin NATO üyeliğine Amerikan desteği ve Türkiye’nin Ortadoğu ile ilişkilerini Batı ile koordineli olarak yürütmeyi
kabul etmesi yer almıştır. Bu çalışma, bu çıktıların çoğu zaman Amerika’nın siyasi ve stratejik tercihlerini yansıttığını ortaya koymaktadır. Bu nedenle, ilk gelişim yıllarında Türk-Amerikan güvenlik ilişkilerinin, büyük güçler ile küçük devletler arasındaki ilişkilerin tipik özelliklerini taşıdığını gözlemlemek mümkündür.

Keywords

Çevreleme Stratejisi, Orta Doğu’nun Savunulması, Türkiye’nin Savunulması, Amerikan Askeri Yardımı

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma, bilimsel araştırma ve yayın etiği ilkelerine uyularak hazırlanmıştır. Bu çalışma, etik kurul kararı gerektirmeyen bir çalışmadır.

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