An Examination of Turkey's Relations with Europe and the United States
Abstract
In 2023, Turkey will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the republic. The celebration of that anniversary may be fraught with ambiguity as Turkey searches for a stable sense of itself in a turbulent region and world. Turkey's inability integrate into Western political and economic institutions threaten to fracture Turkey's relations with Europe and the United States. Three key factors contribute to contemporary Turkish identity: its Ottoman legacy, the secular Kemalist tradition, and its pursuit of a Western identity. Today, all three of these characteristics compete to shape Turkish domestic and foreign policy. Turkey's legacy of military, political, and economic cooperation with Europe and the United States has long roots, but it does not guarantee a future of stable relations. Turkey's inability to meet the criteria for EU membership does not diminish its role in NATO or as a regional security partner, but it suggests ambivalence between the idea of Europe and Turkish identity. It is incumbent on NATO and the United States to understand how Turks view themselves in the region and in the world. Despite political disputes, military-to-military engagement and security cooperation assure Turkey of the strength of the transatlantic alliance. This monograph examines the factors that contribute to contemporary Turkish identity and their worldview. These factors include: Turkey's Ottoman heritage, the republic's fight for independence, its diplomacy through conflict, its role in the containment of communism, and its pivotal role in Western security institutions. This monograph also provides insight into current Turkish perceptions of Europe and the United States.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 23, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1083474
Entities
People
- Travis A. Jacobs
Organizations
- School of Advanced Military Studies