Strategic Implications of Turkey's Potential Admission to the European Union on the War Against Islamic Terrorism
Abstract
On 17 December 2004, the European Union (EU) voted to commence accession negotiations in October 2005 with the Republic of Turkey that could set the stage for the first-ever admission of a broadly Muslim nation into the predominantly Christian EU. This is a major step in Turkey's quest to become a member of the politically and economically powerful EU -- a quest that has lasted for over 40 years. A member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since 1952 and its sole Muslim member, Turkey has thus far enjoyed only a limited relationship with the EU. In 2004, Turkey ignominiously witnessed the admission of eight former Warsaw Pact nations into the EU. Such an event illustrates that Turkey, good enough to help protect Western Europe throughout the Cold War as a member of NATO, and still a key player in European security, simply hasn't measured up to reap the full economic and political benefits of the EU it helped to secure. While the December 2004 EU decision is a positive step, Turkey's EU admission is by no means a certainty. Any number of dynamics could effectively derail Turkey's membership bid. In the post-Cold War strategic environment, however, a Turkey that is firmly aligned with the West through EU membership can potentially have a powerful influence on the war against Islamic terrorism. To support this assertion, this paper will examine the following: key historical background factors; the importance of EU membership to Turkey; rationale behind the reluctance of the EU to admit Turkey; the increasing influence of Islam within secular Turkey; and potential strategic implications of Turkey's EU admission on the war against Islamic terrorism. The paper also will offer broad recommendations for U.S. policy focusing on diplomacy, strategic communications, and economic support.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 22, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA431737
Entities
People
- Randolph A. Pagan
Organizations
- United States Army War College