USA Bases and Facilities in Turkey in Cold War Years

Abstract

Turkey, in the face of threats from the USSR after the Second World War, adopted a pro-USA foreign policy. Although there were crises in the Cold War process, she continued its policy. Being located in the middle of the triangle of the Balkan, Caucasus, Middle East and having the Straits of the Bosporus and Dardanelles and neighboring to the USSR made Turkey strategically important country in the World. The USA has always tried to benefit from Turkey has always tried to take advantage of Turkey' strategic location across from the USSR. Therefore, the USA during the Cold War period established bases and facilities for purposes of monitoring and listening on the territory of Turkey. These bases and facilities, whose numbers and capacities vary, led to discussions in the public opinion of the country. On July 26, 1975, response to USA arms embargo Turkey had confiscated USA bases and facilities. Upon the lifting of the USA embargo on arms, the US continued her activities in bases and facilities. The USA carried out her intelligence and propaganda activities towards the USSR and the Middle East from the facilities in Turkey. Therefore, bases and facilities acted as the key barriers to the improvement of relations between Turkey and the USSR.

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