Updated January 4, 2019April 9, 2020
Turkey-U.S. Relations: Timeline and Brief Historical Context
This timeline tracks major developments from the
beginning of close U.S.-Turkey ties after World War II to
the present. The information provides context for
lawmakers assessing the tenor and trajectory of current
bilateral relations on issues ranging from general strategic
cooperation to timely regional concerns (Syria and Iraq,
Kurds, Islamic State) and domestic and domestic
Turkish politics.
Early Cold War Partners (1945-1962)
Soviet pressure on the Turkish government to allow free
passage through the Turkish straits (the Bosphorus and
Dardanelles) and its territorial claims in eastern Anatolia
threatened to precipitate hostilities between the two states,
whose predecessors (the Russian and Ottoman Empires)
had fought 12 wars over the preceding four centuries.
Turkey turned to the United States for support. Mutual
opposition to Soviet expansion would underpin TurkeyU.S. ties in the coming decades.
1945
Turkey declares war on Germany and Japan in
February; becomes founding member of the
United Nations
1946
In response to Soviet demands on Turkey for
shared administration of the straits, the United
States counters Soviet pressure by sending
ships to Turkish waters
1947
Congress designates Turkey (along with
Greece) a special recipient of anti-Soviet aid
under the Truman Doctrine
1950
Turkish troops join U.S.-U.N. forces in the
Korean War
1952
Turkey becomes a member of NATO
1954
U.S. and Turkey agree to joint use of what
becomes Incirlik air baseAir Base; U.S. and Turkey
sign first status of forces agreement
1955
Turkey helps form Baghdad Pact to resist Soviet
aggression
1960
First military coup in Turkey; civilian rule
returns with elections in 1961
1962
Resolution of Cuban Missile Crisis includes
U.S. agreement to remove nuclear-armed
Jupiter missiles (judged by the U.S. to be
obsolete) from Turkey.
Allies amid Challenges (1963-1978)
U.S.-Turkey relations were particularly challenged by
Turkey’s frequent clashes with fellow NATO member
Greece over the ethnically divided island of Cyprus. AntiAmericanism grew as Turks increasingly debated the
benefits and drawbacks of the bilateral relationship.
1964
Letter from President Lyndon Johnson to
Turkish Prime Minister Ismet Inonu (known as
the “Johnson Letter”) communicates U.S.
opposition to Turkish intervention in Cyprus
after ethnic Greek-Turkish power sharing
breaks down
1971
Turkey’s second military coup occurs with
the government’s resignation amid increasing
street violence; elections resume in 1973
1974
Turkey, using U.S.-supplied equipment, occupies
the northern third of the island of Cyprus (an
occupation that has continued to the present)
on behalf of Turkish Cypriot minority, following
a coup that installed a more pro-Greek
government on the island
1975
Congress freezes aid and imposes arms
embargo on Turkey for its actions in Cyprus
Turkey abrogates U.S. status of forces
agreement; takes control of U.S. installations;
U.S. forces performing NATO functions remain
1978
After intense lobbying by multiple presidential
administrations and several votes to partially lift
the embargo, Congress fully repeals it
Renewed Military Cooperation
(1980-1991)
The 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and Iranian
revolutionIran’s Islamic
Revolution heightened the strategic importance of the
Turkey-U.S. relationship for American interests in the
broader Middle East.
1980
United States and Turkey sign Defense and
Economic Cooperation Agreement
Turkey’s third coup in response to social and
political turmoil; elections resume in 1983
1984
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) begins
significant operations in its armed insurgency in
southeastern Turkey
1991
Turkey allows the use of its airspace and bases
for U.S. and coalition aircraft participating in
Gulf War and for the postwar patrolling of
northern Iraq
Reassessment (1991-2002)
Turkey’s relative importance for U.S. policymakers
declined in the immediate aftermath of the Gulf War and
the collapse of the Soviet Union, but focus remained on a
number of regional developments involving Turkey.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Turkey-U.S. Relations: Timeline and Brief Historical Context
1991-1992
United States announces closure of 8 of its 12
military bases in Turkey; and major U.S.
military grant aid to Turkey discontinued
in post-Cold War environment
1992
PKK-led Kurdish insurgency intensifies in
Turkey
1994
Congress enacts legislation withholding
withholds military loans to Turkey until the
until submission of executive
branch submits a report on
alleged human
rights violations related to in relations to
Turkey-PKK violence
1996
Turkey-Israel military cooperation agreement
1997
Turkish military compels the replacement of a
coalition government led by an Islamist prime
minister
U.S. designation of PKK as foreign terrorist
organization
Cooperation and Contention
(2013-Present)
A U.S.-led coalition has staged anti-Islamic State
operations from Turkish bases, and NATO helps to
reinforce security at Turkey’s southern border. However,
U.S. and Turkish priorities differ in Syria and elsewhere.
Domestic contention in Turkey, including the July 2016
coup attempt and Erdogan’s increased consolidation of
political control, and closer Turkish relations with Russia
removal of a
government led by an Islamist prime minister
of political control, have further complicated bilateral relations.
2013
Nationwide protests and corruption allegations
increase domestic and Western criticism of
Erdogan and his government
PKK declares
relations. NATO still assists Turkey with security at its
southern border.
2013
PKK cease-fire as Ocalan negotiates
with Turkey
with
Turkey
2014
U.S.-Turkey differences deepen in Syria over
jihadists’ alleged use of Turkish territory,
U.S. support for Syrian Kurds aligned with the
PKK, and other issues.
1999
Turkey captures PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan
with reported U.S. assistance; PKK declares
cease-fire
2015
2001
Turkey joins the International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan,
participating mostly in a training capacity2015
After some Islamic State-linked terror attacks in
Turkey, Turkey permits coalition airstrikes in
Syria and Iraq; Turkey-PKK violence resumes
2016
After July coup attempt, Turkey requests that
the U.S. extradite influential Turkish figure
Fethullah Gulen, and begins direct military
operations in Syria to counter the Islamic State
and Kurdish-led forces
U.S. designates the PKK as a foreign terrorist
organization
1999
Turkey captures PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan
with U.S. assistance; PKK declares ceasefire
2001
Turkey joins the International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan,
participating mostly in a training capacity
AKP and the Middle East (2003-2012)
After the 2002 election of Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice
and Development Party (known in Turkish as the AKP),
and Erdogan’s election as prime minister in 2003, TurkeyU.S. relations were shaped by Turkey’s growing economic
and political clout in the Middle East.
2003
Turkey enters diplomatic process for Syria with
Russia and Iran
2017
Turkish parliamentary votes do not allow U.S.
invasion of Iraq from Turkey, but do allow
U.S. use of Turkish bases for overflight of Iraq
after U.S.-led occupation of Iraq
Constitutional changes expanding presidential
powers approved by popular referendum
Turkey detains several U.S. citizens and Turkish
employees of U.S. diplomatic facilities
“Hood incident” involving U.S. military
detainment of Turkish special forces occurs in
Iraq, fueling anti-American sentiment
2004
PKK resumes insurgency and attacks against
Turkey from safe havens in northern Iraq
2007
U.S. begins close military and intelligence
cooperation cooperation
with Turkey against PKK in
northern Iraq
2010
Turkey preliminarily agrees to purchase S-400
missile defense system from Russia
2018
Turkey and Brazil unsuccessfully oppose
enhanced U.N. Security Council sanctions
against Iran in relation to its nuclear program
2011
Turkey agrees to U.S./NATO deployment of
missile defense radar on its territory and
agrees to NATO operations in Libya
President Erdogan wins reelection as Turkey
transitions to its new presidential system of
governance amid economic turbulence
Trump Administration and Congress warn that
a Turkish S-400 purchase could halt the transfer
of F-35 aircraft to Turkey; the Administration
seeks to sell Patriot systems to Turkey as an
alternative to the S-400.
Turkey downgrades ties with Israel after an
Israeli raid on the privately-owned ship Mavi
Marmara (part of an activist-led flotilla seeking
humanitarian relief for the Gaza Strip) leaves
eight Turkish citizens dead
2010
U.S. begins directly arming Kurdish forces
against Turkish wishes
Turkey intervenes directly against Syrian
Kurdish forces in Afrin province and threatens
additional action in Syria as U.S. announces
plans to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.
Jim Zanotti, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs
Clayton Thomas, Presidential Management Fellow in
Middle Eastern Affairs
IF10487
https://crsreports.congress.gov northern Iraq
2010
Turkey downgrades ties with Israel after an
Israeli raid on the privately-owned ship Mavi
Marmara (part of an activist-led flotilla seeking
humanitarian relief for the Gaza Strip) leaves
eight Turkish citizens dead
Turkey unsuccessfully opposes enhanced U.N.
sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program
2011
Turkey enters diplomatic process for Syria with
Russia and Iran (“Astana Process”)
2017
U.S.-Turkey tensions have arisen on Syria, Turkey’s
purchase of a Russian S-400 air defense system, and other
matters. Domestic contention in Turkey, including the July
2016 coup attempt and Erdogan’s increased consolidation
U.S. begins directly arming Kurdish forces
against Turkish wishes
Constitutional changes expanding presidential
powers narrowly approved by referendum
Turkey detains several U.S. citizens and Turkish
employees of U.S. diplomatic facilities
Turkey preliminarily agrees to purchase S-400
air defense system from Russia
2018
President Erdogan wins reelection as Turkey
transitions to its new presidential system
In Syria’s Afrin district , Turkey and allied
Syrian opposition militias intervene directly
against PKK-linked Syrian Kurdish forces
2019
Turkey takes delivery of the S-400 system; the
Trump Administration removes Turkey from F35 program and some Members of Congress
call for sanctions under existing law
In northeastern Syria, Turkish-led forces
attack PKK-linked Syrian Kurdish forces that
have partnered with the U.S.-led coalition
against the Islamic State, leading to a buffer
zone monitored by Turkey, Russia, and Syria
2020
Turkey agrees to U.S./NATO deployment of
missile defense radar on its territory and
agrees to NATO operations in Libya
Cooperation and Contention
(2013-Present)
Nationwide protests and corruption allegations
increase domestic and Western criticism of
Erdogan and his government
In a standoff with Russia and Syria’s government
in Idlib province, Turkey clashes directly with
Syrian forces and seeks NATO support
Jim Zanotti, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs
Clayton Thomas, Presidential Management Fellow in
Middle Eastern Affairs
https://crsreports.congress.gov
IF10487
Turkey-U.S. Relations: Timeline and Brief Historical Context
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