Updated April 9, 2020
Turkey-U.S. Relations: Timeline and Brief Historical Context
This timeline tracks major developments from the
1964
Letter from President Lyndon Johnson to
beginning of close U.S.-Turkey ties after World War II to
Turkish Prime Minister Ismet Inonu (known as
the present. The information provides context for
the “Johnson Letter”) communicates U.S.
lawmakers assessing the tenor and trajectory of current
opposition to Turkish intervention in Cyprus
bilateral relations on issues ranging from general strategic
after ethnic Greek-Turkish power sharing
cooperation to timely regional concerns and domestic
breaks down
Turkish politics.
1971
Turkey’s second military coup occurs with
Early Cold War Partners (1945-1962)
the government’s resignation amid increasing
Soviet pressure on the Turkish government to allow free
street violence; elections resume in 1973
passage through the Turkish straits (the Bosphorus and
1974
Turkey, using U.S.-supplied equipment, occupies
Dardanelles) and its territorial claims in eastern Anatolia
the northern third of the island of Cyprus (an
threatened to precipitate hostilities between the two states,
occupation that has continued to the present)
whose predecessors (the Russian and Ottoman Empires)
on behalf of Turkish Cypriot minority, fol owing
had fought 12 wars over the preceding four centuries.
a coup that installed a more pro-Greek
Turkey turned to the United States for support. Mutual
government on the island
opposition to Soviet expansion would underpin Turkey-
U.S. ties in the coming decades.
1975
Congress freezes aid and imposes arms
embargo on Turkey for its actions in Cyprus
1945
Turkey declares war on Germany and Japan in

Turkey abrogates U.S. status of forces

February; becomes founding member of the
agreement; takes control of U.S. installations;
United Nations
U.S. forces performing NATO functions remain
1946
In response to Soviet demands on Turkey for
1978
After intense lobbying by multiple presidential

shared administration of the straits, the United
administrations and several votes to partially lift
States counters Soviet pressure by sending
the embargo, Congress ful y repeals it
ships to Turkish waters

1947
Congress designates Turkey (along with
Renewed Military Cooperation
Greece) a special recipient of anti-Soviet aid
(1980-1991)
under the Truman Doctrine
The 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and Iran’s Islamic
Revolution heightened the strategic importance of the
1950
Turkish troops join U.S.-U.N. forces in the
Turkey-U.S. relationship for American interests in the
Korean War
broader Middle East.
1952
Turkey becomes a member of NATO
1980
United States and Turkey sign Defense and
1954
U.S. and Turkey agree to joint use of what
Economic Cooperation Agreement
becomes Incirlik Air Base; U.S. and Turkey
sign first status of forces agreement

Turkey’s third coup in response to social and
political turmoil; elections resume in 1983
1955
Turkey helps form Baghdad Pact to resist Soviet
aggression
1984
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) begins
significant operations in its armed insurgency in
1960
First military coup in Turkey; civilian rule
southeastern Turkey
returns with elections in 1961
1991
Turkey allows the use of its airspace and bases
1962
Resolution of Cuban Missile Crisis includes
for U.S. and coalition aircraft participating in
U.S. agreement to remove nuclear-armed
Gulf War and for the postwar patrol ing of
Jupiter missiles (judged by the U.S. to be
northern Iraq
obsolete) from Turkey

Allies amid Challenges (1963-1978)
Reassessment (1991-2002)
Turkey’s relative importance for U.S. policymakers
U.S.-Turkey relations were particularly challenged by
Turkey’s
declined in the immediate aftermath of the Gulf War and
frequent clashes with fellow NATO member
the collapse of the Soviet Union, but focus remained on a
Greece over the ethnically divided island of Cyprus. Anti-
number of regional developments involving Turkey.
Americanism grew as Turks increasingly debated the
benefits and drawbacks of the bilateral relationship.
https://crsreports.congress.gov

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Turkey-U.S. Relations: Timeline and Brief Historical Context
1991-1992
United States announces closure of 8 of its 12
of political control, have further complicated bilateral
military bases in Turkey; and major U.S.
relations. NATO still assists Turkey with security at its
military grant aid to Turkey discontinued
southern border.
in post-Cold War environment
2013
Nationwide protests and corruption allegations
1992
PKK-led Kurdish insurgency intensifies in
increase domestic and Western criticism of
Turkey
Erdogan and his government
1994
Congress withholds military loans to Turkey

PKK cease-fire as Ocalan negotiates with
until submission of executive branch report on
Turkey
alleged human rights violations in relations to
Turkey-PKK violence
2014
U.S.-Turkey differences deepen in Syria over
jihadists’ alleged use of Turkish territory,
1996
Turkey-Israel military cooperation agreement
U.S. support for Syrian Kurds aligned with the
1997
Turkish military compels the removal of a
PKK, and other issues.
government led by an Islamist prime minister
2015
After some Islamic State-linked terror attacks in

U.S. designates the PKK as a foreign terrorist
Turkey, Turkey permits coalition airstrikes in
organization
Syria and Iraq; Turkey-PKK violence resumes
1999
Turkey captures PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan
2016
After July coup attempt, Turkey requests that
with U.S. assistance; PKK declares ceasefire
the U.S. extradite influential Turkish figure
Fethullah Gulen, and begins direct military
2001
Turkey joins the International Security
operations in Syria to counter the Islamic State
Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan,
and Kurdish-led forces
participating mostly in a training capacity
Turkey enters diplomatic process for Syria with
AKP and the Middle East (2003-2012)
Russia and Iran (“Astana Process”)
After the 2002 election of Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice
2017
U.S. begins directly arming Kurdish forces
and Development Party (known in Turkish as the AKP),
against Turkish wishes
and Erdogan’s election as prime minister in 2003, Turkey-

Constitutional changes expanding presidential
U.S. relations were shaped by Turkey’s growing economic
powers narrowly approved by referendum
and political clout in the Middle East.

Turkey detains several U.S. citizens and Turkish
2003
Turkish parliamentary votes do not allow U.S.
employees of U.S. diplomatic facilities
invasion of Iraq from Turkey, but do allow

Turkey preliminarily agrees to purchase S-400
U.S. use of Turkish bases for overflight of Iraq
air defense system from Russia
after U.S.-led occupation of Iraq
2018
President Erdogan wins reelection as Turkey

“Hood incident” involving U.S. military
transitions to its new presidential system
detainment of Turkish special forces occurs in
Iraq, fueling anti-American sentiment

In Syria’s Afrin district , Turkey and allied
Syrian opposition militias intervene directly
2004
PKK resumes insurgency and attacks against
against PKK-linked Syrian Kurdish forces
Turkey from safe havens in northern Iraq
2019
Turkey takes delivery of the S-400 system; the
2007
U.S. begins military and intelligence cooperation
Trump Administration removes Turkey from F-
with Turkey against PKK in northern Iraq
35 program and some Members of Congress
2010
Turkey downgrades ties with Israel after an
call for sanctions under existing law
Israeli raid on the privately-owned ship Mavi
In northeastern Syria, Turkish-led forces
Marmara (part of an activist-led flotil a seeking
attack PKK-linked Syrian Kurdish forces that
humanitarian relief for the Gaza Strip) leaves
have partnered with the U.S.-led coalition
eight Turkish citizens dead
against the Islamic State, leading to a buffer
Turkey unsuccessful y opposes enhanced U.N.
zone monitored by Turkey, Russia, and Syria
sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program
2020
In a standoff with Russia and Syria’s government
2011
Turkey agrees to U.S./NATO deployment of
in Idlib province, Turkey clashes directly with
missile defense radar on its territory and
Syrian forces and seeks NATO support
agrees to NATO operations in Libya

Cooperation and Contention
Jim Zanotti, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs
(2013-Present)
Clayton Thomas, Presidential Management Fellow in
U.S.-Turkey tensions have arisen on Syria, Turkey’s
Middle Eastern Affairs
purchase of a Russian S-400 air defense system, and other
matters. Domestic contention in Turkey, including the July
IF10487
2016 coup attempt and Erdogan’s increased consolidation
https://crsreports.congress.gov

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Turkey-U.S. Relations: Timeline and Brief Historical Context


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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10487 · VERSION 5 · UPDATED

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