Updated May 7, 2021
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 instal ed 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. instal ations;
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 partial y 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 al ows 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.
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Turkey-U.S. Relations: Timeline and Brief Historical Context
1991-1992
United States announces closure of 8 of its 12
2013
Nationwide protests and corruption al egations
military bases in Turkey; major U.S. military
increase domestic and Western criticism of
grant aid to Turkey discontinued in post-
Erdogan and his government
Cold War environment
2014
U.S.-Turkey differences deepen in Syria over
1992
PKK-led Kurdish insurgency intensifies in
jihadists’ alleged use of Turkish territory,
Turkey
U.S. support for Syrian Kurds aligned with the
1994
PKK, and other issues
Congress withholds military loans to Turkey
until submission of executive branch report on
2015
After some Islamic State-linked terror attacks in
al eged human rights violations in relations to
Turkey, Turkey permits coalition airstrikes in
Turkey-PKK violence
Syria and Iraq
1996
Turkey-Israel military cooperation agreement
Violence with PKK resumes after 2013 cease-
fire
1997
Turkish military compels the removal of a
government led by an Islamist prime minister
2016
After July coup attempt, Turkey requests that
the U.S. extradite influential Turkish figure

U.S. designates the PKK as a foreign terrorist
Fethullah Gulen, and begins direct military
organization
operations in Syria to counter the Islamic State
1999
Turkey captures PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan
and Kurdish-led forces
with U.S. assistance; PKK declares ceasefire
2017
U.S. begins directly arming PKK-linked Kurdish
2001
Turkey joins the International Security
forces in Syria against Turkish wishes
Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan

Constitutional changes expanding presidential
powers narrowly approved by referendum
AKP and the Middle East (2003-2012)

Turkey agrees to purchase S-400 air defense
After the 2002 election of Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice
system from Russia
and Development Party (known in Turkish as the AKP),
and Erdogan’s election as prime minister in 2003, Turkey-
2018
President Erdogan wins reelection as Turkey
U.S. relations were shaped by Turkey’s growing economic
transitions to its new presidential system
and political clout in the Middle East.

In Syria’s Afrin district, Turkey and al ied Syrian
opposition militias intervene directly against
2003
Turkish parliamentary votes do not al ow U.S.
PKK-linked Syrian Kurdish forces
invasion of Iraq from Turkey, but permit U.S.
use of Turkish bases for overflight of Iraq after
2019
Turkey takes delivery of the S-400 system; the
U.S.-led occupation
U.S. removes Turkey from F-35 program
2004
PKK resumes insurgency and attacks against
In northeastern Syria, Turkish-led forces
Turkey from safe havens in northern Iraq
attack the U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces
mentioned above, increasing the Syrian
2007
U.S. begins military and intel igence cooperation
territory Turkey administers along its border,
with Turkey against PKK in northern Iraq
and triggering strong U.S. criticism
2010
Turkey downgrades ties with Israel after an
2020
Turkey clashes directly with Syrian forces in
Israeli raid on the privately-owned ship Mavi
rebel-held Idlib province, from which Turkey
Marmara (part of an activist-led flotil a seeking
seeks to prevent further refugee flows
humanitarian relief for the Gaza Strip) leaves

eight Turkish citizens dead
Regional tensions rise in the Eastern
Mediterranean and Middle East between Turkey
Turkey unsuccessful y opposes enhanced U.N.
and various NATO al ies and U.S. partners
sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program

The Trump Administration imposes sanctions
2011
Turkey agrees to U.S./NATO deployment of
on Turkey’s arms procurement agency and
missile defense radar on its territory
some of its officials for the S-400 acquisition
Cooperation and Contention
2021
President Biden characterizes Ottoman Empire
(2013-Present)
actions against Armenians during World War I
as genocide; Turkey’s negative response may
U.S.-Turkey tensions have arisen on Syria, Turkey’s
be restrained due to Erdogan’s political
purchase of a Russian S-400 air defense system, and other
vulnerability and Turkey’s economic problems
matters. Domestic contention in Turkey, including the July
2016 coup attempt and Erdogan’s increased consolidation

of political control, have further complicated bilateral
relations. NATO still assists Turkey with security at its
Jim Zanotti, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs
southern border.
Clayton Thomas, Presidential Management Fellow in
Middle Eastern Affairs
https://crsreports.congress.gov

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

IF10487


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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10487 · VERSION 7 · UPDATED

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