Updated January 12, 2023
Turkey (Türkiye)-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 (Türkiye) ties after World
Turkish Prime Minister Ismet Inonu
War II to the present. The information provides context for
communicates U.S. opposition to Turkish
lawmakers assessing the tenor and trajectory of current
intervention in Cyprus after ethnic Greek-
bilateral relations on issues ranging from general strategic
Turkish power sharing breaks down
cooperation to timely regional concerns and domestic
Turkish politics.
1971
Turkey’s second military coup occurs with
the government’s resignation amid increasing
Early Cold War Partners (1945-1962)
street violence; elections resume in 1973
Soviet pressure on the Turkish government to allow free
1974
Turkey, using U.S.-supplied equipment, occupies
passage through the Turkish straits (the Bosphorus and
the northern third of the island of Cyprus (an
Dardanelles) and its territorial claims in eastern Anatolia
occupation that has continued to the present)
threatened to precipitate hostilities between the two states,
on behalf of Turkish Cypriot minority, fol owing
whose predecessors (the Russian and Ottoman Empires)
a coup that installed a more pro-Greek
had fought 12 wars over the preceding four centuries.
government on the island
Turkey turned to the United States for support. Mutual
opposition to Soviet expansion would underpin Turkey-
1975
Congress freezes aid and imposes arms
U.S. ties in the coming decades.
embargo on Turkey for its actions in Cyprus

Turkey abrogates U.S. status of forces
1945
Turkey declares war on Germany and Japan in
agreement; takes control of U.S. installations;

February; becomes founding member of the
U.S. forces performing NATO functions remain
United Nations
1978
After intense lobbying by multiple presidential
1946
In response to Soviet demands on Turkey for
administrations and several votes to partially lift

shared administration of the straits, the United
the embargo, Congress ful y repeals it
States counters Soviet pressure by sending
ships to Turkish waters
Renewed Military Cooperation
1947
Congress designates Turkey (along with
(1980-1991)
Greece) a special recipient of anti-Soviet aid
The 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and Iran’s Islamic
under the Truman Doctrine
Revolution heightened the strategic importance of the
Turkey-U.S. relationship for American interests in the
1950
Turkish troops join U.S.-U.N. forces in the
broader Middle East.
Korean War
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

Turkey’s third coup in response to social and
sign first status of forces agreement
political turmoil; elections resume in 1983
1960
First military coup in Turkey; civilian rule
1984
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) begins
returns with elections in 1961
significant operations in its armed insurgency in
1962
Resolution of Cuban Missile Crisis includes
southeastern Turkey
U.S. agreement to remove nuclear-armed
1991
Turkey allows the use of its airspace and bases
Jupiter missiles (judged by the U.S. to be
for U.S. and coalition aircraft participating in
obsolete) from Turkey
Gulf War and for the postwar patrol ing of
northern Iraq
Allies amid Challenges (1963-1978)
U.S.-Turkey relations were particularly challenged by
Reassessment (1991-2002)
Turkey’s frequent clashes with fellow NATO member
Turkey’s relative importance for U.S. policymakers
Greece over the ethnically divided island of Cyprus. Anti-
declined in the immediate aftermath of the Gulf War and
Americanism grew as Turks increasingly debated the
the collapse of the Soviet Union, but focus remained on a
benefits and drawbacks of the bilateral relationship.
number of regional developments involving Turkey.
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Turkey (Türkiye)-U.S. Relations: Timeline and Brief Historical Context
1991-1992
United States announces closure of 8 of its 12
Erdogan elected president.
military bases in Turkey; major U.S. military
2016
After July coup attempt, Turkey requests that
grant aid to Turkey discontinued in post-
the U.S. extradite influential Turkish figure
Cold War environment
Fethullah Gulen, and begins direct military
1992
PKK-led Kurdish insurgency intensifies in
operations in Syria to counter the Islamic State
Turkey
and Kurdish-led forces
1994
Congress withholds military loans to Turkey
2017
U.S. begins directly arming PKK-linked Kurdish
until submission of executive branch report on
forces in Syria against Turkish wishes
alleged human rights violations in relations to

Constitutional changes expanding presidential
Turkey-PKK violence
powers narrowly approved by referendum
1997
Turkish military compels the removal of a
2018
President Erdogan wins reelection
government led by an Islamist prime minister

In Syria’s Afrin district, Turkey and allied Syrian

U.S. designates the PKK as a foreign terrorist
opposition militias intervene directly against
organization
PKK-linked Syrian Kurdish forces
1999
Turkey captures PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan
2019
Turkey takes delivery of S-400 system from
with U.S. assistance; PKK declares ceasefire
Russia; the U.S. removes Turkey from F-35
2001
Turkey joins the International Security
program; some Members of Congress
Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan
reportedly place informal holds on major
arms sales to Turkey
AKP and the Middle East (2003-2012)
In northeastern Syria, Turkish-led forces
After the 2002 election of Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice
attack the U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces
and Development Party (known in Turkish as the AKP),
mentioned above, increasing the Syrian
and Erdogan’s election as prime minister in 2003, Turkey-
territory Turkey administers along its border,
U.S. relations were shaped by Turkey’s growing economic
and triggering strong U.S. criticism
and political clout in the Middle East.
2020
Turkey’s successful use of drone aircraft
against Russian-origin equipment in Syria and
2003
Turkish parliamentary votes do not allow U.S.
elsewhere gains it greater global notoriety
invasion of Iraq from Turkey, but permit U.S.
linked with its arms exports
use of Turkish bases for overflight of Iraq after
U.S.-led occupation

Eastern Mediterranean maritime border and
energy disputes intensify between Turkey and
2004
PKK resumes insurgency and attacks against
some NATO countries and other U.S. partners
Turkey from safe havens in northern Iraq

The Trump Administration imposes sanctions
2010
Turkey downgrades ties with Israel after
on Turkey’s arms procurement agency and
Israel’s raid on the Mavi Marmara (part of an
some of its officials for the S-400 acquisition
activist-led flotil a seeking humanitarian relief for
the Gaza Strip) leaves eight Turkish citizens
2021
President Biden characterizes Ottoman Empire
dead
actions against Armenians during World War I
as genocide. (The House and Senate passed
2011
Turkey agrees to U.S./NATO deployment of
resolutions of similar substance in 2019.)
missile defense radar on its territory
2022
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine leads to a multi-
More Challenges to Cooperation
faceted Turkish response: some military and
(2013-Present)
political support for Ukraine, and increased
economic and energy ties with Russia; Turkey
Factors driving U.S.-Turkey tensions include the conflict in
begins mediating between the warring parties
Syria and Turkey’s purchase of a Russian S-400 air defense
President Biden publicly expresses support for a
system. Domestic developments, including the July 2016
coup attempt and Erdogan’s increased consolidation of
sale of F-16s to Turkey amid fresh Turkey-
Greece tensions and uncertainty about
political control, have further challenged bilateral relations.
Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine has
congressional support for the sale
made NATO
considerations more central to U.S.-Turkey discussions.
Turkey demands extraditions and other actions
from Sweden and Finland as a condition to
2013
Nationwide protests and corruption allegations
its parliament ratifying their NATO accession
increase domestic and Western criticism of

Erdogan and his government
2014
U.S.-Turkey differences deepen in Syria over
Jim Zanotti, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs
jihadists’ al eged use of Turkish territory and
Clayton Thomas, Acting Section Research Manager
U.S. support for PKK-aligned Syrian Kurds
IF10487
https://crsreports.congress.gov

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


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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10487 · VERSION 10 · UPDATED

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