Cyprus Problem And Turkey And The U.s. Relations (1960s-1970s)

After World WarⅡ, the two superpowers United States and Soviet Union broke the cold war in the whole world. Due to contain Soviets combined the foreign aid policy with containment strategy closely, then US allied with Turkey was the important part of this strategy. Turkey found a sense of security because of aligning with America. However, the interest of Turkey was different from American global strategy. The deteriorating Cyprus problem in 1960s-1970s, cast a shadow over the relation between Turkey and America.Originally, the Cyprus problem was a national problem between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots. Because the Greek Cypriots were homologous with the Greeks in Greece while the Turkish Cypriot were close related to Turkey in the aspect of race, religion and culture. However, the hate and conflict between Greece and Turkey made the Cyprus problem extended from Cyprus to these two nations. In addition, the contention between America and Soviets in the east of the Mediterranean sea made the Cyprus problem more complexity. Since the second half of 1950s, the Cyprus problem became an influential factor in Turkish foreign policy. The Cyprus problem was not only a matter of national honor but also related to the national security, so Turkey would not compromise in this problem. Although there was no direct interest in Cyprus, American which worried about its two important allies, Greece and Turkey, would clash with each other because of the Cyprus problem, which would effect the stabilization of the southeast of NATO, then Soviets would grasp the chance to penetrating in Mediterranean sea. As a matter of fact, the Cyprus problem was a big clash between Turkish national interest and American regional interest, which fully proved that national interest is essential for state relations.Turkey received the famous Johnson Letter in 1964, which was an important turning point in Turkish foreign policy. Johnson in a threatening tone, forced the Turks not to intervene in Cyprus. Johnson's warning was a substantial blow to Turkish who believed that US was the protector of Turkey, had a serious impact on relation between them. The US Congress passed a bill in 1975 which was aimed at forcing Turkey to make concession in Cyprus problem. Then from the beginning of 1965, stimulated by American attitude on Cyprus, Turkish rulers acted more independent and took some actions against the US stance, especially in foreign policy by improving relations with Eastern bloc and the Third World and being more careful in dealing with the relationship between US and Turkey.After a perfect honeymoon period in the 1950s, the all-conquering US-Turkish alliance was challenged by severe problems from 1960s to 1970s. The Cyprus problem was the core in the two countries' relation. At the same time, it was Turkish national cause, which drew attention of the public considerably. The United States always tried to press the Turkey in this problem, while Turkey felt that the America' position on Cyprus problem damaged its interest. This issue triggered a wide range of events which eventually led to considerable change both in Turkish foreign Policy and Turkish-American relations. During the Cold War, Ankara and Washington were generally close friends, though there were ups and downs. Turkey need the protection and material support from US. For US, Turkey was an indispensable ally in the global strategy. The fluctuation between Turkey and America triggered by the Cyprus problem only because of different interest in the Union, which could not shake two countries' relation basically. The analysis of the Cyprus problem and interaction relationship between US and Turkey, which would help understanding not only the complexity of the Cyprus problem and the evolution of Turkish foreign policy after the second world war, but also the way of America deal the relation with its allies when American global strategy conflicted with its ally' interest, and the future prospects of the Cyprus problem and its impact on the US-Turkish alliance.