The Uneasy Relationship: Turkey`s Foreign Policy as Regards the Soviet Union at the Outbreak of the Second World War

Authors : Yücel GÜÇLÜ

Pages : 949-986

Doi:10.37879/belleten.2003.949

View : 40 | Download : 7

Publication Date : 2003-12-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :In view of growing threat of the Axis powers, by the beginning of 1939 a security agreement with the Soviet Union came high on the list of Turkish priorities. Turkey would also co-operate with Britain in the Balkans and the Mediterranean. Ankara proposed a triangular Turco-Anglo-Soviet relationship. Turkey sought to search for the illusive Soviet connection to parallel its signing of mutual assistance agreement with Britain on 12 May 1939. But the Germano-Soviet Non-aggression Pact of 23 August 1939 upset the entire international balance and put Turkey into a delicate position. Nonetheless Ankara still considered that arriving at an accord with Moscow would not be incompatible with its engagements towards the West. Saracoğlu`s mission to Muscow in the autumn of 1939 failed because of Russia`s attempts to unilaterally amend the Montreux Straits Convention and to draw Turkey away from the West. During Saracoğlu-Molotov talks, Kremlin endeavoured to obtain a foothold at the Straits in order at once prevent others from commanding the warm water approach to its Black Sea ports and to place itself in a position to exercise a hand in Mediterranean affairs. Relations between Turkey and Russia thus entered into a new period of mutual distrust and tension.
Keywords : Turkey, Soviet Union, Second World War, History

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