Jimmy Carter and the US–Turkish security relationship, 1977–1980

Abstract

This article analyses Jimmy Carter’s policy towards Turkey between 1977 and 1980. It argues that the US-Turkish relationship represents another example of Carter’s pragmatism in foreign policy. Turkey remained a close US ally and NATO member throughout the Cold War. In the 1970s, the bilateral relationship confronted challenges, particularly following the 1974 Cyprus Crisis. Carter’s 1976 election accentuated bilateral tensions due to his perceived pro-Greek and pro-Cypriot – and, by implication, anti-Turkish – stance on Greece-Cyprus-Turkey issues during the election campaign. Once in office, however, Carter prioritized a traditional interpretation of US national interest towards a close Cold War ally, emphasizing the security dimension of the relationship. The administration’s policy required adjustments in terms of strategy to fit the ever-changing domestic Turkish politics and regional developments. President Carter and his top foreign policy advisors remained determined to repair and secure a crucial alliance with a strategic ally.