Turkey’s intelligence diplomacy during the Second World War

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe Turks avoided becoming ensnared in the devastation of the Second World War and also increased their own technical capabilities by way of an exchange of their partial support for Western military and intelligence activities in the region. However, the Turkish leadership demonstrated repeated doubts and hesitancy about Western aims even when the Axis forces were in its doorstep, fearing a possible Anglo-Soviet agreement regarding Turkey which would ultimately jeopardize the country’s political and territorial integrity. As the host country of the signals intelligence facilities, the Turks did not simply tried to take their share from the intelligence, endeavoured to direct the intelligence liaison in their favour. Particularly Ankara employed intelligence diplomacy as a mechanism to maintain the country’s independence and territorial integrity. There were powerful and arguably compelling reasons for pursuing such intelligence diplomacy.