Turkish-American relations post 9/11

Abstract

After the September 11 attacks, the U.S. initiated the Global War on Terror. Prosecution of this war has become a defining objective of the Bush era in American foreign policy. Following the invasion of Afghanistan, the United States invaded Iraq. As part of the invasion plan, the United States requested permission to deploy troops in Turkey to invade Iraq over its northern frontiers. The subsequent rejection of this request by the Turkish Parliament destabilized the relationship between the United States and Turkey. These events have placed U.S-Turkish relations on an uncertain footing. This thesis seeks to explore the path towards the crisis in these relations. It argues that the parameters of the bilateral relations have changed significantly since the September 11 attacks. The thesis provides a chronological analysis of history of Turkish-American relations focusing on the recent events. Last, the thesis will offer recommendations on how U.S-Turkish relations can be restored, drawing upon the lessons of the past between these two countries.