Post 9/11 Turkey-American Relations and Iraq

Abstract

The United State’s military operation in Iraq in the post 9/11 period is seen to have marked a deterioration in Turkish-American relations. Turkey, a NATO member and ally of the United States since the Cold War days, for the first time disagreed with its main ally, and did not cooperate in military operations in Iraq with the U.S. as it did in the first Gulf War. The United States considers its relations with Turkey as important and strategic to its interest not only in the Middle East, but in the Caucasus, parts of Asia and the Balkans as well. Turkey, on the other hand, also views its relations with the United States as important not just to Turkey’s national security, but also for Turkey’s various interests which the U.S. is supporting. Any deterioration in these relations is seen to likely affect the security interests of both nations. This paper examines how and why the United States and Turkey did not cooperate in the U.S. led Iraqi military operations; it takes a look at the perspectives of both sides and argues that both countries need one another in their relations.

Keywords: Turkey, United States, Iraqi, Security, Cooperation