Bulent Ecevit and Turkey’s Security Policies after Cyprus Conflict (1974)

Abstract

The geopolitical strategy of Turkey and its foreign policy course today is of interest to many scientists. Events and measures that took place decades ago can help shed light on the origins of the current course. This article is devoted to the provisions on the national security of Turkey, developed by Bulent Ecevit as Prime Minister in 1978. The object of this study is the national security policy of Turkey after the Caribbean crisis of 1974. The subject of study is B. Ecevit's appeal to Western partners entitled "Turkey's Security Policies”, published in “Survival: Global Politics and Strategy” in 1978. The purpose of the work is to analyze the decisions made by B. Ecevit and their impact on the subsequent development of the foreign policy of the Republic of Turkey. The author uses the methods of scientific knowledge, observed the principles of logic, systematic and consistent presentation of the material. In this article, for the first time in domestic historical science, an attempt was made to consider B. Ecevit as a key figure who laid the foundations of Turkey's modern geopolitical strategy. As a result of this study, the author comes to the conclusion that the measures proposed by B. Ecevit became the basis for subsequent decisions taken by the leaders of Turkey over the coming decades, they will become the foundation for the doctrine of "zero problems with neighbors", prerequisites for economic development and growth the military-industrial complex in particular.