Turkey’s admission to NATO
In 1945, World War II had ended but concerns prevailed that Turkey would witness an aftershock similar to the one caused by the Second Balkan War. Under Red Army occupation, the eastern part of Europe was faced with the regime imposition of the Soviet Union. Confronted by Soviet territorial demands on the eastern part of Turkey, as well as impositions over the Straits, the Turkish government was facing the biggest external threat since the National Struggle. Seeking security and assistance under these circumstances, Turkey had begun to look for allies even before the war was over but had not fully succeeded in her attempts.
Established on April 4, 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) proved promising for Turkey in these current conditions. The Turkish government thus seemed willing to participate in the alliance from the onset. However, smaller member states of NATO and the U.S. opposed to the membership of Turkey on the grounds that the latter’s participation could possibly increase Soviet threat.
Meanwhile, the geopolitical importance of Turkey and the valor of the Turkish brigade sent to the Korean War in 1950 proved that Turkey would be a worthy asset to NATO. Consequently, Turkey, rejected twice already in May and September of 1950, was invited to become a NATO member, along with Greece, on September 21, 1951. On January 29, 1952, the U.S. Senate sanctioned the membership application of the two countries and the Grand National Assembly of Turkey approved Turkey’s admission to NATO on February 18, 1952.
