Özet:

Analyzing the relations between Turkey and Russia reveals that the process beginning with March 16, 1921 Moscow Treaty was carried forward with the Treaty dated December 17, 1925. However, there were significant changes in the Soviet Union’s policy towards Turkey after the World War II, and thus, to guarantee its own safety Turkey turned its face towards the West. While turning towards the West, Turkey encountered several coup attempts. The Turkish military seized the power with the 27 May 1960 coup, sent a memorandum to the government on 12 March 1971, and carried out the military coup of 12 September 1980 as an intervention to the government. The coup of 12 September 1980 was carried out with the cooperation of the army, gendarmerie and the National Intelligence Organization (MIT). This coup basically aimed to “limit and passivate the activities of the extreme left and extreme right groups and to deal a blow on the terrorist cells and diversionist groups”. This study examines the relations between the Soviet Union and Turkey during the 12 September 1980 coup and attempts to look into the coup from the Soviet perspective. In this regard, major publications in the Soviet Union such as Pravda, Izvestia, Kommunist, and Bakynskiy Rabochiy are reviewed to examine the period from 12 September 1980 to December 1983. During that period, the Soviet Union mostly dwelled on the role of NATO in the coups and whether the Turkish statesmen would change their approach towards NATO and the US after the coup of 12 September 1980. Even though Kenan Evren stressed that Turkey would remain loyal to NATO, Soviets tried to maintain and even enhance their relations with Turkey during the Cold War within the framework of good neighborly affairs. The study gives information on how Turkish relations with NATO and the US evolved after the military coup, the state of Turkish Left, and mutual economic agreements and other bilateral contracts and senior level visits and meetings between the Soviet Union and Turkey.

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