ABSTRACT
Turkey’s geopolitical characteristics make the country strategically important for the defence of Western security interests. Turkey’s own security has been successfully maintained within the Atlantic Alliance for thirty-five years. Despite very close cooperation in defence and other fields, however, it has not always been easy for Westerners to discern Turkey’s real motivations and to understand its problems and policies. What are the forces which have induced Turkey to seek greater autonomy in its national security affairs? Why have Turkey’s relations with Warsaw Pact countries remained purely economic in character without ever yielding substantial results at the politico-military level? What is the significance of Turkey’s new Middle Eastern policies?
