ABSTRACT
The alliance between Turkey and the US that was formed in the immediate aftermath of World War II has remained in effect for more than half a century, easily qualifying it as one of the longest lasting international alliances in the history of modern Turkey. Turkey’s strategic location has traditionally been the most important reason for Washington’s interest in promoting close military and political ties with Ankara. The principal source of close bilateral cooperation between the United States and Turkey during the Cold War period was the basic symmetry in their security perceptions. The relations between the US and Turkey displayed considerable resilience and strength in the aftermath of the Cold War. US-Turkish relations encountered serious strains during the 1960s and 1970s. The most important consequence of Turkey’s human rights problems on the US-Turkish relations concerns the arms transfer and procurement process.
