Causes And Consequences Of Turkey'S Out-Of-War Position In The Iraq War Of 2003

Authors : Ramazan Gözen

Pages : 74-99

Doi:10.1501/Intrel_0000000103

View : 13 | Download : 7

Publication Date : 2005-05-01

Article Type : Research

Abstract :This article examines Turkey's 'position' in the Iraq war of 2003 by focusing on a very important decision made by the Turkish Grand National Assembly on 1 March 2003. It argues that the decision vvas a product of several factors and pressures, producing both positive and negative consequences for Turkey. its most important positive consequence is that the TGNA shovved its influence över Turkish foreign policy making for the fırst time since the 1970s. Hovvever, it also generated some strategic changes regarding Turkey's relations vvith the US and the EU. While Turkish-US relations experienced a 'crisis of confidence', Turkish-EU relations recorded a rapprochement since 2003.
Keywords : US-Turkish relations, Turkish foreign policy, Iraq vvar, parliament and foreign policy, northern Iraq