Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
현대사연구 Journal of Modern History, cilt.2, sa.1, ss.17-42, 2024 (Hakemli Dergi)
This article examines the continuity in Turkish foreign policy between World War II and the Korean War, arguing that Turkey's neutrality during World War II significantly impacted its decision to intervene in Korea. Using newly declassified Turkish archives alongside American, British, and German sources, the author contends that Turkey's failure to fulfill its commitments to join the Allies in World War II resulted in a substantial loss of credibility among Western powers. This loss of trust became a major obstacle for Turkey in the post-war period, hindering its attempts to join NATO and forge closer ties with the West in the face of Soviet hostility. The article challenges existing literature that often treats Turkey's World War II and Korean War policies as separate events. Instead, it argues that the Korean War presented a crucial opportunity for Turkey to rehabilitate its image and demonstrate its reliability as an ally to the Western bloc. By sending troops to Korea, Turkey aimed to dispel the untrustworthy image stemming from its World War II neutrality and prove its commitment to the international community. The author emphasizes that Turkey's decision to intervene in the Korean War was directly influenced by its desire to address the credibility loss from its earlier neutrality policy. This research highlights the long-term consequences of major foreign policy decisions and provides a new perspective on Turkey's motivations for participating in the Korean War, linking it directly to the aftermath of its World War II stance.