THE EFFECTS OF THE COMMON HISTORY BETWEEN TURKS- GEORGIANS IN PRE-SECOND WORLD WAR PERIOD ON THE FUTURE RELATIONS

Year 2023, Volume: 20 Issue: 80, 1148 - 1170, 05.01.2024

Burak Şakir Şeker

https://doi.org/10.56694/karadearas.1384290

Abstract

The present article provides an analysis of the longstanding relations between Türkiye and Georgia, encom-passing various dimensions such as diplomatic, economic, social, cultural, and military. The historical background of Turkish-Georgian relations can be traced back to the Seljuks Conquest and the period of Ottoman Empire’s rule in the Caucasus region through its diplomatic, economic, social, and cultural relations with Georgian region. The his-torical impact of the Seljuk and Ottoman Empires on Georgian's economic growth as a trading partner in the Black Sea, Caucasians and the Mediterranean is noteworthy. However, the extent of Ottoman’s influence was curtailed by the dominance and sway of Russia. Following the Independence War of Türkiye, diplomatic ties were restored through the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye before the annexation of Georgia by the Soviet Union. After the Soviet occupation of Georgia, Türkiye faced a challenging situation, as the political system recently established in Georgia exhibited a strong alignment with the Soviet Union, a geopolitical entity that Türkiye perceived as a possible menace to its own security. Georgia's independence ushered in a new era in Turkish-Georgian ties after the Cold War ended. The two nations now cooperate in political, economic, social, and cultural areas, with recent years seeing a rise in military ties as well. This article explores the correlation between political interdependence and cultural in-teractions, with a particular focus on historical events such as the Russo-Turkish War, the Battle of Sarikamish, and the Status of City of Batumi. In this context, it will be investigated whether the Turkish-Georgian relations in the pre-World War II period are the main determining factor in the following period. As an assumption, the hypothesis that well-founded Turkey-Georgia relations will help resolve regional crises will be defended.

Keywords

Türkiye, Georgia, Ottoman Empire, Russian Empire

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