Turkey-US Relations (2016-2020): Transformation of the Asymmetrical Alliance

Year 2021, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 133 - 144, 31.12.2021

Sezin İba Gürsoy

Abstract

The dramatic transformation in international politics is progressing both very quickly and very comprehensively. Since the 2016, relations between Turkey and the United States have deteriorated noticeably. Relations were negatively affected by the differentiation over time of the general goals that brought the United States and Turkey closer during the Cold War era, and Turkey’s regional interests beginning to outweigh the ever-declining common threats and interests between the two sides. This article focuses on the crises that tested Turkey-US relations between 2016-2020, how these crises and differentiated interests shook ties and the reasons for the transformation that occurred in relations. In doing so, it aims to discuss whether the asymmetrical alliance, which was constructed during the cold war and post-cold war period, has evolved into a different understanding of alliance. This article lays out the argument for the fragility of the alliance that emerged in the Trump era. As a result, a clear definition of new goals and new expectations has been reached beyond conceptual toolkits such as asymmetric alliance, strategic alliance, or model partnership to describe the relationship between the parties.

Keywords

International Politics, Trump Era, US-Turkey Relations, Turkish Foreign Policy, Asymmetric Alliance

Türkiye-ABD İlişkileri (2016-2020): Asimetrik İttifakın Dönüşümü

Abstract

Uluslararası siyasetteki dramatik dönüşüm hem çok hızlı hem de çok kapsamlı ilerlemektedir. 2016’dan bu yana Türkiye ile ABD arasındaki ilişkiler gözle görülür şekilde kötüleşmiştir. Soğuk Savaş döneminde Amerika Birleşik Devletleri ve Türkiye'yi yakınlaştıran genel hedeflerin zaman içinde farklılaşması, ilişkileri olumsuz yönde etkilemiş ve Türkiye'nin bölgesel çıkarları, iki taraf arasında giderek azalan ortak tehdit ve çıkarlardan daha ağır basmaya başlamıştır. Bu makale, 2016- 2020 arasında Türkiye-ABD ilişkilerini sınayan krizlere, bu krizlerin ve farklılaşan çıkarların ilişkileri nasıl sarstığına ve ilişkilerde meydana gelen dönüşümün nedenlerine odaklanmaktadır. Bunu yaparken, Soğuk Savaş ve Soğuk Savaş sonrası dönemde inşa edilen asimetrik ittifakın, özellikle Trump döneminde farklı bir ittifak anlayışına evrilip evrilmediğini tartışmayı amaçlamaktadır. Sonuç olarak, taraflar arasındaki ilişkiyi tanımlamak için asimetrik ittifak, stratejik ittifak veya model ortaklık gibi kavramsal araç setlerinin ötesinde yeni hedeflerin ve yeni beklentilerin net bir tanımına ulaşılmıştır.

Keywords

Türkiye-ABD İlişkileri, Trump Dönemi, Uluslararası Güvenlik, Türk Dış Politikası, Asimetrik İttifak

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