Türkiye’s Foreign Policy Relations During the National Security Council Period: The Example of the USA, EEC and Greece

After the military coups and memorandums that interrupted democratic life in Türkiye in 1960, 1971, and 1980, interim governments ruled the country during the transition back to democratic governance. One such interim government was the 44th Government, established according to the decision of the National Security Council following the September 12, 1980, military coup. The 44th Government of the Republic of Türkiye was led by former Navy Commander Bülent Ulusu, appointed by the National Security Council, and İlker Türkmen was appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. During the tenure of the 44th Government, a priority of Turkish foreign policy was the development of relations with Western entities such as the United States, NATO, and the European Economic Community. Additionally, the Cyprus issue was among the primary matters where the government took initiative and showed determination. Relations with Greece were shaped by many political and diplomatic issues, especially the Cyprus problem. In this article, the foreign policy pursuits and practices of the 44th Government during the interim regime from 1980 to 1983, particularly concerning the USA, EEC, and Greece, are identified and analysed using primary sources such as the minutes of the National Security Council, newspaper collections of the period, and memoirs, as well as various authored research works.