TARİHTE TÜRK-FRANSIZ İLİŞKİLERİ VE HATAY MESELESİ

The Republic of Turkey, with its deep-rooted history, has established political relations with many nations throughout history. One of these nations is France. The history of Turkish-French relations dates back to the Battle of Nicopolis. The first contact between the Ottoman Empire and France occurred after the Battle of Nicopolis, during the payment of ransoms for Crusader soldiers captured by the Ottomans. When evaluated in the context of Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt, it is difficult to argue that France supported the territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire. However, these relations cannot be considered independently of Ottoman-British and Ottoman-Russian relations. Until 1878, Britain supported the territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire to prevent Russia from gaining excessive power, and in this context, other European states also shaped their policies towards the Ottoman Empire within the framework of the balance of power in Europe. After World War I, France’s tolerance of Greece's occupation of Anatolia marked a significant turning point in Turkish-French relations. However, the victories of the Turkish National Struggle under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk compelled France to retreat from this position. Prioritizing its economic interests, France became the first Allied power to sign an agreement with the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), formally recognizing it through the Treaty of Ankara, signed on October 20, 1921. During the Lausanne Conference, however, France emerged as the most resistant state to the Turkish delegation’s demand for the abolition of capitulations, which was deemed essential for Turkey’s independence. Prior to World War II, Turkey skillfully assessed the international political climate and brought the issue of Hatay to the agenda during a period when France was preparing to grant independence to Syria. Turkey’s firm stance and diplomatic pressure on France led to the resolution of the Hatay issue in favor of Turkey, forcing France to accept the outcome under the prevailing conditions. Literature studies examining the historical trajectory and impact of Turkish-French relations provide a broader perspective on the evolving dynamics of these relations over different periods.