Turkey’s Role Today

Abstract

In analysing the importance of Turkey to NATO we must first consider what it is in a position to contribute, not just to the defence of the Middle East, but to the territory of the NATO countries themselves to which the alliance is committed. Turkey’s principal role in NATO is to defend itself, which it has always done historically. A land attack would come either through Bulgaria and Thrace, or Turkey’s eastern border with the USSR. Turkey could, of course, also be attacked by air or by sea, through the Bosporus or its Black Sea coast. The Turkish forces required for defence, for which they are basically armed and configured, are also available for offence. It has been estimated that they would in time of war pin down perhaps 30 Soviet divisions in the Balkans which would otherwise be available for the central NATO front, plus perhaps half as many in the Transcaucasus. In the event of a war involving the alliance as a whole, Incirlik in eastern Turkey and other Turkish air bases could be used by Turkish, US and other NATO bombers through refuelling, or by tactical fighter bombers.