This book seeks to answer the question of what role the United States, and particularly the CIA, played in critical military interventions such as coups in Turkey. In order to provide a sound and well-grounded answer to this question, the study is based on extensive research conducted in the archives of the CIA, the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Presidential archives, the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey, the FBI, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the British Parliament, and leading press organizations. The documents obtained from these archives constitute the primary foundation of the study.
Following the Second World War, in the face of the threat posed by the Soviet Union, Turkey adopted a pro-U.S. foreign policy and maintained this orientation throughout the Cold War, despite disagreements with the United States over key issues such as the Cyprus question as well as various economic and political disputes. This situation has given rise to debates concerning the role of the United States and the CIA in the coups that have marked Turkey’s history. Although no documents directly proving these claims have been presented, the disclosure of the CIA’s involvement in numerous coups around the world has contributed to the widespread acceptance of this belief.
However, attempting to explain the coups in Turkey solely through external intervention makes it difficult to fully understand the phenomenon. This book avoids one-dimensional explanations and draws upon studies that examine coups by considering both internal and external dynamics together. Based on the author’s doctoral dissertation, the work has been transformed into a book through the incorporation of new information and findings. The author expresses gratitude to his family, professors, and friends for their support and understanding throughout this demanding process.
