American Arms Embargo and Suspension of Military Cooperation with Türkiye

The Cyprus crisis began with a coup against President Makarios in July 1974 and Turkish military intervention later that month, followed by another offensive in August. The fighting and displacement divided the island and brought two NATO members, Greece and Türkiye, into a severe confrontation. [1] [2]

American military supplies to Türkiye stopped in February 1975. Congress had imposed an arms embargo after Turkish forces intervened in Cyprus the previous summer, challenging their use of American weapons in the conflict. [2]

Ankara responded in June by declaring the 1969 defense cooperation agreement invalid. When the House of Representatives refused a partial lifting of the embargo the following month, the Turkish government suspended American activities outside NATO duties and took control of the installations. NATO operations at İncirlik continued. [2]

The restrictions lasted for three years. Legislation enacted in September 1978 lifted the American embargo, and Türkiye authorized operations to resume that October under temporary arrangements while a new agreement was negotiated. The governments restored military cooperation with the Cyprus dispute still unresolved. [3]

Related Diplomats

1. Aydın Yeğen [4]
2. Melih Esenbel [4] [5] [6]

Related Reading

• Turkey and the United States