THE MAIN DIRECTIONS OF TURKISH DIPLOMACY DURING THE ATATÜRK ERA

Abstract

This article explores the central role of British-Turkish relations in the foreign policy of the Republic of Turkey during the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. It highlights Atatürk’s balanced and pragmatic approach to international diplomacy at a time when sweeping reforms were transforming Turkey's domestic landscape. The study focuses on key developments such as the Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits, which reflected enhanced cooperation with Britain while reinforcing Turkey’s sovereignty, as well as the mutual visits, reconciliations, and economic partnerships between 1936 and 1938 that further solidified bilateral ties. The research also discusses Turkey’s strategic distancing from revisionist blocs, most notably aligning with powers like Britain during this period.
Atatürk’s foreign policy vision, encapsulated in the motto “Peace at Home, Peace in the World,” along with his firm and forward-looking diplomacy, were critical in positioning the Republic of Turkey within the international system. Having followed global politics and diplomacy since his youth, Atatürk recognized early on that Turkey’s rightful place among modern nations could only be secured through a coherent, principled foreign policy grounded in international engagement. As such, foreign relations remained a top priority for him, shaped by the conviction that Turkey’s future depended on a consistent and well-articulated global strategy.