Atatürk and the Turkic World

Asia, the Caucasus, Eurasia, and the Turkic world hold an important place within Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s foreign policy. Atatürk’s approach to these regions reflects the great leader’s general stance. He does not compromise on full independence and national sovereignty. He is sensitive and protective regarding these matters. He has no ideological prejudices. He values good neighborly relations. He prioritizes mutual interest and common benefit rather than eternal friendships or enmities. He bases relations between states on equality.

Jealous of independence, integrity, sovereignty, and political unity, Atatürk is realistic, rational, and pragmatic in foreign policy.

He is not adventurous, expansionist, racist, or reckless. While saying, “Let us know our borders and our capabilities,” he is aware that foreign policy is a continuation of domestic policy. He persistently drew attention to this reality by stating, “The essential thing is the internal front.” He adopted the principle of full independence in every field, from economy to politics. He opposed the use of force in foreign policy and advocated for the resolution of disputes through peaceful means.

Atatürk valued alliances. However, he did not exaggerate the power of alliances. He argued that Turkey should primarily rely on its own strength. The Balkan Entente (1934) and the Saadabad Pact (1937) were established under Turkey’s leadership. He approached alliances with great powers with caution. This is because the influence, shadow, and pressure of a great power are involved in such alliances. The perception of a protecting state versus a protected state is strong. And it is always the weaker state that makes the real sacrifice.

GENERAL OUTLINES OF ATATÜRK’S FOREIGN POLICY

Atatürk is active in foreign policy. He is careful. He is not passive. He is a master of strategy, tactics, and timing. He calculates the balance of the three fundamental elements of strategy—force, time, and space—very well. He prioritizes a region-centered foreign policy. He is anti-imperialist. He advocates for peace at home and in the world.

He is sensitive about non-interference in internal affairs. He is not prejudiced against any state or people. He does not harbor hostility. He values peace, stability, and cooperation on an international scale. He attaches importance to solidarity and unity among third-world countries, or as Atatürk put it, “oppressed nations.” Reciprocity, mutual equality and respect, and taking a stance against foreign interventions and imperialism are his priorities.

Atatürk’s organizational structure, talent, and intelligence, as well as his reputation and prestige among his friends, in the army, and among the people, were far superior to other leading figures. Those heroes were also aware of this reality. For example, when Feridun Kandemir asked Kâzım Karabekir Pasha, “Why did you not think of taking the lead of the Anatolian movement?” he received the following reply: “If I had stepped forward, the other pashas would not have supported me.” This situation also applies to İsmet Pasha, who served as prime minister for 17 years and president for 12 years. It also applies to Rauf Orbay, who said of Atatürk, “If he had not been there, we could not have succeeded in this. If we had not been there, he would have succeeded in this anyway. He was the greatest commander among us.” It also applies to Ali Fuat Cebesoy, who said about Atatürk, “If there had been no Mustafa Kemal, a liberation movement would still have been attempted in Anatolia. There would have been uprisings and wars here and there. Successes would have been seen. However, after a while, these would have been eliminated one by one.”

As the National Struggle began, there were two commanders among the leading heroes who had army corps in Anatolia: Ali Fuat Pasha (Cebesoy) and Kâzım Karabekir Pasha. Neither commander vied for leadership against Mustafa Kemal Pasha. However, neither of them was a revolutionary. Moreover, Karabekir Pasha had no problems with the Palace. The Palace did not dismiss him from his post. It did not issue a death warrant for him. Furthermore, it even made him the Deputy Inspector of the 9th Army after Atatürk.

ATATÜRK’S PREDICTION OF WORLD WAR II

Atatürk was accurate in his predictions. So much so that in 1932, during his meeting with U.S. General MacArthur, he shared his prediction regarding the outbreak of World War II as follows:

“The Treaty of Versailles did not eliminate any of the elements that caused World War I, but rather deepened the chasm between the main rivals of yesterday. Thus, the period of peace we live in today has remained merely an armistice. In my opinion, just as it was yesterday, the fate of Europe tomorrow will depend on the stance Germany takes. Once this hardworking and disciplined nation of 70 million, which possesses extraordinary dynamism, allows itself to be swept up by a political movement that can fuel its national ambitions, it will sooner or later resort to dismantling the Treaty of Versailles.”

In his conversation with General MacArthur, Atatürk also stated that Germany would start a war between 1940 and 1946, that the U.S. would inevitably enter the war, that Germany would be heavily devastated at the end of the war, that the USSR would be the main great victor of the world war, and that the U.S. and the USSR would emerge as the world’s two greatest powers after the war.

ATATÜRK’S POLICY ON THE TURKIC WORLD

Atatürk’s view of the Turkic World in particular, and Eurasia in general, contains a sense of wholeness. Considering the developing relations between the USSR and Turkey, he highlighted cultural and historical ties in his approach to the Turkic World. He emphasized historical ties by researching and learning the sources of Turkish history and language (the Turkish Historical Society and the Turkish Language Association were established for this purpose; this was also one of the goals of the congresses held on language and history). His vast knowledge and intellectual equipment in history, economics, geography, politics, language, culture, philosophy, sociology, foreign policy, military science, and mathematics also enabled Atatürk to view the subject holistically.

Intellectuals, thinkers, and scientists coming from the Caucasus and the Turkic World contributed to Atatürk’s policies toward this region. Atatürk benefited from the views and works of these individuals, all of whom were republican and enlightenment-oriented, and assigned them various tasks.

In short, Atatürk’s policy toward the Turkic World also fell into place within his general policy with a realistic and rational approach.