The Last Century in Turkish-Polish Relations (1923-2023)
Analyzing Positions of Türkiye and Poland in Transatlantic Security Relations and NATO in PostCold War Era
A comparative analysis of Poland and Türkiye, in the context of post-Cold War foreign policy is significant due to their similarities and differences in terms of their security priorities and transatlantic relations. Türkiye has extensive experience in the Western security structures in the 20th Century, as well as Poland becoming both a NATO and EU member state by the end of the Cold War and so unifying under the same security structure with Western partners. One of the most fundamental elements of continuity in Turkish foreign policy stands out to be the idea of turning face to the West. As for Poland, although a shorter history and background in this context, Poland has rapidly integrated into the political, economic and security structures of the West after 1989. Thus, the post-Cold War legacy and infrastructure that Poland inherited had been transformed in a successful way. We have now moved beyond a 3-decade period since the end of the Cold War and assessing this 30-year span is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the relations between the 2 nations. What are the convergences and divergences in the post-Cold War positions of these two countries, each with distinct backgrounds and histories within the transatlantic security architecture and specifically with NATO? While seeking answer to this question, this study will endeavor to provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the position and role of the two countries in post-Cold War transatlantic security
