Faculty Scholarly Dissemination Grants

A Perfect Storm in Turkish-American Relations: Ending the Ban on Poppies, Beginning the Invasion of Cyprus

Department

History Department

College

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Date Range

2013-2014

Disciplines

Arts and Humanities

Abstract

After a ban of three years (1971-1974), the Turkish government reintroduced the cultivation of the opium poppy on July 1, 1974. This decision encountered strong criticism in the United States and led to congressional threats to cut off American aid to Ankara. Three weeks later came the invasion of Cyprus. These two developments, occurring almost simultaneously, energized opponents on Capitol Hill (and beyond), allowing them to forge a veto-proof coalition and impose an arms embargo on this most important NATO ally.

Conference Name

Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations

Conference Location

Lexington, KY

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