Moscow was terrified of NATO encirclement. Turkey was a NATO member. The Soviets are unlikely to be thrilled.I don't see why the Soviets would get involved. They were enemies of both Turkey and the new government in Tehran.
The Shah was already an American ally, so it is not like it would be any worse than before the Iranian revolution.Moscow was terrified of NATO encirclement. Turkey was a NATO member. The Soviets are unlikely to be thrilled.
However, the Sovs are elbow-deep in Afghanistan by this point, so their immediate priorities may be elsewhere.
Under the Shah, the Russians were basically encircled by Nato.Moscow was terrified of NATO encirclement. Turkey was a NATO member. The Soviets are unlikely to be thrilled.
However, the Sovs are elbow-deep in Afghanistan by this point, so their immediate priorities may be elsewhere.
War is a good way to unite people or they could just attack in early 1981Turkey had a military coup in 1980. I think the Turks were busy with other things.
The coup was due to rising tensions and political violence on the left and the right. The military came in to pacify the situation, not form a permanent dictatorship. It wouldn’t try any “wag the dog” gambit.War is a good way to unite people or they could just attack in early 1981
I though it was impliedWhy not jump in once Iraq was already at war with Iran?
I don't see why notIf the Turks are going that far, why not go one province more to get frontage on the Caspian Sea?
Could something like more domestic backlash to the coup, fear of the spread of the Islamic revolution or pan-Turkic sentiment lead to warThe coup was due to rising tensions and political violence on the left and the right. The military came in to pacify the situation, not form a permanent dictatorship. It wouldn’t try any “wag the dog” gambit.