Mihai Țurcanu
în vol. România după Marele Război. Reconstrucții politice, instituționale și culturale, coord. Maria Tătar-Dan, Corina Teodor, Nicolae Enciu, Cluj-Napoca, Editura Mega, 2025, ISBN: 978-630-372-013-5, pp. 431-443.

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The Turkish Perspective on the Bessarabian Question in the First Half of 1940

In the first half of 1940, Turkey’s perspective on the Bessarabia issue was closely tied to the Anglo-French guarantees given to Romania in April 1939. Turkey, constrained by its alliances and geopolitical context, adopted an ambiguous stance, avoiding direct confrontation with the USSR while acknowledging Romania’s security as vital to its own stability. Turkish Foreign Minister Şükrü Saracoğlu emphasized that Turkey would only act if its vital interests were threatened, rejecting a preemptive military agreement with Romania. Romania’s attempts to secure military support through bilateral negotiations and the Balkan Entente failed due to Turkey’s reluctance, Yugoslavia’s opposition, and rapid shifts in the international landscape (France’s fall, German advances). The British and French considered military options against the USSR, including strikes on Caucasus oil fields, but abandoned them due to risks and lack of Turkish cooperation. By the time of the Soviet ultimatum in June 1940, Turkey maintained neutrality, focusing on defending the Straits and avoiding conflict with the USSR. Thus, Romania failed to secure decisive support from Turkey or the Western Allies to counter Soviet claims over Bessarabia.

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