The role of Turkey in the strategic plans of the democratic and republican parties in the U.S. (end of 20th - beginning of 21st c.)

This article is devoted to the evolution of U.S. foreign policy toward Turkey in the context of inter-party rivalry. The article discusses the ideas and actions of the Democratic and Republican parties in the U.S. aimed at the formation of the foreign policy agenda on the Turkish direction. The author also analyzes the reasons of changes in the U.S. foreign policy toward Turkey and their consequences. Special attention is paid to the change in U.S.-Turkish relations during periods of dominance of the Democratic or Republican majority in the U.S. Congress. These periods are divided into equal parts - three terms of the Democratic presidency (Bill Clinton's first and second terms and Barack Obama's first term) and three terms of the Republican presidency (the presidency of George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush's two terms). The conclusion of this article shows that "soft" policy of the Democratic administrations was less successful than "tough" pressure of the Republicans, which made possible to use Turkey in the U.S. geopolitical plans.