Namibia–Turkey relations

Namibia–Turkey relations are the bilateral relations between Namibia and Turkey. Turkey has an embassy in Windhoek since January 4, 2012.[1]

Namibia-Turkey relations
Map indicating locations of Namibia and Turkey

Namibia

Turkey

Diplomatic relations

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Namibia's struggle for independence from South Africa led to extensive Turkish diplomatic efforts as the co-sponsor[1] from the Western Contact Group and founding member of the UN Council for Namibia, that called for Namibian independence.

Namibia — or known as South West Africa before independence — was the last African colony.[2] South West Africa had been a German colony that was granted to South Africa under a League of Nations mandate in 1920, following Germany’s defeat in World War I.[2] The mandate forbade South Africa from annexing South West Africa but South Africa continued its rule even after UN General Assembly voted[3] to revoke the League of Nations mandate on August 26, 1966.[2]

Turkey continued to advocate on behalf of Namibia's independence but many countries baulked[3] at supporting the country's movement under Sam Nujoma that allied with the Soviet Union and started sending young men to the Soviet Union for training in preparation for guerrilla warfare.[2] Guerrilla warfare began 1966 but was marginal until Communist-led MPLA took over Angola in 1975.[4] Nevertheless, South Africa succeeded in driving off the guerillas.[4]

The diplomatic breakthrough came with the election[5] of Jimmy Carter, who came to support[6] the Western Contact Group and worked to negotiate peace in Namibia.[6] In 1978, South Africa and Western Contact Group created a plan for holding elections that would lead to Namibian independence in 1990.[citation needed]

Economic relations

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Trade volume between the two countries was 11.8 million USD in 2018 (Turkish exports/imports: 9.40/2.44 million USD).[1]

Postage stamps

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On August 26, 1975, Turkey issued a stamp titled "Namibia Day".[7]

Resident diplomatic missions

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  • Namibia is accredited to Turkey from its embassy in Berlin, Germany.
  • Turkey has an embassy in Windhoek.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Relations between Turkey and Namibia". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
  2. ^ a b c d Leys, Colin, and John S. Saul, eds. Namibia's Liberation Struggle: The Two- Edged Sword. London: James Currey, 1995.
  3. ^ a b Duignan, Peter, and Lewis H. Gann. The United States and Africa: A History. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1987.
  4. ^ a b Dickson, David. United States Foreign Policy towards Sub-Saharan Africa. Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, 1985.
  5. ^ Crabb Jr., Cecil V. The Doctrines of American Foreign Policy: Their Meaning, Role, and Future. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1982.
  6. ^ a b Thornton, Richard C., ed. The Carter Years: Toward a New Global Order. New York: Paragon House, 1991.
  7. ^ "Turkey - Postage stamps - 1975 - Namibia Day". www.stampworld.com. Retrieved 2023-05-10.

Further reading

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  • Bender, Gerald J., James S. Coleman, Richard Sklar, eds. African Crisis Areas and U.S. Foreign Policy. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1985.
  • Birdsall, Nancy, Milan Vaishnave, and Robert L. Ayres, eds. Short of the Goal: U.S. Policy and Poorly Performing States. Washington, D.C.: Center for Global Development, 2001.
  • Bodry-Sanders, Penelope. African Obsession: The Life and Legacy of Carl Akeley. Jacksonville, Fla.: Batax Museum Publishing, 1998.
  • Brands, H.W. The Specter of Neutralism: The United States and the Emergence of the Third World, 1947–1960. New York: Columbia University Press, 1989.
  • Brinkley, Douglas G. The Unfinished Presidency: Jimmy Carter's Journey beyond the White House. New York: Viking, 1998.
  • Chester, Edward W. Clash of Titans: Africa and U.S. Foreign Policy. Philadelphia, Pa.: Orbis Books, 1974. Clough, Michael. Free at Last? U.S. Policy toward Africa and the End of the Cold War. New York: Council on Foreign Relations Press, 1992.
  • Crabb Jr., Cecil V. The Doctrines of American Foreign Policy: Their Meaning, Role, and Future. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1982.
  • Dickson, David. United States Foreign Policy towards Sub-Saharan Africa. Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, 1985.
  • Duignan, Peter, and Lewis H. Gann. The United States and Africa: A History. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1987.
  • Engerman, David C., et al. Staging Growth: Modernization, Development, and the Global Cold War. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 2003.
  • Haass, Richard N, ed. Transatlantic Tensions: The United States, Europe, and Problem Countries. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, 2009.
  • Hahn, Peter L., and Mary Ann Heiss, eds. Empire and Revolution, The United States and the Third World since 1945. Columbus: Ohio State University Press, 2010.
  • Herbst, Jeffrey. U.S. Economic Policy toward Africa. New York: Council on Foreign Relations Press, 2002.
  • Karns, Margaret P. “Ad hoc Multilateral Diplomacy: The United States, the Contact Group, and Namibia.” International Organization 41, no. 1 (Winter 1987): pp. 93–123.
  • Leys, Colin, and John S. Saul, eds. Namibia's Liberation Struggle: The Two- Edged Sword. London: James Currey, 1995.
  • Thornton, Richard C., ed. The Carter Years: Toward a New Global Order. New York: Paragon House, 1991.
  • Vance, Cyrus R. Hard Choices: Critical Years in America's Foreign Policy. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1983.