Turkey has been touched deeply by the geostrategic changes introduced into the international system by the end of the cold war and the disintegration of the Soviet Union. This article will present and analyze Turkish perceptions of its evolving security environment in the post‐cold war era as it impacts Turkish interests and policies, with particular reference to the implications for Turkish security of the existing nuclear weapons and potential proliferation in regions and countries that are located near its borders [1]. The article will describe and analyze the impact of the dissolution of the Soviet Union on Turkish security perceptions and policies. It will review developments and trends in the Balkans and in the Middle East/Persian Gulf region as they impinge on Turkish security. Turkish attitudes toward nuclear energy, the nuclear option, and proliferation will also be discussed.