U.S. needs Turkey, Turkey does not need U.S.
Two words: shortsighted assessment.
US
shielded Turkey from the prospects of invasion by USSR throughout the Cold War. FYI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_Straits_crisis
Turkey have extracted tremendous benefits from its NATO membership across all fronts from security to economic, over time.
USSR is history but Turkey is vulnerable to threats from Salafi Jihadi movements of the Middle East such as ISIS and the PPK faction of Kurd. NATO make extensive use of Incirlik base in Turkey to confront ISIS in Syria and Iraq (i.e. Operation Inherent Resolve) and to monitor Kurdish activity in the region. Americans have a good standing with the Kurd at large, and they prevented major clashes between YPG faction of Kurd in Syria and Turkey because these clashes could jeopardize US-led assault against ISIS in Syria.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a thankless egotistical autocrat. He doesn't know Russian Vladimir Putin very well, and is playing into Putin's hands. Russia stands to gain from turning Turkey into its poodle.
Turkey is very important location between Iran and Europe, between Asia and Europe, if they lose Turkey they lose their NATO missile shield!
Turkey is no longer effective as a member of NATO at present. Russia have registered noticeable advances in the Black Sea by annexing Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia in 2008, and Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Russia also have a strong footprint in Syria since 2015.
Turkey is a toothless tiger in the face of Russian advances around it. I remember the days when Erdogan was threatening Syria with dire consequences:
https://nationalinterest.org/commentary/why-does-turkey-want-regime-change-syria-7227
http://www.spiegel.de/international...t-syrian-regime-over-downed-jet-a-841053.html
Funny really.
Now, Erdogan wants to deploy S-400 systems in Turkey! Brilliant.
Turkey's military will be much better with s-400 than with shitty patriot systems. China and US trade $600 billion+ per year, Turkey can still trade with US without NATO.
Shitty patriot systems have intercepted over 100 ballistic missiles over Saudi Arabia and Kuwait since 2003.
S-400 remains unproven to this day.
But I agree Turkey will not leave NATO, America cannot afford to lose Turkey, but I do not mind if Trump continues to act like a fool and push Turkey away!
Why only blame Donald Trump? Why not blame Erdogan?
US strongly objects to Turkey acquiring S-400 systems from Russia because this procurement does not benefit NATO missile shield in the slightest and would introduce new set-of-complications instead. Turkey is looking forward to induct F-35 from NATO, and US is not comfortable with F-35 operating over an environment where S-400 systems will be stationed on a 24/7 basis and Russia will be in the position to extract valuable information via its informants in Turkey. The rift over an American pastor under
house arrest in Turkey, is just an excuse.
Trump administration is being very generous in its reactions so far. There are
calls [from within the US] to boot Turkey from NATO because it is no longer a reliable ally.
Why is Erdogan waiting for US to do something? Why not exit from NATO in a graceful manner and ditch F-35?
Erdogan is not just a thankless egotistical autocrat, but also an immature clown. Iranians have more dignity than this clown.
Back in 2003, when Bush administration requested Turkey to establish a supply route for US-led military operations in Iraq, Erdogan refused (first sign of cracks). Even Syria allowed US to airlift some of its assets to Iraq at the time.
Turkey doesn't make for a reliable ally.