Venezuela

As for NATO, the US should reconsider its own role, since the Russia as threat meme is radically overblown and the Europeans are well able to defend themselves, a responsibility they should have taken over years ago. In the meantime, the alliance should reconsider Ankara’s membership. The Erdogan government cannot be trusted and even its successor is not likely to abandon nationalistic objectives popular with the Turkish public. NATO’s southeast anchor against Moscow isn’t useful if Turks look more favorably on Russia than their nominal allies. It also is embarrassing to all if a member of the transatlantic alliance is oppressing its people at home and fomenting conflict abroad.

Of course, the US should not treat Turkey as an enemy, for it is not one. However, Washington should drop the illusion that Ankara is an ally. In practice, Turkey is a frenemy, a state with often contrary and sometimes hostile objectives, though willing to cooperate when interests coincide. In this way Turkey is similar to Russia, once the Washington Beltway’s Russophobia is stripped away. Disagreements are real, but not existential. Areas for cooperation exist, but are limited.