Turkey

The greatest benefit Ankara and Doha would reap by changing their malign policies would be burnishing their global image as permissive jurisdictions for illicit and terrorism finance. This would ameliorate their investment climate and help remedy their public diplomacy deficit. The United States should provide a roadmap for how to arrive there.

While Erdogan’s controversial redrawing of maritime boundaries may bolster his nationalist credentials at home, the move will further isolate Turkey abroad. The Turkish president’s move will exacerbate tensions in an already turbulent region and undercut U.S. and European attempts at stabilization. In response, Washington should continue to promote cooperation based on international law, while reminding Erdogan that his attempted fait accompli may hurt not only Turkey but also its partners in Libya by delegitimizing them further.

Perhaps, were Mr. Blow not blissfully blind about the world beyond America’s borders, he’d have less horrible Thanksgivings. He may not like my saying that, but he will have to abide it.  America is still a free country, a blessing for which I am most thankful.

Trump, who showered Erdogan with praise when the Turkish strongman visited Washington last week, would fare better by warning Erdogan not to undermine U.S. efforts to fight the Islamic State. If Erdogan invested as much effort in pursuing jihadists as he does in silencing dissidents, Turkey would no longer be a primary destination for the Islamic State and other extremists.

Eric Edelman is a former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and a senior advisor to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Turkey project. David J. Kramer, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor in the George W. Bush Administration, is senior fellow in the Václav Havel Center for Human Rights and Diplomacy, director of European and Eurasian Studies at Florida International University’s Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs, and a TAI contributing editor.