Of course there are “margins” to the activity of Washington’s allies with Russia and China even if this upsets the Americans. The picture however is different when work goes beyond acting within the framework of these margins to working like enemies and not like allies. In this case, only in this case, this or that state must select the type of relation with Washington.

 

Erdogan’s Turkey is going through a critical phase due to the decline of the local currency after American President Donald Trump intensified sanctions. The worse is yet to come. Populist President Erdogan continues to threaten the US with woes and with the worst!

 

The dispute between Erdogan and Trump is not limited to the issue of the American pastor jailed in Turkey. This is the headline of the crisis but the content is Erdogan’s act of taking Turkey towards the camp that opposes Washington. The defiance of Erdogan and his men to the sanctions on Iran was a flagrant form of empty defiance.

 

So now, who will help Erdogan in his financial and economic storm?

 

Qatar, that cannot go far in provoking the current American administration. It’s said that Erdogan is angry from Doha because it financially let him down as he requested the authorities to “return the favor” after he insolently sided with Qatar in an “Ottoman-like” manner against the Gulf countries, or the most important Gulf states.

 

Even the ruling Shiite parties in Iraq could not go far in being bias to the faltering Iran under the whip of American sanctions. In the news, the media spokesperson of Iraqi Prime minister Haider al-Abadi confirmed the reports that the latter cancelled his visit to Tehran and which was scheduled for Tuesday and attributed the move to Abadi’s “busy schedule.” Abadi however headed to Turkey on the same day.

 

The Associated Press quoted Iraqi officials as saying that “Tehran cancelled Abadi’s visit” after he angered Iranian officials following his announcement that his country is committed to American sanctions against Iran last week. 

 

Anyway, the choices have become clear in the era of solid American President Donald Trump. You will no longer claim alliance with the US while you’re in the opposing camp. Perhaps this “playing” worked during the era of “flexible” President Barack Obama.