Let's start with a fictional scenario.There is a terrorist group in northern Mexico that has been fighting the United States for 30 years. Over a period of three decades, the militants killed more than 30,000 Americans. They don't target U.S. troops or border patrol either: Suicide bombers detonate themselves in places like Manhattan and Washington, D.C. to claim hundreds of lives. Understandably, the U.S. authorities are quite sensitive about the threat and expect their friends and allies to act accordingly.One day, civil war broke out in Mexico, and the terrorists, who had been trying to gain control over a piece of the United States, launched an effort to seize large chunks of northern Mexico across the U.S.-Mexican border. Meanwhile, the German government, a U.S. ally, started sending weapons and money to the terrorists to help them fight other terrorist groups in the area. Having secured German support, the group moved to kill American troops and citizens. Knowing all about German complicity in attacks against the United States, what would the American people think about Germany? Would they consider Berlin a friend or a foe?Here's another fictional scenario. Imagine that a new age cult, which presents itself as a network of non-governmental organizations, infiltrates the U.S. government. The secretive group is tightly controlled by its leader, who resides in Germany. In addition to educational institutions, the cult gains control over the FBI and other law enforcement agencies along with the justice system. They conspired against political rivals using the official powers of the FBI and the judiciary. The group also cheated their way into the U.S. military and undermined their rivals by implicating them in high-profile trials. Realizing what the cult had been doing, the U.S. president took steps to reduce its power in the government. Feeling that his interests are under threat, the group's leader orders his disciples in the military to overthrow the president. Capitol Hill is bombed by F-16s hijacked by cult members. Langley is attacked by military helicopters. Ordinary Americans, who rush to the streets to defend democracy, were shot dead or run over by hijacked tanks. Consequently, 249 innocent people were killed overnight. Upon thwarting the coup attempt, the United States asks Germany to extradite the cult's leader, a request that Berlin turns down, citing various excuses. What would millions of Americans think about Germany's stance toward their country? Would they see the Germans as a friendly nation or their enemy?Now, let us come back to the real world. Replace the United States with Turkey and Germany with the United States. Here's what is happening right now: Washington provides weapons, armored vehicles and money to the People's Protection Units (YPG), the Syrian franchise of the PKK, which kills Turkish troops and civilians. Although U.S. officials claim that their assistance to the terrorists is geared toward the defeat of Daesh, American weapons are used to target Turkish citizens. To add insult to injury, Washington refuses to extradite Fetullah Gülen, the mastermind of the July 15 coup attempt that claimed 249 innocent lives – even though Turkey provided ample evidence of his links to the deadly attack on Turkish democracy. Under the circumstances, what does the U.S. expect the Turks to think? That Washington is an ally or a foe? For years, the Turkish people blamed Washington's insults on the Obama administration's reckless foreign policy. Although the U.S. and Turkey had differences of opinion on strategy in the past, never had the Americans placed Turkish interests at such high levels of risk as Mr. Obama did in recent years. Many Turks like to think that what's done is done and can be fixed now that Mr. Obama is gone. In January, Donald Trump became the 45th president of the United States and pledged to reverse Mr. Obama's policies. Trying to develop a new Middle East policy, Mr. Trump has been in close contact with Turkish officials. At the same time, regional developments and strategic realities compel Ankara and Washington to work together more closely. As such, the expectation in Turkey is that some progress could be made regarding the YPG and Gülen's extradition. As the regional balance of power is being redefined, Turkey and the United States will presumably move to strengthen their friendship.