Turkish Democracy Is Down But Not Out

The widening schism between Turkey and its nominal Western allies is further proof of the decay of global cooperation. And yet that process is not irreversible.

The latest setback stems largely from Turkey (a NATO member) purchasing and taking delivery of a Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile system.

NATO considers the S-400 to be incompatible with its own systems, and the United States believes its presence will compromise the security of its new F-35 fighter, which Turkey has expressed an interest in acquiring.

In retaliation, the US government has expelled Turkey from the F-35 consortium and is contemplating imposing sanctions.

Erdogan, meanwhile, has done little to calm matters.

His threats of military intervention in northeast Syria worry the US, which has tried to buy time with a vague preliminary agreement with Turkey to establish a safe zone.

Kurdish forces, which dominate the region in question and played a key role in the fight against the Islamic State, now must hope that US President Donald Trump won't leave them in the lurch.

Tensions between Turkey and the European Union have also spiked, owing to the Turkish government's recent decision to send drilling and exploration ships in search of new hydrocarbon reserves around Cyprus.

The EU, alleging that Turkey's actions violate international law, has imposed sanctions.

In response, Turkey has announced the suspension of the 2016 agreement under which it had been stemming the flow of refugees into the EU.

Although the deal's practical effects are now slight, it is symbolically important for having breathed new life into the EU-Turkey relationship, albeit briefly.

That relationship has deteriorated sharply since 2005, when Turkey (with...