US and Turkey on course for diplomatic, economic collision

Since the Cold War's end, almost every American president has entered office promising to focus on domestic issues, only to have the realities of the world intrude. For George H.W. Bush, it was Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. For Bill Clinton, the crisis came in the Balkans. George W. Bush faced the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, and Barack Obama went from "ending stupid wars" to involving the United States militarily in both Libya and Syria. That Donald Trump was an exception was due more to strategic confusion and a desire to appease autocrats than a lack of threats. Unfortunately, for Joe Biden, this means he will faces crises that have festered and metathesized for four years.

Americans may identify China, Russia, North Korea and Iran as their top foreign challenges, but the test Biden most likely will have to confront early in his term is the growing challenge Turkey...