Hearther Nauert statetement as of yesterday emphasized the United States lackiness to grasp the seriousness of the situation. Hearther Nauert, spokesperson for United States, said "Russia is trying to deterring United States and Turkey's bilateral relations while doing propoganda".
People on the street might consider that Russia is causing the problems while United States is doing its best to keep good relations with Turkey. However in diplomacy, United States once again willingly or unwillingly makes a mistake. Turks have diplomacy history more than 1000 years in Anatolia begining with Seljuk Empire, then Ottoman Empire and now as Turkey. Ms. Nauert statement undermines the exprience of Turkish diplomacy exprience and basically implies that Turks are tricked by Russian. Turkey is well aware the intensions of global powers at the region and its consequences to regions and its national security. At this moment, Turkey is priotizing its national security.
It is a game between United States vs Turkey and for sure Russia is benefiting from it. It is just a matter of time, either weeks or couple of months, before Afrin falls to Turkish control. Then, the red apple (it is a Turkish mytical expression meaning "the final destination") would be on Manbij. And for sure, Turkey will march on Manbij in order to crank its positions up to a notch against United States once it comes to negotiations. And negotiations have already started but Turkey is not in a position to start with negotions unless Afrin falls.
It is a national security matter to Turkey and regional strategy to United States. And United States is well aware (at least now), Turkey is serious about it since Turkey loudly implies that United States regional strategy is a direct national threat to Turkey.
Turkey has to secure the border and not only with Syria but also with Iraq in future. Unless Turkey and PKK/YPG come to a peaces deal in future, it is almost inevitable to see Turkey increasing its military existence along its borders from Mediterinian Sea to Iran border. Unless United States starts acting seriously, United States and Turkey are in collision route.
