Failed coup

What Would the U.S. Do If the Turkish Military’s Coup Attempt Had Succeeded?

Mr. Erdogan’s success shutting down the attempted coup spared Washington from having to accept a military takeover. But as Turkey’s importance has grown on the global stage in recent years, it has been a problematic ally. Mr. Erdogan, prime minister from 2003 to 2014 before being elected president, has made no secret of arresting journalists, cracking down on media outlets and academics, and removing judges. He has sidelined critics and sought to amend Turkey’s constitution to consolidate power in the presidency. Still, whatever U.S. officials might think of Mr. Erdogan’s authoritarianism, had Turkey’s military seized power the Obama administration and the one that follows it–whether Republican or Democratic–probably would have accommodated the putsch. The reasons include our lack of democratic allies in the region and lack of U.S. willingness or capacity to effect change.