[actionfromafar]

But the problem with this approach is that NATO actually needs Turkey, it's in a vital position and is locally a major player.

Ideally, NATO members need Turkey to be truly cooperative. (You know, discuss, compromise, that old thing.)

What NATO really needs is for Turkey to be not directly hostile. That would be incredibly costly. We already got a tiny tiny preview of that by Turkey turning a blind eye to ISIS.

[throwayyy479087]

Correct. Turkey has one of the best - maybe the best? Singapore could be better - positions on the planet. The straits alone are a remarkable advantage, much less the direct path along the new Silk Road, the warm water ports, the vast Anatolian plain, etc.

Turkey is one of the most important NATO members, and they know it.