Subject: Re: Tucker Carlson was right
I didn't check all the NATO countries, but many/most are supplying Ukraine and beefing up their defenses in response to an aggressive Putin. Turkey might be an exception since they have closer ties to Russia than any other nation in NATO. They are walking a tightrope, though I am not an expert on why they are close to Russia. I just gleaned that from my consumption of the war in Ukraine, and how it has affected NATO (i.e. increased spending, admission of new members suddenly desperate to join the Alliance, etc).

Because Erdogan is an Islamicist and an authoritarian straight from Putin's mold. He'd rather cozy up to the Russians and the Chinese for energy reasons that work with western powers. Here's one view of Turkey:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/...

Turkey lacks energy and its natural gas consumption depends heavily on imports. But being in the middle of the world's largest energy consumer, Europe, and the energy-rich countries of Central Asia and the Middle East, Turkey is in a strategically advantageous position in terms of the energy market (Cetin and Oguz, 2007a, Cetin and Oguz, 2007b). Turkey plans to be an energy hub, fitting well with the geopolitical structure of the region (Correlje and van der Lindeb, 2006). Promoting the diversification of energy sources and striving to build energy hub centers are important energy strategic goals for Turkey.

Therefore, China is an energy importing and consuming country; Pakistan is not only an energy importing and consuming country but an energy transit country; Iran is an energy supplier and transit country; and Turkey is an energy importing and transit country. The energy corridor of China'Pakistan'Iran'Turkey (CPIT) is an energy strategic corridor that connects these four countries. The construction of this corridor fits well with the energy strategic goals of the countries along the corridor.

It always comes down to energy, btw. The Turks see themselves as the bridge between East and West and as such feel comfortable toeing the line between the two...if they can benefit.

I am predicting a dust-up in the future, whether it's invading Taiwan, or attacking a vessel on a FON mission, or seizing yet another island...it's probably going to get ugly.

Circle 2027 on your calendar. That's when the poop gets dumped into the fan.