Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan feels he has reason to be optimistic. He was bracing for the election of Vice President Kamala Harris. In his estimation, that would have been a continuity of U.S. policy of keeping Turkey at arm’s length. As far as Erdogan is concerned, the return of President-elect Donald Trump to the White House means a renewed opportunity to gloss over a myriad of that beleaguer the two NATO allies’ bilateral relationship.

That could certainly be true. Erdogan and Trump may stand a greater chance of hammering out deals. Still, Washington must recognize that it would be negotiating from a significant position of strength. If there is to be any meaningful engagement with Turkey, Washington should be explicit in its expectations.