The friendship between Turkey and the U.S. has taken a turn for the worse. Although officially called NATO allies, the bilateral relationship is now suffering a complete breakdown. 

Tensions have escalated since Turkey's failed coup attempt in 2016, to which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan considers the U.S. reaction "far from satisfactory." 

While Erdogan expected the U.S. to express solidarity with Ankara's elected leadership, U.S. officials cautiously called for "stability, peace and continuity" within Turkey.  

To make matters worse, there has been no progress regarding Turkey's request for the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, a cleric and Turkish national now living in Pennsylvania. Turkey believes Gulen was the mastermind of the coup, while the U.S. government demanded Turkey first produce evidence that he was connected with the coup attempt. 

Turkish authorities then arrested a U.S. pastor, Andrew Brunson, who was charged with terrorism and espionage, as well as a U.S. consulate employee, regarding allegations that he had links to Gulen. 

In response, the U.S. Department of Treasury imposed sanctions on top Turkish government officials who were involved in the detention of Brunson, including the ministers of justice and interior. 

Last August, the U.S. doubled metal tariffs on Turkey, the first economic sanction ever on a NATO ally. The Turkish currency, the lira, fell to a record low. At one point, U.S. President Donald Trump even vowed to "devastate" Turkey's economy.  

Erdogan blamed the U.S. for causing the breakdown in ties. The Turkish president said Washington's unilateral actions will undermine its own interests and force Turkey to look for other friends. 

As a matter of fact, Turkey has been seeking more cooperation with Russia, including its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defence system, with part of its hardware having just arrived in Ankara.