Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that he will expel American forces from two military bases in his country, if Washington imposes new sanctions on his government, which creates a new impasse for NATO, which seeks to deal with Ankara's advanced relations with Russia, in a television interview this Month, Erdogan said that if the United States imposes sanctions on Turkey for its purchase of the Russian air defense system, then "if necessary, we may shut down the Incirlik and Kurisik facilities", where the United States maintains nuclear weapons and emergency radars.

The statement sparked a worrying response from US Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who said he raised questions about Turkey's loyalty to NATO. "They have the inherent right to host or not host NATO bases or foreign forces," he added. "But again, I think the issue is an alliance issue, and a commitment to the alliance, if they are really serious about what they say."

Turkey, which has the largest permanent army in NATO after the United States, has taken some measures that have made it at odds with Washington and the rest of the alliance, including sending its army to northern Syria to fight militias allied to the United States, and buying the Russian S-400 missile system . "It looks like we are seeing a car accident in slow motion," says a Western diplomat in Turkey.

US officials say the Trump administration has sought to appease Erdogan in an attempt to prevent Ankara from establishing closer ties with Moscow amid fears that his treatment as an outcast would push Turkey more into the arms of Russia, but President Trump had to stand up to angry US lawmakers, who voted for a series of projects Laws aimed at punishing Turkey.

In mid-November, Trump hosted his Turkish counterpart in the White House, describing him as a "very good friend", yet last month he signed a defense bill that includes sanctions against Turkey, especially not to extradite the American fighters that Turkey had requested. The Trump administration has yet to determine the scope of sanctions against Turkey, but US and European officials say time is running out on trying to mend ties between Turkey and the United States, and ease tensions within NATO. "We don't want to impose sanctions (on Turkey), but they will happen, and they will harm Turkey," a senior US official said.

NATO leaders met in the British capital London last month to celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the alliance and correct differences, and to reach agreements on strategic issues, and defense initiatives. Trump, who has been heavily criticized by NATO and questioned its value, praised the allies for their increased spending.

The period leading up to the meeting was very difficult, after Turkey invaded northern Syria to attack Kurdish fighters who were assisted by the American and European armies in the fight against ISIS. The invasion came after a phone call between Erdogan and Trump, prompting French President Emmanuel Macron to say that NATO was suffering from "brain death" because the decision to invade was made outside of NATO.

The conflict is emerging again

But the conflict has reappeared again, and the main dispute is Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 defense system, which the Pentagon considers a security threat to NATO. The United States has stopped delivering F-35 fighters to Turkey, and has excluded Turkish airlines from a contract to supply the fuselage and other parts, saying Russia could use the system's radar to spy on the stealth aircraft capabilities.

Turkish officials suggested setting up a committee of experts with the United States, or under NATO supervision, to consider the issue of the S-400 and suggest ways for a settlement, but US officials say that Washington should pay substantial compensation to Turkey instead of delivering an F-35 to Turkey Jeopardizing the integrity of a multi-billion dollar program.

What deepens this predicament is Turkey's more testing of the S-400 system, which was deployed at an air base near Ankara, against US-made F-16s in late November, and has said that it may request the purchase of Russian fighters if America will ban Turkey Purchase of F-35 fighters.

"The interests of the Turkish national security should be considered one of the main issues for the United States and NATO," says Turkish lawmaker Ahmed Berat Konkar, who belongs to the ruling Justice and Development Party and deputy head of the Turkish delegation to the NATO Parliament. He added, "If this cannot be publicly guaranteed and maintained through concrete action in favor of Turkey, then new cracks within NATO may result."

Some European allies feel that NATO accepts Turkish justifications, which it says are invading northern Syria in the interest of national security, and expresses concern that this western alliance has given Turkey much freedom to expand its military partnership with Russia.

Some European allies feel that NATO accepts Turkish justifications, which it says are invading northern Syria in the interest of national security, and expresses concern that this western alliance has given Turkey much freedom to expand its military partnership with Russia.

US officials say Washington should pay significant compensation to Turkey rather than deliver an F-35 to Turkey, and jeopardize the safety of a multi-billion-dollar program.