The beginning of the end of Erdogan's era

He defied fellow NATO members by purchasing a sophisticated air defense system from the West's staunchest adversary, Russia, potentially compromising the US' military technology. US Army General and NATO commander Curtis Scaparrotti told the Senate in March: "My best military advice would be that we don't then follow through with the F-35-flying it or working with an ally that is working with Russian systems, particularly air defense systems, with one of our most advanced technological capabilities."

Turkey under Erdogan never fully committed to the letter of NATO. Erdogan refused as a NATO member to meet its principle requirement, which is full adherence to democracy and human rights. Most Turks view Turkey's growing distance from the West as a major setback for their country that will not be reversed as long as Erdogan remains in power.

Erdogan's growing closeness to Putin is alarming for most Turks who believe that Putin is for Putin, and would do anything to undermine US' interest in the Middle East, weaken the US-EU alliance, and destabilize NATO. Coopting Erdogan is a part of Putin's sinister scheme. Working closely with Iran's leader, along with Putin, in the search for a solution to the Syrian crisis and deliberately excluding the US from the process offers another glaring example of how far Erdogan will go to defy his Western allies.

Some say that the result of the local elections is indeed harmful to Erdogan politically but will not undermine him in the long run. I disagree. Given the public dismay and resentment of his brutal governing, the beginning of the end of Erdogan's era has begun and his downfall is all but sealed; the only question is how soon.