U.S., Turkey: Washington's Growing Confidence in Ankara

The U.S. Fifth Fleet announced April 24 that it will transfer command of U.S.-dominated counter-piracy operation Combined Task Force 151 to the Turkish navy on May 3. The United States' vote of confidence in Turkey on the piracy issue is emblematic of a growing strategic bond between Washington and Ankara that is already making Turkey's neighbors nervous. The move also was likely meant to calm Turkey's reaction to U.S. President Barack Obama's comments on the killings of Armenians in 1915.