The Trump factor

There has been much ado around Greek-Turkish relations. To some extent, this is justified. It is also, to a certain degree, a result of sensationalism and ignorance about the substance of the problem. 

Unfortunately, there is an abundance of both sensationalism and ignorance, which means that the task of dealing with the issue will be extremely difficult for any government. 

There is, however, another factor that requires serious consideration, and this has to do with one's ability to accurately predict, or, more precisely, to guess what Washington will do from now onward. And when we refer to Washington, we mean President Donald Trump. We may read about about the emphatic messages sent out by US officials, but at the end of the day, it is one person that takes the decisions that count in the US capital. 

US-Turkish relations have entered a period of tension....