It is hoped that the Nato coalition in Afghanistan, led by the US, will be able to hand over all combat missions to Afghan forces by the end of 2013.

BBC: Barack Obama and Hamid Karzai discuss Afghan endgame

By the time the flotilla was organized, Erdogan had used Turkey's position as a NATO member to effectively end the US-led alliance's cooperative relationship with Israel, by refusing to participate in military exercises with Israel.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Dreamy foreign policies