It’s too important as a strategic location. We must protect the Bosphorus and Dardanelles from the Golden Horde and NATO membership is a strong deterrent.

Plus, Istanbul is cool. The Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque are worth going to war over. Bodrum is super nice and historic. The first mausoleum (for King Mausus) is/was there. Göbeklitepe is maybe the most important archaeological site being explored.

Not to turn this into a tourism ad but visit historic Turkey, your NATO ally, and feel history come alive™️