Yes, I know.
Currently Turkey is a base to spy Russian communications. One can learn a lot from "idle" chatter over the air waves. This is still, as I understand, very important to the US.
And it's a potential base for US deployment and logistic support for military operations in the 'stans, Levant, and OPEC nations. The use of Turkish airspace is, I guess, especially important. (?)
The Turkish military is the second largest in NATO after the US. It is fully modern, trained, supported, NATO capable force not to be sneezed at.
The only modern weapon system the Turks lack, as far as I know, is nuclear weapons. It's possible they could "borrow" some from Pakistan or, perhaps, the PRC if push came to shove.
Last, if Turkey leaves NATO then the US loses a goodly dollop of control over Turkish foreign policy.
"Losing" Turkey would be a Big Deal.
IIRC, the standard doctrine is for the US to retain Command and Control until the nukes are released to the Theater Commanders Command but NEVER Control. The US & etc. keep their toys firmly in their mitts.
It is my understanding Turkey and Pakistan are BFF and we know Pakistan has nukes so I think it's safe to projection, with a high degree of certainty, if Turkey and Israel start slugging it out Pakistan won't stand by and let Israel blackmail 'em nuclear strategic wise.
H'mmmm.
Just about anyway I play it, Israel's nuclear forces will be countered through our good old friend MAD.
