Three  of Trump’s cabinet-in-waiting — vice-president-elect Mike Pence, secretary of foreign affairs contender, Newt Gringrich, and Michael Flynn, pegged for National Defense Council, all want to strengthen ties between Washington and Ankara.

Michael Flynn, a retired lieutenant who had helped Trump restore relations with the alienated veterans and the military establishment of the country, pointed out on the eve of the U.S. presidential elections that Turkey should be a “top priority” on Washington’s foreign policy agenda.

“Turkey should be a top priority in U.S. foreign policy,” wrote Flynn in a recent article, stressing that president Barack Obama failed to understand the importance of Ankara’s geopolitical position.  He added that Turkey is the U.S.’s “most important ally” in the war against the Islamic State.  Foreign secretary contender Newt Gingrich, is also pro-Turkey, and has expressed his admiration for Kemal Ataturk, referring to him as “Father of the Turks.” The morning after the U.S. presidential elections, Michael Pence told Turkish news agency Dogan and the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet that the new U.S. administration wants to improve relations with Turkey.  “Turkey is the U.S.’s most important ally in the region. We will bring our relations with Turkey to a better stance, just like in the old days,” he said.