Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s meeting with President Barack Obama on Thursday, May 16, came at a time when the White House is embroiled in domestic scandals related to the Benghazi murders, the discriminatory practices of the Internal Revenue Service and the seizure of journalists' phone records. There is also constant bad news welling up from the Middle East — from the Syrian humanitarian crisis to the deadlocked Iranian nuclear talks and more — which only boosts Turkey's importance as a US ally in the region.

“This visit reflects the importance that the United States places on our relationship with our ally, Turkey,” said Obama at the joint news briefing at the Rose Garden. “I value so much the partnership that I’ve been able to develop with Prime Minister Erdogan.” In fact, Obama listed Erdogan in January 2012 as one of the five leaders with whom he has the closest personal ties.

The pictures that came out of this visit were all about showcasing the unique relationship between these two leaders. Erdogan, after more than a decade as prime minister, stayed for the first time at the president's guest house, Blair House. A crowd of the highest-level officials on both sides attended the bilateral talks. Erdogan also met Obama for dinner, accompanied by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and the head of the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT), Hakan Fidan. Both are close confidantes of Erdogan. A Turkish intelligence chief attending a meeting at the White House or with the president is yet another first.

On the key agenda issues — the Syrian crisis, Turkey-Israeli normalization efforts and Erdogan’s role in the peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians — the two leaders continue to hold on to their differences, however.