Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan returned happy from his talks with US President Donald Trump in New York last week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting, even though they resolved little regarding issues that have strained ties between the two countries in Syria and Iraq.

This, however, hasn't prevented Erdogan’s supporters — and, no doubt, many government officials, including Erdogan’s own advisers — from seeing the United States as the hidden hand behind the independence referendum held Sept. 25 by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil, Iraq. Results of the vote are expected Sept. 27. Turnout was high and most observers believe the referendum will pass handily. Meanwhile, Iraq has demanded control of KRG airports, threatening otherwise to impose a flight ban.

Turkey's frustration increased with Erbil’s refusal to heed Turkey's dire warnings ahead of the referendum, including Ankara's barely veiled threat that if the vote were held, it might be a reason to go to war.

Washington’s condemnation of the referendum, on the other hand, means little to Erdogan backers, who see it as a mere diplomatic ploy. These quarters believe KRG President Massoud Barzani wouldn't have had the courage to go up against so much international opposition to his referendum if he hadn't received secret US assurances.