It's a rare moment when something positive happens between Turkey and the United States. It took the COVID-19 outbreak for it to materialize. “Wheels up! We are deeply grateful” the US Embassy in Turkey exclaimed on its official Twitter account. It was referring to Ankara's widely trumpeted donation of a planeload of masks, gowns and face shields — among other items — to help the pandemic-stricken United States contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. The supplies were scheduled for delivery today via a Turkish air force cargo plane that took off for Andrews Airbase near Washington.

“As this delivery indicates, the US-Turkey relationship is strong and one of our most important alliances,” said Washington's man in Ankara, David Satterfield, in a written statement. “NATO solidarity during this pandemic highlights the strength of our Transatlantic bond. A very big thank you people of Turkey,” tweeted Kay Bailey Hutchinson, the US ambassador to NATO.

As US diplomats milked the moment, Turks basked in their own magnanimity. “Who would have imagined a United States that awaits an aid flight from Turkey. What days we are living through,” tweeted Hilal Kaplan, a prominent columnist for the pro-government daily Sabah.

“Turkey, under the leadership of our president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while caring for our citizens is extending the hand of help to the needy and the oppressed in the four corners of the world,”  presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on his feed.