Clear message to Turkey about the threats against Greece and overflights over the Greek islands from the chairman of the Committee on International Relations of the US Senate, Robert Menendez.
A call to the United States government as well as the international community to take concrete measures to ensure that President Erdoğan is held accountable for the continuous violation of International Law and human rights was addressed by Senator Robert Menendez from the floor of the Senate. The chairman of the international relations committee of the Senate condemned in the most formal way the recent threats made by the Turkish president against Athens.
“A few days ago, in front of a town hall in northern Turkey, President Erdogan threatened a missile attack on Athens. ‘Greece is afraid of our missiles’, he said. They say the Typhoon missile will hit Athens. And then he addressed the Greek people directly and said: ‘This is going to happen… unless you calm down’. We are talking about a NATO member directly threatening to target Athens, a city of three million civilians. According to the United Nations a deliberate attack against civilians is a war crime. And so, Mr. President, I come to the floor of the Senate today to condemn the recent actions of the Turkish president, which are not only disturbing but also completely unacceptable.”
Speaking of an “offensive campaign” unfolding across the region, the senator signaled once again that he would not agree to Ankara’s request to upgrade and acquire new F-16 fighter jets. “And I demand that Erdogan stop all overflights over Greece and withdraw the last Turkish soldier from Cyprus. And I think that, given his recent behavior, the United States should not put F-16 fighter jets in the hands of President Erdogan,” was the message he sent to Turkey’s leadership.
Regarding the constant threats of a nightfall in Greece, Mr. Menendez estimated that the escalation of incendiary rhetoric is connected to the upcoming elections in Turkey. “We have seen Erdogan repeatedly threaten Greek sovereignty. He said, I read his words, that the Turkish forces ‘may come suddenly one night’. He seems to be increasing his illegal, authoritarian behavior ahead of next year’s elections,” the senator assessed.
However, Senator Menendez argued that these are not isolated rhetorical threats but a pattern of illegal claims that systematically challenge sovereignty over Greek territory. As he explained, this questioning of Greek sovereignty is not limited to the recent threats made against the capital of a NATO ally.
Regarding Cyprus, Robert Menendez argued that President Erdogan is attempting to divide the island even further after fifty years of illegal Turkish occupation. In this context, Mr. Menendez recalled that Turkey is attempting to proceed with the illegal opening of Varosia and to strengthen its military presence even more. In fact, at this point he tried to connect the occupation of Cyprus with that of Ukraine, as he estimated that the president of Turkey is carefully monitoring the illegal annexations of Vladimir Putin.
During his speech Senator Menendez tried to illustrate Turkey’s divergence from Western values by showing the joint photo of Recep Tayyip Erdogan with the president of Russia and Iran. “It is no surprise that Erdogan met in Tehran this summer with the Russian and Iranian presidents – some of the world’s most brutal dictators. Just look at the leaders he works with. It’s because he shares their worldview. And you can see this clearly in the way he perceives the area”, he pointed out.
However, the senator’s criticisms were not limited to foreign policy issues, but covered a number of Turkey’s internal issues related to democratic slippage combined with the violation of fundamental freedoms and human rights. As he pointed out, “he has revenge tendencies inside (the country) as well.” Just last week, one of Erdogan’s political rivals – the popular mayor of Istanbul – was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. The penalty; Insult against members of the Supreme Electoral Council. And in case the prison sentence didn’t send a clear enough message, the court also imposed a political ban on the mayor. Erdogan may be using this aggression and repressive policy to distract from the total failure of his economy. He may do it out of malice or he may do it because he himself is a villain. But one thing is clear – the United States must take the actions of the Turkish president seriously.”
With this in mind, the chairman of the International Relations Committee called for fair and free elections in Turkey, while calling on the international community and US allies:
• Take steps to ensure that Erdogan is held accountable for his conduct and violation of international law.
• Condemn the imprisonment of his political opponent.
• Use their influence to prevent further attacks in northeast Syria.
Nearing the end of his speech, Mr. Menendez acknowledged that his stance on the F-16 issue does not make him particularly popular in Ankara, recalling that President Erdogan has criticized him and called him an enemy of Turkey. However, he argued that “if standing up to human rights violations makes me an enemy of Erdogan. If criticizing Turkey for arming Azerbaijan and allowing the slaughter of innocent Armenian civilians makes me an enemy of Erdogan. If asking Turkey to recognize Greek and Cypriot sovereignty makes me an enemy of Erdogan. Then it’s a role I will accept with honor.”
In closing, the senator sent messages to multiple recipients, saying:
• To my colleagues here in the Senate I will say don’t be afraid to stand up for American values in the face of Erdogan’s aggression.
• To the international community I will say, do not hesitate to make Turkey accountable for its violation of International Law.
• To the citizens living in the shadow of Erdogan’s Typhoon missiles I will say, don’t forget that the United States is standing by your side.
• And to those people in Turkey who still hope for a free, democratic future, I say don’t give up. One day, with your bravery, peace and prosperity will return to your homeland.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
