Congress Letter to Trump: Erdogan Threatens Greece and Israel

In a bipartisan letter addressed to the U.S. President, members of Congress expressed concern over Turkey’s repeated violations of Greek airspace and territorial waters, as well as its expansionist policies. The letter sent to Donald Trump highlights that Erdogan’s actions jeopardize security and regional stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. Members of Congress warn that reintegrating Ankara into the F-35 program could destabilize the delicate balance in the region. Through this letter, lawmakers raise critical issues, urging the American president to address them during any potential meeting with his Turkish counterpart. Among the concerns raised are Turkey’s hegemonic ambitions under the ‘Blue Homeland’ doctrine, Erdogan’s ties with Islamic terrorist groups, and the democratic backsliding within Turkey. The lawmakers urge Trump to emphasize several points, including the misuse of U.S.-provided F-16s for systematic violations of Greek airspace, Turkey’s exclusion from the F-35 program due to its possession of Russian S-400 systems, and Erdogan’s adoption of revisionist policies benefiting Russia at NATO’s expense. Additionally, they criticize Turkey’s problematic ‘Blue Homeland’ policy threatening Greece and Cyprus, Erdogan’s personal connections with Hamas leaders, and his anti-Semitic rhetoric. Despite recognizing Turkey’s importance as a NATO ally, the letter warns that Erdogan’s agenda does not align with U.S. interests or values.