AHI Applauds Sen. Scott for Condemning Turkey’s Occupation of Cyprus, Affirming Strategic Importance of Reunification
No. 69
WASHINGTON, DC — The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) applauds U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) for statements he made during a recent visit to the Republic of Cyprus condemning Turkey’s invasion and continued division of Cyprus and emphasizing the strategic importance of a reunified Cyprus to U.S. interests, regional security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Speaking at the U.N. buffer zone in Nicosia on Oct. 16, Scott questioned Turkey’s conduct as a U.S. and NATO ally and challenged it to respect the sovereignty of Cyprus and allow the Cypriot people to determine their own future.
In a post on X the same day, Scott said a reunified Cyprus “makes it easier to do business in the region and counters Putin and Erdogan’s aggression,” and criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s support for Hamas and alignment with the Muslim Brotherhood.
On Oct. 19, Scott praised Greece on X as a “crucial NATO ally and a reliable partner to the United States.” On Oct. 20, he condemned Turkey’s illegal maritime Memorandum of Understanding with Libya as “another illegal and thuggish move by Erdogan.”
“Senator Scott’s common-sense remarks are spot on,” said AHI President Nick Larigakis. “We commend him for his candid assessment of Turkey’s actions and for recognizing the important roles Cyprus and Greece play in advancing U.S. interests and regional stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
Scott serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee, where he chairs the Subcommittee on Seapower.
Sen. Scott’s Statement at the Buffer Zone | Oct. 16, 2026
“I’m here in Cyprus, and I just got through the buffer zone. This is all caused by Turkey and Erdoğan, right? Cyprus, a sovereign, independent nation, actually a great ally to Israel, to the United States, to Greece. It could be an ally, a great ally to a lot of countries. What needs to happen here is Erdoğan and Turkey need to stop. Stop this. It’s an invasion. It’s an invasion of their sovereignty. This should be one country, completely independent. Allow the people here to make choices on their own. You know, supposedly Erdoğan wants to be an ally to the United States, wants to be a friend to the United States. … They’re a member of NATO. Why don’t they act like an ally? Act like an ally. Treat other sovereign nations with respect. That’s what needs to happen here. Cyprus needs to come together. We don’t need a buffer zone. We need to allow the people of Cyprus to make their own decisions.”
Sen. Scott X Post | Oct. 16, 2026
“America wants our allies in the Mediterranean and Middle East to be STRONG so they can deter threats. A reunified Cyprus makes it easier to do business in the region and counters Putin and Erdogan’s aggression. Erdogan and his thugs need to support their NATO obligations and stop undermining Cyprus by supporting Hamas terrorists and aligning with the Muslim Brotherhood. Because one thing is for sure — America’s enemies chose to hate us, and they need to understand [that] we won’t let threats to our interests go unanswered.”
Sen. Scott X Post | Oct. 20, 2026
“This is another illegal and thuggish move by Erdogan. It disrespects the United States because it directly threatens the interests of America and our friend and ally, Greece. If Erdogan won’t act like an ally, he shouldn’t enjoy the benefits of NATO.”