AHI Commends Bipartisan Congressional Opposition to Turkey’s F-16 Deployment in Occupied Cyprus
U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC
No. 19
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) commends U.S. Representatives Gregory Meeks (D-NY), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Congressional Hellenic Caucus Co-Chairs Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Chris Pappas (D-NH), and Hellenic Caucus Vice-Chair Dina Titus (D-NV) for their strong and principled opposition to Turkey’s reported deployment of U.S.-origin F-16 fighter jets to occupied northern Cyprus.
Through the House Foreign Affairs Committee Dems’ X account, Ranking Member Meeks stated, “This deployment undermines Cyprus’s sovereignty and will only serve to increase tensions in the region. President Erdogan must immediately reverse course.”
U.S. Rep. Pappas stated, “Turkey’s deployment of F-16s into northern Cyprus is unacceptable and illegal under U.S. law. This move further threatens Cyprus’s sovereignty and only serves to further destabilize one of our closest allies and the entire region.”
U.S. Rep. Bilirakis took to X to write: “This deployment is a clear affront to Cyprus’s sovereignty, a violation of U.S. law, and a reckless step that will only heighten tensions and instability in the region. Such actions are unacceptable and undermine regional security. President Erdogan must immediately reverse course and withdraw this deployment.”
As did U.S. Rep. Titus, who wrote, “This is yet another reason why Turkey is an unreliable ally and why @POTUS should reject selling F-35s to Ankara or waiving CAATSA sanctions.”
As AHI previously stated in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, this action raises serious concerns regarding compliance with U.S. law governing the use of American defense articles and undermines the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus while destabilizing the Eastern Mediterranean.
AHI appreciates these members’ bipartisan leadership and vigilance in ensuring that U.S. security assistance is used in accordance with statutory requirements and longstanding U.S. policy. Their actions reinforce the urgent need for accountability and adherence to the rule of law.
“We reiterate our call on the Administration to publicly condemn this deployment and engage directly with Turkey to secure the withdrawal of the aircraft from occupied Cyprus,” AHI President Nick Larigakis said.
