WASHINGTON, DC – The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) applauds a December 16 joint statement issued by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Lead Republican Michael McCaul (R-TX) that expresses “deep concern” about Turkey’s actions that endanger the NATO alliance and the broader region.

The heads of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs describe Turkey’s behavior as “increasingly provocative” and its actions as a “threat” to the Alliance under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. They cite several actions by Turkey, including: hydrocarbon exploration in Greek and Cypriot waters, military operation in Syria and instigating conflict in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh through the use of Syrian mercenaries, and purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems.

“The realization by the committee’s leadership that Turkey is a threat is important and appreciated,” Larigakis said. “It demonstrates an increasing understanding among policymakers that Turkey’s provocative acts, including those targeted at Greece and Cyprus, as well as the broader region, are not in the best interests of the United States.”

The full statement by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Lead Republican Michael McCaul follows:

“We are gravely concerned by the threat Turkey’s increasingly provocative behavior poses to our decades-long bilateral relationship, to the NATO alliance, and to the region more broadly. While we continue to see real value in a strong U.S.-Turkey relationship, its destabilizing actions need to be more strongly addressed and the United States must work with its European and NATO allies and partners to continue to use all of the tools at their disposal to demand that Turkey reverse course. We strongly urge President Erdogan to put an end to Turkey’s provocative behavior so the United States and Turkey can once again enjoy a close and cooperative relationship built on mutual security interests, a strong commitment to NATO, and shared democratic values.”

Recent actions of concern by Turkey under President Erdogan include:

• President Erdogan’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system compromises NATO interoperability and undermines the alliance’s collective defense pledge, which demands our militaries and armaments can work together in the face of the threat posed by Russia. It also allows Vladimir Putin to continue to sow division in the alliance.
• Turkey’s military operation in northeast Syria risked reversing critical gains by the United States and our local partners in the ongoing counter-ISIS fight and exacerbated the existing humanitarian crisis. Even now, Turkish-supported groups in northern Syria are accused of committing egregious human rights violations.
• President Erdogan has also fanned the flames of other global conflicts, reportedly sending Syrian mercenaries to Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh.
• In the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey has surveyed for hydrocarbon resources in disputed waters also claimed by Greece, a NATO member, and Cyprus, a key transatlantic partner and EU member.
• Erdogan has openly hosted Hamas terrorists in Turkey, including individuals designated by the United States for their terrorist activities.
• At home, Erdogan’s government has undermined Turkey’s democratic institutions by consolidating his own power, undermining the independence of Turkey’s judiciary, and rolling back the democratic rights and freedoms of the Turkish people, including by targeting locally-employed staff at U.S. Consulates with baseless criminal charges.