Congressional letter slams Turkey’s violations in Cyprus, Greece and support for Hamas as dangerous to NATO and regional stability
A bipartisan group of 22 US lawmakers has sent a powerful letter to former President Donald J. Trump urging him to address a litany of serious concerns regarding Turkey’s actions in the Eastern Mediterranean—chief among them, the ongoing illegal occupation of Cyprus—during any forthcoming meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Led by Democratic Representative Dina Titus and joined by senior figures including Senator Gregory Meeks, Vice Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the letter warns that Turkey’s behaviour under President Erdoğan is increasingly hostile to American interests, NATO unity, and international law.
BREAKING: Members of Congress have sent a letter to President Trump in anticipation of a reported meeting with President Erdogan.
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“President Erdoğan continues to wrongfully and illegally occupy the Republic of Cyprus,” the letter states, recalling the 1974 invasion and subsequent ethnic cleansing, destruction of cultural heritage, and abductions of Greek Cypriots. The lawmakers point out that the so-called “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,” recognised only by Ankara, has been repeatedly condemned by United Nations Security Council resolutions and the European Court of Human Rights.
F-35 reentry and S-400 system at centre of debate
At the heart of the lawmakers’ concern is the possibility that Turkey may be allowed to re-enter the F-35 fighter jet programme. They argue that doing so would “upend a delicate balance in the region,” given Ankara’s retention of the Russian-made S-400 missile defence system—a move that already led to Turkey’s removal from the programme and sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
“The presence of Russian military technology within NATO is a threat to the security and cyber integrity of the entire alliance,” the letter warns, insisting that readmittance must remain off the table as long as the S-400s remain operational and Turkey continues its “destabilising actions.”
Turkish violations in Greece and the “Blue Homeland” doctrine
The letter also cites a spike in Turkish violations of Greek sovereign airspace using US-supplied F-16s, as well as encroachments into Greek territorial waters over the past year. These provocations, the lawmakers say, directly challenge the sovereignty of a vital NATO partner and threaten to reignite regional tensions.
Of particular concern is Erdoğan’s “Blue Homeland” doctrine, which asserts Turkish maritime control over broad swaths of the Eastern Mediterranean. Under this strategy, Turkish vessels have regularly challenged the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of both Greece and Cyprus, while Erdogan has claimed offshore natural gas fields near Cyprus and signed a maritime memorandum with Libya that ignores Greek and Cypriot rights.
“This policy flouts international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and furthers Erdogan’s neo-Ottoman ambitions,” the lawmakers write.
Ties to Hamas and anti-Israel rhetoric
In one of the letter’s sections, the lawmakers accuse Erdoğan of acting as “chief patron of Hamas” following the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel. They criticise Erdoğan for describing Hamas as a “liberation group,” providing sanctuary to its leaders, and using inflammatory rhetoric—comparing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler.
They also note Turkey’s recent suspension of all trade with Israel and Erdoğan’s threats to militarily intervene, actions they argue have severely undermined NATO-Israel cooperation and contributed to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Crackdown on democracy in Turkey
The lawmakers express equal concern over Turkey’s democratic backsliding. They describe a sharp increase in political repression, including the March 2025 arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and the recent police raids on more than 100 political opponents. The letter outlines a broader pattern of rights violations: arbitrary arrests, suppression of protests, misuse of anti-terror laws, media censorship, and widespread violence against women.
“Turkey under Erdoğan increasingly resembles an authoritarian regime,” the letter asserts, urging Trump to publicly advocate for respect for democratic norms and human rights during any interaction with the Turkish president.
A strategic partner at odds with US values
While the lawmakers acknowledge Turkey’s geopolitical value as a NATO member that meets the 2% defence spending threshold, they stress that “Erdoğan’s personal and political agenda does not align with US interests and values.” They cite his interest in joining BRICS, partnering with Russia, and supporting Islamist militants in Syria and Sudan as examples of Ankara’s growing divergence from the West.
The letter concludes with a direct appeal: “It is our collective responsibility to urge greater respect for international law as well as the rule of law within his own country. Doing so would strengthen NATO, reinforce our partnerships with Greece and Cyprus, and promote global security.”
President Trump has not yet publicly responded to the letter.
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Also read: Tensions rise after Erdoğan’s visit to occupied areas
