US and Menendez blast Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received two new blows in light of his incendiary statements against Greece and also regarding the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara.

The beginning was made by the State Department which stated in the shadow of Erdogan’s bellicose rhetoric against Greece, that threats and provocative rhetoric will not help anyone.

As the State Department spokesman said, “at a time when unity is most needed among our allies, the United States regrets the escalation of provocative statements,” thus pointing to the Turkish president who had recently threatened a missile strike on Athens.

Menendez blasts Erdogan

At the same time, however, Senator Robert Menendez, in a scathing speech, attacked Recep Tayyip Erdogan, both for his incendiary statements against Athens, and for his plans for Ankara to buy fighter jets from the USA.

Robert Menendez called from the floor of the Senate to the United States government and the international community to take concrete measures to ensure that President Erdoğan is held accountable for the continuous violation of International Law and human rights and condemned with the most formal way the recent threats made by the Turkish president against Athens.

“I demand that Erdogan stop all overflights over Greece,” the senator and chairman of the US Senate’s International Relations Committee emphasized.

Erdogan seems to be paying for the saber rattling against Greece lately. Menendez, on whom the permission for the sale of F-16s to Ankara hinges, referred to the “sultan’s” recent threats against Athens, expressing his anger.

“A few days ago, in front of a town hall in northern Turkey, President Erdogan threatened Athens with a missile attack. ‘Greece is afraid of our missiles’, he said. They say the Typhoon missile will hit Athens. And then he addressed the Greek people directly and said:

‘This will happen…unless you calm down’. We are talking about a NATO member directly threatening to target Athens, a city of three million civilians.

I will not consent…

Speaking of an “offensive campaign” unfolding across the region, the senator once again announced that he would not agree to Ankara’s request to upgrade and acquire new F-16 fighter jets.

“And I demand that Erdogan stop all overflights over Greece and withdraw the last Turkish soldier from Cyprus. And I think that, given his recent behavior, the United States should not put F-16 fighter jets in the hands of President Erdogan,” was the message he sent to Turkey’s leadership.

Regarding the constant threats against Greece, Mr. Menendez estimated that the escalation of incendiary rhetoric is also connected to the upcoming elections in Turkey.

Mr. Menendez referred to the continuous aggressive rhetoric from Erdogan but also to the effort to challenge Greek sovereignty.

“We have seen Erdogan repeatedly threaten Greek sovereignty. He said, I read his words, that the Turkish forces ‘may come suddenly one night’. He seems to be increasing his illegal, authoritarian behavior ahead of next year’s elections,” the senator assessed.

However, he argued that these are not isolated rhetorical threats but a pattern of illegal claims that systematically challenge sovereignty over Greek territory.

Ire for the decision against Imamoglu

However, the senator’s criticisms were not limited to foreign policy issues, but covered a range of Turkey’s internal issues involving democratic slippage combined with the violation of fundamental freedoms and human rights.

As he pointed out, “he has tendencies to take revenge inside (the country) as well.” Just last week, one of Erdogan’s political rivals – the popular mayor of Istanbul – was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. The charge? Insult against members of the Supreme Electoral Council.

And in case the prison sentence didn’t send a clear enough message, the court also imposed a political ban on the mayor. Erdogan may be using this aggression and repressive policy to distract from the total failure of his economy.

“He may do it out of malice or he may do it because he himself is a villain. But one thing is clear – the United States must take the Turkish president’s actions seriously.”

“The US is on your side”

Closing, the senator sent messages to multiple recipients, saying:

• To my colleagues here in the Senate I will say don’t be afraid to stand up for American values in the face of Erdogan’s aggression.

• To the international community I will say, do not hesitate to make Turkey accountable for its violation of International Law.

• To the citizens living in the shadow of Erdogan’s Typhoon missiles I will say, don’t forget that the United States is standing by your side.

• And to those people in Turkey who still hope for a free, democratic future, I say don’t give up. One day, with your bravery, peace and prosperity will return to your homeland.