6 days ago
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One of the strongest advocates for Greek issues successful Congress, New Jersey Congressman Josh Gottheimer, has led each legislative effort successful caller months aimed astatine strengthening US-Greece relations, while putting Turkey squarely successful his sights. His amendment to bounds arms income to Ankara whitethorn person been near retired of the defence fund – on with hundreds of others – but it reignited statement successful Washington implicit Turkey’s problematic role, astatine a clip when Ankara is trying to amended its standing with American lawmakers.
Your amendment reminded your colleagues successful Congress that Turkey is simply a destabilizing factor, sparking renewed discussion. How bash you program to support this momentum going forward?
I’m going to present my amendment arsenic a stand-alone measure so that we tin support warring for it. It mightiness not person made it into the [National Defense Authorization Act, NDAA], but I’ll advocator for it arsenic a portion of authorities that we tin hopefully connect to different “legislative vehicle.” I americium going to support warring for this. Turkey’s authorities has supported Hamas, praised October 7 and escalated threats toward cardinal US partners similar Greece, Israel and Cyprus. That behaviour is unacceptable, fto unsocial from a NATO ally.
One large interest is its ongoing effort to get F-35 jets while still holding connected to the Russian S-400 system. Congress tin step successful to support restrictions. Do you consciousness your colleagues are paying capable attraction to this issue?
I think there are a batch of legislators, galore of whom I person worked with successful Congress, who understand however critically important this is. There is different portion of legislation, the Eastern Mediterranean Counterterrorism and Maritime Security Partnership Act, that I worked connected with my colleagues. They understand however important it is that we determination guardant here. Erdogan needs to understand that Turkey’s continued violation of US instrumentality and its melodramatic subject escalation are not going unnoticed. Many of my colleagues admit this. Congress is watching. Threats to our allies are not acceptable and, astir importantly, they won’t beryllium tolerated.
Beyond the F-35 issue, Turkey has besides been deepening ties with Russia, Iran and China. How bash these relationships impact US information interests?
When a NATO subordinate cozies up to dictators successful Moscow, Tehran oregon Beijing and undermines the NATO confederation and our coordinated deterrence, there indispensable beryllium existent consequences. Turkey’s choices person to transportation consequences. That’s why I introduced my amendments to the NDAA. To clasp Turkey accountable for its aggression against our allies. And Turkey’s increasing narration with Beijing is an country that deserves peculiarly adjacent attention.
Another country of concern, arsenic you mentioned, is Turkey’s ties to Hamas and its progressively hostile posture toward Israel. How worried are you astir this trend?
To accidental I’m profoundly acrophobic is an understatement. I person led bipartisan letters with my colleagues sounding the alarm connected Turkey’s harboring of Hamas operatives and its nationalist praise for Hamas aft October 7. No NATO state should beryllium giving support to a terrorist radical that brutally murdered much than 1,200 people, including dozens of Americans. Turkey indispensable extremity immoderate support for Hamas. Full stop. It’s besides been profoundly disappointing that Turkey downgraded relations with Israel.
Taken together – its ties to Hamas, its subject escalation, its clasp of Russia and Iran – Turkey looks much similar a liability within NATO. Do you spot it that way?
You would anticipation that Turkey could and should beryllium a constructive ally. But close now, its actions are intelligibly undermining the alliance’s values centered connected information and democracy. That’s why we person to clasp them accountable. They should not beryllium allowed to endanger our allies oregon supply support for terrorists.
On the different broadside of the ledger, you person been a strong supporter of strengthening US relations with Greece. How bash you measure Greece’s relation arsenic a US state and however important are the strategic assets it provides successful such a analyzable region?
Greece is an indispensable ally. That’s why I person introduced authorities to strengthen the concern betwixt our state and Greece, Israel and Cyprus. This concern has been a immense boon to our shared interests successful the Eastern Mediterranean. It has strengthened our quality to combat terrorism, grow maritime information and deepen economical cooperation. It’s a captious confederation with Greece, not lone arsenic a NATO subordinate but besides with the unthinkable taste ties from the Greek-American community, which I’m very arrogant to represent. I judge we should proceed strengthening our ties with Israel, Greece and Cyprus and support holding Turkey accountable.
Regarding Cyprus, you erstwhile again highlighted the ongoing Turkish occupation. What connection did you anticipation to nonstop to your colleagues successful Congress and the planetary community?
In Cyprus, the status quo is not acceptable. Congress indispensable cognize to what grade US arms person been used to facilitate the concern of Cyprus. If US weapons are being used for this purpose, it represents a sedate breach of trust. And with Turkey present threatening to treble its subject beingness connected the island, I think it’s agelong past owed that we assistance the arms embargo connected Cyprus.
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