Officials in Turkey have been alarmed by the possible nomination of Marco Rubio as Secretary of State in the cabinet of Donald Trump. The Republican Senator has long championed stronger US ties with Greece and Cyprus, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean.
First to express concern was Devlet Bahceli, the ultranationalist government partner in Turkey, who said Trump would have to decide whether to “uphold international law” or support Greece and Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Rubio is known as a key architect of the East Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act (EastMed Act), approved by Congress in 2019, which strengthened the political, energy and military relations between the US, Greece and Cyprus.
The EastMed Act foresaw an end to the prohibition on arms sales to the Republic of Cyprus; the establishment of a United States-Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center to facilitate energy cooperation among the US, Israel, Greece and Cyprus; Foreign Military Financing (FMF) assistance for Greece; increased International Military Education and Training (IMET) assistance for Greece, while also included Cyprus in the program for the first time.
It also required the US administration to submit to Congress a strategy on enhanced security and energy cooperation with countries in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as reports on malign activities by Russia and other countries in the region.
Rubio spoke of his pride in co-authoring the bill
Rubio, the co-author of the legislation, said he was “proud to have co-authored a bill that enhances our engagement in the Eastern Mediterranean, a region that is strategically important to the US and our allies.
“The inclusion of the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Partnership Act of 2019 in the appropriations bill for fiscal year 2020 reaffirms our nation’s commitment to strengthening and expanding our energy and security cooperation with our key allies and partners in the region.”
His stance has annoyed Ankara, with reports noting Rubio’s criticism of Turkey’s government and his close connections with opposition groups, including those critical of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Rubio has been a critic of Erdogan’s Turkey
In a notable 2021 letter co-authored with a Democratic senator, Rubio led 54 US senators in condemning the human rights situation in Turkey, specifically supporting self-exiled former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, who is known for his staunch anti-Erdoğan stance and is wanted by Ankara on terrorism charges. The sports star denies the accusations.
The letter also strongly disapproved of Turkey’s actions against Kurdish groups in Syria, which the US has supported in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.
The Florida senator’s possible nomination has already sparked concern in Ankara, particularly due to his past criticism of Turkey’s 2019 offensive in Syria, his opposition to Erdogan’s relationship with Maduro, and his characterization of Turkey’s government as authoritarian, alongside Russia, China, and Venezuela.
As a result, Rubio has become a controversial figure in US-Turkey relations. His potential appointment signals a shift toward deeper American cooperation with Greece and Cyprus, aligning with his broader foreign policy focus on bolstering democratic alliances in the region, the Associated Press reports.
Rubio, 53, who has served in the Senate since 2010, would join Mike Waltz, Trump’s pick for national security adviser, in shaping U.S. foreign policy.
Rubio has recently aligned with Trump on several key issues, including the war in Ukraine, suggesting the conflict has reached a stalemate.
He was among 15 Republican senators who voted against a $95 billion military aid package for Ukraine in April.
“I’m not on Russia’s side – but unfortunately, the reality is that the way the war in Ukraine ends is through a negotiated settlement”, he told NBC in September.
The senator has been a vocal critic of both Obama and Biden administrations’ approaches to Latin America, particularly regarding Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela, as well as their Middle East and Asia strategies.
He is notably hawkish on China and supports tariffs, leading Beijing to impose still-active sanctions against him in 2020.
Related: Marco Rubio Tipped as Trump’s Favorite for Secretary of State
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