The deployment of Turkish F-16 fighter jets to the occupied areas of Cyprus has sparked a renewed wave of backlash in the US Congress, with members of the House of Representatives publicly denouncing Ankara’s move.
In new statements, lawmakers argued that the presence of Turkish F-16s in the occupied northern part of the island undermines stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and raises serious questions regarding compliance with US arms export laws.
Representative Dina Titus (D-NV) “strongly” condemned Ankara’s decision, labeling the deployment as “unjustifiably provocative” and a move that “leads to further escalation.” Titus noted that this action is “yet another reason why Turkey is an unreliable ally,” adding that the US President should neither approve the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Ankara nor lift sanctions mandated under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Similarly, Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) described the deployment as a “clear affront to Cypriot sovereignty” and a “reckless step that will further intensify regional tensions and instability.” Asserting that the move constitutes a “violation of US law,” Bilirakis called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to “immediately reverse course and withdraw the fighter jets.”
Turkey’s non-compliance with US arms export laws
These remarks echo a previous stance taken by Gregory Meeks, the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who stated that the move “undermines the sovereignty of Cyprus” and urged a swift reversal of policy.
As US-made aircraft, Turkish F-16s are subject to the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), which stipulates that defense articles sold to foreign nations must be used exclusively for legitimate self-defense or other US-approved purposes.
Because the United States recognizes the Republic of Cyprus as the sole legitimate government on the island, the deployment of these systems to internationally unrecognized territory or areas associated with military occupation may be viewed as a breach of transfer agreements.
Ankara officially framed the deployment of the six F-16s as a defensive and stabilizing measure necessitated by the spillover of the wider conflict involving Israel, the US, and Iran.
Greece condemns Turkish deployment of F-16s on Cyprus
Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis questioned the legality of Turkey’s decision on Thursday, saying that it is “prohibited” for Turkey to use the aircraft for “offensive actions outside the country.”
“The invasion and occupation of the northern part of Cyprus is illegal and does not legitimize any presence of a military force on the island. The F-16s, in fact, are prohibited from being used for offensive actions outside the country by the US supply contract,” he said in a press conference.
Turkey’s deployment of six F-16s came a week after Greece had deployed four F-16s of its own to Paphos in the aftermath of an Iranian-made drone hitting Cyprus’ British Akrotiri air force base.
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