AHEPA Strongly Opposes Administration's Military Upgrade Request for Turkey

American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association

For Immediate Release | May 16, 2022

Contact: AHEPA Headquarters Phone: 202.232.6300 E-mail: ahepa@ahepa.org AHEPA Strongly Opposes Administration's Military Upgrade Request for Turkey

WASHINGTON, DC -- Supreme President Jimmy Kokotas has issued the following statement: We strongly oppose the Biden administration’s request of congressional leaders to approve the sale of advanced weapons and other equipment for Turkey’s fleet of F-16 jet fighters, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.  The United States justifiably imposed sanctions on Turkey for its purchase of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system because it violated U.S. law. The Administration must be reminded that, additionally under Mr. Erdogan, Turkey has compiled a history of provocative acts and committed violations not just toward the United States and its interests, but also toward NATO alliance members and U.S. strategic partners in the region. Turkey does, after all, cozy up to entities the U.S. would consider to be malign actors in the region. Further, under the Erdogan regime, Turkey’s human rights record is abysmal. Although Turkey is providing support to Ukraine, it is not cause for reward in the form of a weapons upgrade to its F-16 fleet that can potentially be used to the detriment of U.S. interests. Turkey also has not imposed sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Moreover, for the Administration to make this request as the White House simultaneously welcomes the prime minister of a country directly threatened by such a weapons upgrade, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, to celebrate more than 200 years of shared values, is tone deaf, at best. To have this request hanging over the heads of all affected parties as the prime minister will be making a historic address to a Joint Session of Congress on Tuesday, is also unfortunate and a disappointment for the American Hellenic community. As previously demonstrated, we will work with like-minded organizations and our champions in Congress to address the Administration’s flawed position on this alarming matter.

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