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Biden Must Address Provocations Against Greece, Cyprus with Erdogan

NO. 61 

WASHINGTON, DC — American Hellenic Institute (AHI) President Nick Larigakis wrote to President Joseph Biden, Jr., ahead of the President’s June 14 meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan described the meeting as an opportunity to “significant differences.”  President Larigakis presented a set of policy recommendations for President Biden to raise with President Erdogan based upon Turkey’s record of provocations and hostilities in the region that undermine stability and are in violation of the rule of law, including U.S. law. President Erdogan’s autocratic behavior and his “Blue Homeland” doctrine, in addition to Turkey’s provocations in the Aegean and toward Cyprus, hostilities in Libya, Syria, and Nagorno-Karabakh; and how Turkey undermines NATO, were all examples of “significant differences” cited by President Larigakis.

“While we understand that the U.S.-Turkey relationship is complicated and multifaceted, it is imperative to recognize the relationship cannot be artificially propped up by ignoring Turkey’s malfeasance, to the detriment of regional stability, United States allies, and the long-term interests of the United States,” Larigakis wrote. “Therefore, we respectfully ask that you pressure President Erdogan to take corrective actions regarding the aforementioned transgressions. If he does not listen, then the U.S. government should clearly delineate punitive consequences for his intransigence.”

             Read: AHI’s letter to President Biden