Resentment has increased among US Congress members towards Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in rejection of his foreign policies.
Republican Senator Ron Johnson remarks to consider Greece as an alternative for the US “Incirlik” Air Force base has reflected the positions of many Republican and Democratic Congress members who had previously warned from Erdogan’s “disturbing” foreign policy. Also, they have been relentlessly seeking to push for sanctions against Ankara.
Meanwhile, many are concerned over the impact of possible sanctions on the US presence in Turkey, as well as the fate of its base there.
“We don't know what's gonna happen to Incirlik,” Johnson told the Washington Examiner.
“We hope for the best, but we have to plan for the worst.”
Erdogan threatened to close the base in late 2019 in response to the US sanctions at the time.
US lawmakers are discontent with his repeated threats every time the Congress tries to officially recognize Turkey’s commission of the Armenian Genocide during the World War I.
“We want to maintain our full presence and cooperation in Turkey,” Johnson said.
“I don’t think we want to make that strategic shift, but I think, from a defensive posture, I think we have to look at the reality of the situation that the path that Erdogan is on is not good.”
The disagreements between Turkey and other NATO allies has grown in recent years, in part due to Erdogan’s purchase of advanced Russian anti-aircraft missile systems — a decision that led President Donald Trump’s administration to expel Turkey from the F-35 stealth fighter program.
More recently, Erdogan got embroiled in a maritime boundary dispute with Greece, a controversy grave enough to prompt NATO officials to intervene to ensure that the two alliance members avoid a military clash.
In the midst of these controversies, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced last week that Cyprus would be allowed to purchase “nonlethal defense articles and services,” providing partial relief from an arms embargo imposed in 1987.
“It is in our national security interest to lift these outdated decades-long arms restrictions and deepen our security relationship with the Republic of Cyprus,” New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, said in support of Pompeo’s announcement.
The US Navy maintains a base at Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete.
“It’s very unfortunate the path that Erdogan is taking Turkey, or has put Turkey on,” Johnson noted.
“It’s disturbing. It’s very concerning, which is one of the reasons we certainly are increasing and improving our military cooperation with Greece ... beefing up our presence in Souda Bay, because our presence, quite honestly, in Turkey is certainly threatened,” he stressed.
