Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez calls to hold Erdogan accountable for his crimes and threats

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-NJ) called on the United States and the international community to take concrete steps to hold Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accountable for his repression at home and threats and crimes in Syria, Iraq, and Greece.

The crimes of the Turkish government under the leadership of Erdogan are increasingly coming under scrutiny as Turkey seeks to build relations with Russia and squeeze more concessions from its NATO allies.

In a speech delivered on the Senate Floor, Sen. Menendez stated:

“As violent as Erdogan’s tenure has been at home, his foreign policy has been absolutely awful … But one thing is clear — the United States must take the Turkish President’s actions seriously … We need to hold Erdogan accountable for his behavior when he violates international laws, or challenges democratic norms, or allows his forces to commit human rights abuses. And that’s why I’m calling for free and fair elections in Turkey. But if standing up to human rights abuses makes me an enemy of Erdogan — if calling out Turkey for arming Azerbaijan and enabling the massacre of innocent Armenian civilians makes me an enemy of Erdogan — if demanding Turkey recognize Greek and Cypriot sovereignty makes me an enemy of Erdogan — then it is a badge I will wear with honor.”

Menendez persisted in his refusal to approve any deal to sell F-16 jet fighters to Turkey. The deal can only go ahead on the condition that Erdogan ends his campaign of aggression across the entire region, he added.

Menendez also indicated that Erdogan’s attack on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of North and East Syria endangers the US forces in the region and called on Washington’s allies to use their leverage to prevent further incursions into North and East Syria.