US Congress Considers Temporary Arms Ban on Turkey – Strategic Implications for Greece and Cyprus

The US Congress is closely scrutinizing Turkey’s behavior in the Eastern Mediterranean, through a series of amendments introduced in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

One of the key amendments calls for a temporary suspension of arms sales to Turkey until the US government certifies that Ankara has taken steps to deter violations of the sovereignty of its allies, including Greece and the Republic of Cyprus.

Amendments and Restrictions

The proposed amendments include:

• Suspension of arms transfers to Turkey until compliance is certified by the State Department and the Pentagon.
• Comprehensive security assessment of threats stemming from the Turkish occupation of Cyprus, with particular attention to implications for the US, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and the United Kingdom.
• Review of Ankara’s links with terrorist organizations, including Hamas and Hezbollah, and their presence in occupied territories.
• Documentation and analysis of attacks against US forces and facilities in Cyprus, including the British bases at Akrotiri and Dhekelia.
• Measures to prevent misuse of US weapons, including their potential use in support of the occupation or terrorist activities.

Geostrategic Dimension

This initiative, led by Democratic Representatives Dan Goldman and Josh Gottheimer, with support from the Greek-American community through the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) and the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), underscores the geostrategic role of Greece and Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The temporary arms ban and reporting requirements act as a pressure mechanism on Turkey to comply with international norms and respect the sovereignty of its allies.

Political and Strategic Implications

The amendments are expected to have multiple consequences:

• Strengthening the negotiating position of Greece and Cyprus.
• Potential recalibration of Turkey-US relations, emphasizing compliance with NATO rules.
• A clear warning to Ankara regarding violations of third-country sovereignty and possible involvement with organizations classified as terrorist by the US.

The provisions will remain in effect for five years from enactment or until the President certifies to Congress that Turkey has ceased repeated sovereignty violations against NATO allies and the Republic of Cyprus.