U.S. lawmakers condemn Turkish deployment of F-16s to Northern Cyprus

On Monday, Turkey deployed six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems to the northern part of Cyprus. The Turkish Ministry of Defense stated this action aims to enhance the security of the Turkish Cypriot community amid regional tensions related to the war involving Iran. Several U.S. lawmakers, including Gregory Meeks, Gus Bilirakis, and Dina Titus, publicly criticized the move. Representative Meeks stated that the deployment undermines the sovereignty of Cyprus and increases regional instability. Representative Bilirakis argued that the use of U.S.-manufactured jets in this context may violate the Arms Export Control Act. Representative Titus suggested the incident should affect future U.S. decisions regarding F-35 sales and existing CAATSA sanctions on Turkey. While Ankara justifies the deployment as a defensive necessity, U.S. officials are calling for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to immediately withdraw the aircraft.