The Chair of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Robert Menendez, slammed on Monday Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent threat to launch a missile attack on Athens, Greece.
Speaking from the floor of the Senate, Menendez referenced a speech by Erdogan on December 11 in which the Turkish President he said he would fire a missile at Athens “unless [Greeks] stay calm.”
Menendez said the threats are “not only disturbing, they are totally unacceptable.”
“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…” the US Senator added.
“We need to hold Erdogan accountable for his behaviour when he violates international laws, or challenges democratic norms, or allows his forces to commit human rights abuses.”
Menendez urged the US and the international community to hold Erdogan to account.
“If standing up to human rights abuses makes me an enemy of Erdogan… then it is a badge I will wear with honour,” he said.
This comes as Menendez also confirmed this month that he will not approve the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey.
Source: Ekathimerini.
