Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis said on Mar. 19 that Turkey’s deployment of F-16 fighter jets to occupied Cyprus is a violation of U.S. law and called for the United States to lift its arms embargo on Cyprus.
The issue is significant because it affects regional stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and impacts U.S. security partnerships. Malliotakis said, “Turkey’s decision to deploy F-16s to occupied Cyprus—in direct violation of U.S. law—is a brazen provocation against a key partner in the Eastern Mediterranean and an insult to every American taxpayer who funds our security partnerships.” She added that this action, along with previous overflights above Greek islands, shows that “Turkey cannot be trusted with advanced American military hardware” and that it “endangers Cyprus’s sovereignty, destabilizes the region, and calls for a response from Congress.”
Malliotakis highlighted H.R. 4413, the End Cyprus Embargo Act, which she co-leads with Representatives Pappas, Bilirakis, Titus, and Kean. The bill aims to remove the arms embargo on the Republic of Cyprus and has recently passed out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. She urged House leadership to bring the legislation to a vote soon.
She also pointed out that recent developments have increased urgency: “The State Department has increased the travel advisory for Cyprus to Level 3 and authorized non-emergency personnel to leave. Cyprus, again, will serve as a vital humanitarian hub for civilians fleeing the Middle East, including American citizens.” Malliotakis argued that removing the embargo would allow Cyprus access to better defensive systems and benefit both U.S. allies and American defense jobs.
According to public records Nicole Malliotakis is currently serving in Congress representing New York’s 11th district. She has held this position since 2021 after previously serving in the New York State Assembly from 2011 through 2021 according to Congress.gov. Malliotakis was born in New York City in 1980 and lives in Staten Island according to official records. She graduated from Seton Hall University with a BA degree and also attended Wagner College.
Malliotakis concluded her statement by saying: “Actions have consequences. Turkey’s conduct in Cyprus must be addressed with action, not silence.”
