U.S. Lawmakers Demand Withdrawal of Türkiye's F-16s from Northern Cyprus
By Bosphorus News Defense Desk
Türkiye deployed six F-16C fighter jets and air defense systems to the northern part of Cyprus on March 9, 2026, drawing immediate condemnation from U.S. lawmakers who say the move violates International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the U.S. legal framework governing the export and end use of American-origin military equipment.
Congressional Pushback
Representative Chris Pappas (D-NH), co-chair of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, was first to respond. In a March 12 press release, he called the deployment "unacceptable and illegal under U.S. law" and demanded an immediate withdrawal. "Turkey must immediately withdraw their F-16s and any other U.S.-made platforms," Pappas said. "If the administration doesn't demand their withdrawal, I will work with my colleagues in Congress to address the situation ourselves."
Representative Dina Titus (D-NV) posted on X that the deployment was "unnecessarily antagonistic and escalatory" and called on the Trump administration to reject any F-35 sale to Ankara and decline to waive CAATSA sanctions, the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, a law that imposes penalties on countries purchasing certain Russian defense systems.
Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) issued a formal statement on March 19, describing the deployment as "a brazen provocation against a key partner in the Eastern Mediterranean and an insult to every American taxpayer who funds our security partnerships." Malliotakis called on House leadership to bring H.R. 4413, the End Cyprus Embargo Act, to the floor without delay. The bill, which passed out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, would permanently lift the U.S. arms embargo on the Republic of Cyprus. "Actions have consequences," Malliotakis said. "Turkey's conduct in Cyprus must be addressed with action, not silence."
The Legal Question
Türkiye's F-16s were acquired through U.S. foreign military sales. ITAR restrictions prohibit the operational use of American-origin equipment in ways inconsistent with U.S. foreign policy or without prior authorization. The northern part of Cyprus, where Türkiye has maintained a military presence since its 1974 intervention, is not internationally recognized as Turkish territory. The self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognized only by Türkiye.
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based security research institute, called on the State Department to open a formal investigation and demanded the jets be returned to Turkish territory.
Türkiye's Position
The Turkish Ministry of National Defense described the deployment as part of a "phased approach to strengthening security" in northern Cyprus, citing "latest developments in our region." The ministry said additional measures could follow if deemed necessary. Ömer Çelik, spokesman for the ruling AK Party, defended the move without addressing the ITAR question directly.
Greece's government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said Türkiye was prohibited from using the aircraft for "offensive actions outside the country" under the terms of the U.S. supply contract, adding that the occupation of northern Cyprus does not legitimize any military presence on the island. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides described the deployment as a reaction to EU member states signaling that Cyprus's security was a shared European responsibility.
What Preceded the Deployment
The buildup began on March 1, when an Iranian-made Shahed-type drone struck RAF Akrotiri, a British sovereign base in southern Cyprus. Two additional drone launches on March 1 and March 4 were intercepted. The incidents occurred in the context of the broader U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.
In response, several countries moved military assets to the island. Greece sent four F-16s and two frigates. France dispatched the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and the frigate Languedoc. Italy and Spain each sent a frigate. Britain deployed Wildcat helicopters equipped with Martlet counter-drone missiles, with the destroyer HMS Dragon to follow.
Türkiye had raised no objection to Greece's deployment. Its defense ministry announced that a Greek air force delegation would visit Turkish air force headquarters the following week as a confidence-building measure. In addition to the F-16s, Türkiye deployed Hisar-A surface-to-air missiles and Bayraktar Akıncı and TB2 unmanned combat drones to the island.
The F-35 Dimension
The congressional reaction feeds directly into Türkiye's unresolved bid to rejoin the F-35 program, from which it was removed in 2019 after purchasing the Russian-made S-400 air defense system. The purchase triggered CAATSA sanctions on Türkiye's defense industry, imposed in late 2020.
Speaking in Abu Dhabi in early December 2025, U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack said he believed the dispute could be resolved within four to six months. Days later, in an official post on X, he drew a harder line. "As laid out in U.S. law, Türkiye must no longer operate nor possess the S-400 system to return to the F-35 program," Barrack wrote, adding that recent talks between President Donald Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan represented "the most fruitful conversations we have had on this topic in nearly a decade."
Lawmakers advocating for Greece and Cyprus are now conditioning any future arms transfer on written assurances that U.S.-origin platforms will not be stationed in disputed or occupied territories.
The jets remain in northern Cyprus. No withdrawal has been announced.
***Statements from Representatives Pappas and Malliotakis are drawn from official congressional press releases dated March 12 and March 19, 2026 respectively. Representative Titus's statement was posted on X. Türkiye's Ministry of National Defense statement was published March 9, 2026. Ambassador Barrack's statements are drawn from his remarks in Abu Dhabi on December 5, 2025 and his post on X on December 9, 2025.