NO. 134

Washington, DC—The Middle East Forum (MEF), a Philadelphia-based think-tank that promotes American interests in the Middle East and protects Western values from Middle Eastern threats, hosted American Hellenic Institute (AHI) President Nick Larigakis for a webinar, “Congress Counters Turkey with Nick Larigakis.” Larigakis made a presentation and participated in a Q&A. MEF Development Associate Stacey Roman moderated the discussion.

Larigakis demonstrated Turkey’s role in contributing to an arc of instability from Europe, to the Middle East, to the Caucuses. Larigakis cited Turkey’s provocations and aggression against Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Armenia as well as in Libya and Syria as examples of Turkey’s destabilizing role. He contrasted Turkey’s actions with the actions of Greece and Cyprus, which are countries that have acted as “pillars of stability” in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Furthermore, Larigakis provided an overview and timeline of legislative activity in the Congress aimed to hold Turkey accountable for its actions. He identified Turkey’s imprisonment of Pastor Andrew Brunson in 2018, purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense system, and invasion of northeast Syria, as contributing factors to Congress’s current view of Turkey.

“Thank you to the Middle East Forum for the invitation to participate on one of its webinars,” President Larigakis said. “The Forum’s strong stance on Turkey is the correct and right approach. MEF President Dr. Daniel Pipes has made important statements about the need to re-evaluate the relationship between the United States and Turkey and the need to remove Turkey from NATO. We need more leaders in the policy community to take a similar position.”

AHI Legislative Director Elias Gerasoulis added, “It has been a pleasure to work with the Middle East Forum’s government affairs team in Washington, in particular, Washington Project Director Clifford Smith. I look forward to continuing to strengthen our collaboration with the Middle East Forum.”