Pompeo Questions Turkey's Geopolitical Loyalty at Cyprus Forum

Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered pointed criticism of Turkey’s foreign and defense policies during a recent economic forum in Cyprus. He focused on what he sees as Ankara’s growing divergence from its role as a NATO ally.

Concerns Over Turkey’s Dual Alliances

Pompeo expressed concern about Turkey’s efforts to maintain close diplomatic and military ties with both NATO allies and Russia. He argued that this dual approach is fundamentally at odds with Western security expectations.

Western powers have been unsuccessful in persuading Ankara that NATO membership and ownership of Russian weapons represent incompatible positions that compromise alliance security.

Impact of the S-400 Acquisition

Pompeo specifically cited Turkey’s controversial purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system. He noted that this move led the US to remove Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program, underscoring the security risks posed by such decisions.

Assessment of Turkey’s Reliability

The former Secretary of State questioned Turkey’s long-term reliability as a Western partner, citing its continued prioritization of relations with Moscow, especially in the defense sector.

Views on the Cyprus Dispute

Pompeo also commented on the Cyprus dispute, attributing the lack of progress to Turkish leadership.

Author’s Summary

Pompeo’s remarks highlight deepening concerns about Turkey’s alignment with Western security interests amid its strategic ties with Russia and unresolved regional disputes.

GreekReporter.com — 2025-11-06