Hey, @StateDept. Unfortunately, urging #Turkey to refrain from or halt provocative actions isn’t doing the trick. What could work is holding Ankara accountable. #CAATSA sanctions are a good start, as is making it clear that the only country "disputing" these waters is Turkey.
https://twitter.com/lenaargiri/status/1285634586756743172
During the Imia Crisis in 1996, the US took the position that it wouldn't take a position despite generally agreeing with #Greece that this should go to the #ICJ and that it had the better argument. US Ambassador to Greece Thomas Niles, made it clear this was a “big mistake”.
In American Diplomats (on the @StateDept recommended reading list) he writes: “When we refused to take a position, it sent a signal back to the Turks that we were not prepared to countenance or do anything about aggressive Turkish behavior toward the Greeks [in the #Aegean]...
...What this led to was a succession of Turkish claims and statements about the Aegean territorial issues that poisoned the relationship with #Greece even further.” (page 248 in case you're interested in some light reading).
As long as the US continues to describe Greece’s maritime zones in the #Aegean and #EastMed (which are based on international law and UNCLOS) as “disputed”, and fails to hold #Turkey accountable, it sends a signal to Erdogan that he can keep bullying US allies in the region.
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