U.S. Sen. Rick Scott has condemned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over Turkey’s maritime agreement with Libya, describing the deal as an illegal and bullying move that threatens American interests and those of Greece.
“This is yet another illegal and thuggish move by Erdogan. It shows disrespect for the United States because it directly threatens the interests of America and our friend and ally, Greece,” Scott said.
The Florida Republican also questioned Turkey’s position within NATO, arguing that Ankara should not benefit from membership if Erdogan does not behave like an ally.
“If Erdogan doesn’t act like an ally, he shouldn’t enjoy the benefits of NATO,” Scott said.
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This is another illegal and thuggish move by Erdogan. It disrespects the United States because it directly threatens the interests of America and our friend and ally, Greece.
If Erdogan won’t act like an ally, he shouldn’t enjoy the benefits of NATO.
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) October 20, 2026
His remarks followed the October 20 approval of the disputed 2019 Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum by the House of Representatives in eastern Libya, reigniting objections from Athens and Nicosia.
Greece argues that the agreement violates international maritime law and disregards the rights of Greek islands. The memorandum, which defines maritime boundaries between Turkey and Libya, remains a contentious issue in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Who is Rick Scott?
Scott is a Republican senator representing Florida and a close political ally of President Donald Trump. Before entering the Senate, he served as Florida’s governor from 2011 to 2019.
He serves on the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, which deal with U.S. foreign policy, defense and national security.
During a recent visit to Greece and Cyprus, Scott met with officials and voiced support for cooperation between the two countries and the United States, particularly on security and energy issues in the Eastern Mediterranean.
He also visited the United Nations buffer zone in Nicosia, where he addressed Turkey’s military presence in northern Cyprus. Scott said the island should be united and independent, with its people deciding their own future. He also questioned why Ankara was not acting as an ally of the United States and other countries in the region.