The β warning shots that probably “land” Erdogan’s ambitions for the F-16 came on Thursday from Republican MPs, after the statements of the American president in Madrid.
The government is watching the reports carefully but calmly sale of new F-16s in Turkey and modernization of the existing fighters available to the neighbor, despite its positive attitude Joe Biden in the framework of the NATO Summit in Madrid.
The US president said on Thursday that he had told Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan that Washington should sell F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, but that it needed congressional approval. Biden said he believed Congress would approve the sale of the F-16s.
He rejected proposals that Washington’s support for the sale was in exchange for lifting Turkey’s veto on Sweden and Finland joining NATO. “What I said was, I said in December, as you will remember, we have to sell them F-16s and upgrade those jets,” he said. “It is not in our best interest to do so,” said Joe Biden.
“And there was no reward with that. We just had to sell, but I need congressional approval to be able to do that. And I think we can do that.”
Greek composure is explained by political balances in the US: From the will of the Biden government to the realization of this will, the road is long and passes through Congress, which only positively does not oppose the revisionism of Tayyip Erdogan. As it is emphasized, it will be difficult for Mr. Biden, despite his statements to the contrary, to risk a political defeat, even by a majority of Democrats in Congress.
“Warning shots”
The β warning shots that probably “land” Erdogan’s ambitions for the F-16 came on Thursday from Republican MPs, after the statements of the American president in Madrid.
As her correspondent reports ERT in Washington, Lena Argyri, the Republican MPs Gas Bilirakis and Nikol Maliotakisissued a harsh statement, in which they characteristically state that “it is shocking that President Biden supported the sale of US fighter jets F-16 and modernization kits in Turkey, while he had recently heard first-hand concerns about Turkish aggression from Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during his visit to Washington.
Mr. Mitsotakis had raised the issue of continuing aggression and overflights over Greek islands and had warned that any sale to Turkey would result in further intimidation of countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region, including Greece, Cyprus and Israel.
We remain firmly opposed to any US military equipment sales to Turkey and will continue to express our concerns to our colleagues in Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The bond between Greece and the United States is closer than ever and it is up to Congress to stand by Greece against any kind of aggression, whether it comes from an adversary like Russia or an ally. NATO such as Turkey, which continues to violate international law. “
Athens is “running” the agreement for the F-35
At the same time, however, Athens is “running” the F-35 deal that has caused a stir in Turkey. The political and military leadership does not seem to be complacent and continues to modernize its armed forces, despite Erdogan’s cyclical rhetoric. Aim to maintain the deterrent power of the Greek army, regardless of any developments.
In July they go to USA the Minister of National Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos and the Chief of GEETHA Konstantinos Floros for the official request of Greece for acquisition of fighter jets F-35.
Specifically, General K. Floros will be the first to go to the US in July, while on July 18th The Minister of Defense will also go to discuss closely the supply of F-35s, which are considered the most modern weapons system in the world.
Greece, with an official request to the United States, asked for a commitment 20 F-35 aircraft, with options for another 20. Delivery of the first fighters will begin in 2028 and will be completed in 2033, at a cost of 1.6 billion euros.
According SKAI information, the Minister of Defense and the head of GEETHA will meet with executives of the company that manufactures the F-35s and will visit the factory in Texas. They will also be fully informed about the capabilities of the aircraft and will run the procedures to get the signatures within the next year.
The Greek Air Force will get a first taste in an exercise that will participate on July 13 in Crete.
The advantages of the F-35 in detail and when the deliveries will take place
AMPE – – ERT
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