Turkish analysts and media express their concern about Greece’s participation in the F-35 program for the purchase of state-of-the-art fifth-generation fighters from the USA, commenting among other things that “the USA is changing the balance of power in favor of Greece”.

Turkish Media: “The US is giving F-16s to Turkey, but F-35s are being given to Greece”

In more detail, as he broadcasts the correspondent of SKAI in Istanbul, Manolis Kostidis, Greece’s purchase of F-35s from the US is one of the main topics in the Turkish media, with the Turkish press reporting on the US decision, commenting that “allegedly, the balance in the region does not change while they strengthen Greece with the F-35s”. .

“The USA mobilized, after the visa approved by Turkey for Sweden’s accession to NATO. After the official receipt of the official document of approval of the accession, the US Department of State gave its approval for the sale of. F-16 in Turkey. But the Biden administration did not forget Greece either, the US approved the sale of 40 F-35s to Greece” comments Fox HaberTV presenter Gulbin Tosun and continues: “They give us 40 F-16s and Greece 40 F-35s and this is presented and this is presented by the US as a proposal that supposedly will not change the balance in the region”.

At the same time, in its detailed report in the news bulletin, the Turkish station points out: “On the day the Biden administration gave the green light for the sale of F-16 in Turkey, but did not skip Greece either. The US has given its approval for the sale of 40 F-35s to Athens worth $8.6 billion. The US government, in its briefing to Congress, argued that these sales would not change the balance.

Turkish analysts: “With F-16s and missiles we are gaining time by producing our own fighters”

At the same time, Turkish analysts comment that “with the F-16s and missiles we gain time until the production of our own fighters” pointing out that Turkey together with the F-16s buys 900 air-to-air missiles, 800 bombs and 48 F-110 engines . They also state that “the Greeks also have the Rafale which is superior to the F-16”.

“Here we also asked for advanced radars, as well as 48 F110 engines. much will be granted. So as you can see the issue is not only the F-16s but also the upgrade kits. All the weapon systems that Turkey needs for its Air Force until 2040 will be bought here. Missiles, bombs, fighter engines,” the A Haber television network points out.

“Essentially we are buying time, buying time until we complete our own programs. As with the Altay tanks, here too we buy engines and thousands of missiles,” he emphasizes.

“One Greek F-35 corresponds to 20 F-16”

Former ambassador Safak Gökturk comments from his side that “the US is changing the balance of power in favor of Greece”.

“Years ago I asked our former Air Force chief about the issue of the F-35 and the F-16 and asked what is the difference between them. Perhaps he meant, of course, about the F-16s we have, and he told me that one F-35 corresponds to 20 F-16s,” he comments characteristically and adds:

“The US states that these sales will maintain the balance of power in the region, but in reality it is changing the balance in favor of Greece and we have entered this course. The only supplier of fighter jets to Greece is not only the USA. Let’s not forget that they also procure 4.5 generation fighters from France which are superior to the F-16. Therefore this agreement can be recorded as an advantage for Greece” he concludes.

They bring back the debate about the Turkish minority

At the same time, the discussion about the Turkish minority in Thrace is brought back with a post by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey. In more detail, the ministry, having posted the photo of Sadik Ahmed, refers to the “Turks of western Thrace”.

In particular, she mentions features in her post:

“The Turkish minority of Western Thrace continues with determination its struggle for the recognition of national identity. Turkey will continue its support in this just struggle with determination and will always support the Turks of Western Thrace.”

For the terrorist attack on the church in Istanbul

Regarding the terrorist attack on the Catholic Church of Santa Maria in Istanbul, Manolis Kostidis comments that the Minister of the Interior of Turkey is talking about “traces of the Islamic State”.

“Both perpetrators were arrested in the police operation. And the killers are foreign nationals. One from Tajikistan, the other from Russia, and we think they have a connection with the Islamic State,” said the Minister of the Interior, Ali Gerlikaya.

In fact, the Turkish president called Catholics. In particular, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in his phone call:

“Mr. Antonis, our condolences. Lots of passing

I wish this hadn’t happened.

Yes, but unfortunately everywhere such scumbag murderers appear and innocent people pay such a heavy price. All our security forces have been mobilized and I believe the killers will soon be found.”