Athens, Thursday, 30 June 2022
According to defence officials on Thursday, Greece is anticipated to submit a formal request to the United States in the upcoming days for the purchase of 20 F-35 fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin.
Greece, a member of NATO, allocates more than 2% of its GDP to defence spending. In recent years, as tensions with Turkey, a NATO partner and neighbour, have re-emerged, it has increased its military expenditures.
One of the sources declared that "the pertinent document has been signed." The jet deliveries will start in 2027–2028.
The Letter of Request has reportedly been signed and will reportedly be delivered to the US Embassy in Athens this week, according to state television station ERT. This is the initial phase in a multi-phase process.
Greece and Turkey have been at conflict for many years over a variety of problems, including overflights in the Aegean, the size of their continental shelf, the location of their maritime borders, and the ethnically divided island of Cyprus.
During a trip to the US in May, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis discussed the purchase of F-35 aircraft.
Last year, Athens placed orders for three French military frigates and 24 Dassault-built Rafale planes at a combined total of 2.5 billion Euros.
The military ministry wants to move through with the modernization of F-16 fighter jets, according to state television station ERT.
A day after Turkey removed its objection to Finland and Sweden joining NATO, the US endorsed the potential sale of US F-16 fighter jets to Turkey on Wednesday, arguing that Turkey's robust military capabilities would strengthen NATO's defences.
(Source: Kathimerini // Edit by: The Decision Maker – International Relations editors)
(Picture: blogbeforeflight.net)