Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias has made clear that Athens opposes any potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, warning that such a move could undermine stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Speaking at an Economist conference in Athens on Thursday, Dendias said Greece would not welcome Washington approving the sale of the fifth-generation stealth aircraft or providing engines for Turkey’s indigenous fighter jet programme.
“Let me be honest. Greece is not happy for Turkey to get the F-35. Greece is not happy with Turkey getting engines for a new generation aircraft,” Dendias said.
He stressed that while Greece respects the United States’ right to decide its defence exports, Athens believes the broader strategic implications must be considered.
“We are not to judge what the United States of America are doing and to whom they are selling. That is the business of the US government. We are just asking one question: Is it in the real interest of the United States?”
Eastern Mediterranean stability
Dendias argued that NATO’s security depends on maintaining stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, questioning whether supplying advanced military platforms to one regional ally without safeguards serves that objective.
“Giving a platform to one country in the Eastern Mediterranean without the caveat that this cannot be used against another allied member—is it to the interest of the United States or not?” he said.
Trump signals openness
The comments come after US President Donald Trump indicated ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara that he could consider lifting sanctions on Turkey to facilitate a future F-35 sale.
However, Turkey’s return to the F-35 programme continues to face significant legal hurdles.
Ankara was removed from the multinational programme in 2019 after purchasing the Russian-made S-400 air defence system. The United States later imposed sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), while the US Congress prohibited F-35 transfers to Turkey for as long as it retains the Russian missile system.
Washington has repeatedly argued that operating the S-400 alongside the F-35 could compromise sensitive stealth technology.
Mitsotakis urges respect among allies
Speaking after the NATO leaders’ summit in Ankara, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis declined to comment directly on Trump’s remarks but reiterated that NATO’s unity depends on respect for international law and the legitimate security concerns of all alliance members.
The possibility of Turkey rejoining the F-35 programme remains a contentious issue for Greece, with Athens maintaining that any change in US policy should take into account regional security and the balance of power in the Eastern Mediterranean.