“Greece is building powerful armed forces by purchasing the most modern combat aircraft in the world”, underlined the Minister of National Defense. The negotiation between Athens and Washington for the acquisition by Greece of the 5th generation F-35 fighters was thus completed.
The strengthening of the Greek Armed Forces through the recent multi-branch “package” of American military support is now characterized as particularly important and multi-layered, beyond the strategic scope step of the integration and acquisition (within the next few years) of the 5th generation fighter aircraft F-35, whose particular platform (when super-modern weapons are added to it) will make our Air Force (based on the larger overall program) very largely dominant.
Besides Israel and Italy east of Corsica, Greece will be the third US ally in the Central and Southeastern Mediterranean with modern weapons systems.
It will certainly require additions to the weapons they will carry (air-to-air, air-to-ground missiles, modern countermeasures, etc.). And all this in a time period of multiple conventional and asymmetric threats, as well as dramatic developments in most sub-regional zones of Europe and the Middle East.
In addition to the announced package, Greece is also involved in upcoming equipment programs such as MRAP vehicles (which are resistant to mines), C-130 J transports (clearly more upgraded than the 2 C-130H) etc.
The American package of weapons systems to Greece (in which improvements, adjustments-additions, as well as further investments will certainly take place) was based on the positive image of our country in the regional, NATO, European and global context, on the inter-alliance of our Armed Forces, in full support for the struggling Ukraine (against Putin’s authoritarian and threatening Russian regime), in respect for International Law, as well as in our fairly cautious position on the major Palestinian issue.
We will obviously continue to support Kiev with weapons, because this particular attitude means that by strengthening Ukraine we are strengthening Europe against the threat of Moscow. And on the other “hot” front of the Middle East, we will continue to support humanitarian aid in Gaza, as well as the protection of international navigation in the Red Sea (with the dispatch of the frigate “Hydra” to the US-British naval forces, as well as the European flotilla “Agenor”).
The American letter vindicates our firm and unwavering choice to be close to the US and the West more broadly.
Greece is becoming a force to be reckoned with in the wider region and is already geopolitically upgraded in NATO, as:
* It already has 18 French Rafale aircraft, while another 6 are expected in 2024 (24 in total).
* By March 2024, three out of a total of seven Romeo type/anti-submarine helicopters will have been received for the P.N.
* By 2027 the upgraded F-16 Viper/BLOCK 70/72 will have been received.
* Adding F-35s in 4-5 years to our Air Force (up to 40) greatly multiplies the capabilities against any potential threat (to all azimuths) and with the STEALTH advantage of low detection/observability.
The balance in the Aegean is not upset even with the approval of the Congress for the sale of 40 F-16s, as well as the upgrade of 79-80 F-16s to Turkey.
In addition, the US is also providing Greece with free military equipment from the US stockpile, which includes, among others, four LCS/LITTORAL SHIPS frigates, two C-130H transports, 60 BRADLEY armored fighting vehicles, three Protector patrol vessels and ten EDA engines for P-3 ORION anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
In his letter to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, states what the agreement contains in detail.
* In addition, he will submit a Ship Transfer Bill to Congress with a request to provide the necessary legislative authorization to transfer up to four Littoral Combat Ships to Greece as EDAs.
* In addition, it states: “I will prioritize Greece to receive mine-resistant ambush protected surplus as they become available over the next year, and I will consider Greek requirements should KC-135 tankers become available ». In fact, in addition to the C-130H aircraft, the Ministry of Defense is working to provide pricing and availability data for a Greek market for newer C-130Js (we have huge gaps in transport aircraft).
Our relationship with the USA is independent, bilateral, as well as independent from relationships with other countries and regarding the sale of 40 American F-16s to Ankara. Greece focuses on its own armaments and can never dictate US superpower policy in defense programs to third countries.
Nor can defense supplies to Greece of a given reliable partner and ally be linked to the armament programs of third countries. Those who connect them – according to the signatory – are out of touch with reality.
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