Greece Warns Washington: F-35s for Turkey Threaten NATO Ally
Greece has formally signaled its concerns to Washington over the possibility of Turkey re-entering the F-35 fighter jet program, with senior diplomatic sources saying Athens has already raised the issue directly with the US administration.
The concerns follow talks between President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about Turkey potentially rejoining the fifth-generation aircraft program. Greek diplomatic sources described the principle that weapons sold to one ally should not be used against another as "self-evident," while acknowledging that Greece cannot dictate the defense procurement decisions of other countries.
"Platforms sold within NATO should not be turned against fellow alliance members" — Defense Minister Nikos Dendias
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias put it plainly, saying Greece would not be pleased if Turkey acquired F-35s or the engines for next-generation aircraft. He argued that platforms sold within NATO should not be turned against fellow alliance members.
The diplomatic sources noted that Turkey has not yet secured any tangible outcome from the Trump-Erdogan discussions. For Turkey to even be eligible, it would need to prove it no longer holds the Russian S-400 air defense system, and US legislation would need to be revised before any F-35 exports could proceed.
Greece views Turkey's ambitions in this area through the lens of what it considers a standing threat of war, or casus belli, a reference to Ankara's long-standing position that Greek military activity in certain Aegean islands could justify military action. Athens is making clear that arming an adversary with fifth-generation stealth fighters, even one that is technically a NATO partner, is a line it wants Washington to think hard about.
