PNN – Analysts believe that America, by simultaneously equipping Ankara and Athens with different fighters, has actually pitted these two neighboring countries and NATO members against each other.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, America’s green light to Greece to buy F-35 multipurpose fighter to Athens and sell F-16 fighters and fighter upgrade kits to Turkey shows the fact that two NATO allies are actually facing each other and are competition.
“Kathimerini” newspaper wrote about this on Monday, the sale of the F-35 fighter to Athens confirms the air superiority of this country. However, Turkey also shows its greater capabilities in the manufacture of weapons systems.
According to this report, the Greek Air Force has advanced French-made Rafale fighters and is upgrading 84 F-16 fighters. But the plan has run into trouble because of compatibility issues between the plane’s electronic systems and the radars. Greece also expects to receive the first F-35 before 2030.
Turkey relies almost exclusively on F-16s and a few older Phantoms. Upgrade kits and getting 900 missiles for the planes help balance it out better.
All in all, it seems that, in fact, the US wants to keep Greece one step ahead of Turkey in aircraft technology to counterbalance Turkey’s obvious advantage in drone manufacturing. Türkiye has actually become one of the major exporters of drones.
Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias recently said that Athens should increase its weapons production and buy less from abroad.
“Kriakas Mitsotakis”, the leader of the “New Democracy” party of Greece and the former prime minister of this country, said that due to Turkey’s actions, Greece should strengthen its armed forces.
Not long ago, in response to Turkey’s alleged violations, the Greek Air Force sent 40 F-16 and Mirage-2000 fighter jets into flight, and in this confrontation, the fighters performed a missile lock on each other. In that story, each of them had their own story
“Greece has an obligation to strengthen its armed forces because we have Turkey as our biggest and most unpredictable geopolitical neighbor,” Mitsotakis said.