Greece's Prime Minister Warns Turkey of Unused Military Advantage

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis issued a strong message to Turkey on Sunday, highlighting Greece's significant military buildup and modernization efforts. He stated that upgrades to the Greek F-16 fighter jets and the acquisition of F-35 aircraft provide Greece with a "very significant advantage" over Turkey, which he even dared to call "superiority."

Mitsotakis emphasized that this advantage is something Greece "could never simply leave unutilized." These remarks come amid ongoing tensions between Greece and Turkey, both NATO members, particularly concerning issues in the Aegean Sea and Greece's accelerated rearmament.

The Greek Prime Minister's comments coincide with Greece's substantial investment in its defense systems, totaling billions of euros. Notably, last week, Greece and Israel finalized a major deal worth approximately 3 billion euros to establish the multi-layered "Achilles" air defense system, a key component of Athens' military expansion plan.

Addressing the possibility of Turkey eventually acquiring F-35 fighter jets from the United States, Mitsotakis noted "significant legal obstacles" currently preventing such a transaction. While he acknowledged that Greece does not dictate U.S. arms sales, he expressed skepticism about these obstacles being removed.