Greece’s official request to acquire F-35 fighters from the US became a topic in the Turkish press. In the Turkish publications, either in the same article or in one right next to it, the news about the F-35s is combined either with news that states that the US supports the upgrade of the Turkish F-16 fighters or with a repetition of the statements of the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who had asked Congress to stop the US from helping Turkey with equipment for the F-16s. But the main feeling is the “attempt to change the balance” by Greece and the mentality that Greece might be preparing something against Turkey.
“Greece signed the official letter of request for the purchase of F-35 fighter jets and forwarded it to the US authorities,” Sözcü newspaper reports.
Panic in the Turkish media with Greece’s request for F-35: “They are trying to change the balance”
“Support for US F-16 sales to Turkey” writes TGRT Haber and adds “Celeste Wallander, the US Undersecretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, announced that the White House supports Turkey’s plans to modernize its fleet of F- 16”, while in another part of the piece it refers to Greece and the application for F-35. In an adjacent article it states: “Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who met with US President Joe Biden in recent months, said ‘don’t sell F-16s to Turkey'”.
Hürriyet’s front page reads: “Greece letter to US on F-35s. They will buy 20+20 F-35s”.
Erdoğan’s A Haber reports: “Greece’s move for F-35s. Greece is trying to block Turkey for F-16s, but has started actions to buy 40 F-35s”.
“Greece has signed the official letter of request for the purchase of F-35 fighter jets and forwarded it to the US authorities,” writes Birgün.
“Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that he will buy a total of 40 F-35 fighter jets,” ensonhaber writes.
“Greece, which has been in talks with the US authorities for a long time for the purchase of F-35 fighter jets, has started the process. According to the news in the country’s press, the official letter of request has been delivered to the US authorities,” reports the Sabah and titled the piece “Greece took action for the F-35!”.
Analyst: Greece is trying to change the balance with Rafale and F-35
The concern expressed by the Turkish media is also reflected in a CNN Türk show, where military analyst Mete Yarar commented on the current situation.
Yarar said that the main factor that could change the balance between Greece and Turkey is aviation, which is the only sector in which Turkey has no production: “They are trying to change the balance from there. With the Rafale fighters with the European long-range missiles Metero and Scalp”.
As Yarard added: “We are talking about air-to-air and air-to-ground weapon systems and now they are doing it with the purchase of the F-35!”.
