The Turkish maps and Greece’s responses on the ground: American F-35s cause anger in Ankara – The “block” in the US for Turkish F-16s is strengthened

And while the “Poseidon Rage” exercise is still at its beginning with the scenarios gradually escalating, the first images showing the American F-35s and F-15s flying “wing-to-wing” with the Greek “falcons” are already provoking Ankara irritation bordering on rage.

of Kostas Sarikas

At a time when the failed map of the “Grey Wolf” Devlet Bakhceli is causing intense turmoil even inside Turkey with Tayyip Erdogan being exposed and in an extremely difficult position, Greece is responding on multiple fronts. On the one hand, it exposes Turkey to friends and allies and proves why the defense of the islands of the Eastern Aegean is a non-negotiable right against the revisionism of its neighbors. At the same time, it increases the pressure on the American government to block the sale and modernization of F-16 fighters to Turkey, now having the Jewish lobby on its side. While on the ground where Turkey raises its rights, the presence of the American Stealth F-35 fighters together with the F-15 Strike Eagles in Souda and the joint training with our Air Force, the messages sent to Ankara are multiple and not only symbolic but on the point.

And while the “Poseidon Rage” exercise is still at its beginning with the scenarios gradually escalating, the first images showing the American F-35s and F-15s flying “wing-to-wing” with the Greek “falcons” are already provoking Ankara irritation bordering on rage. The Americans of the USAF seem to be “thirsty” for action in the unique Greek relief. Already the first air to air “skirmishes” at the level of “2 vs. 2” have given way to scenarios involving four fighters with the Formations as the days go by continuously reinforced. The American Stealth aircraft guided by the “blue” wings already proceeded to their first “low” in the well-known Vouraikos canyon, offering an impressive sight. While together with Greek fighters, they carried out the first shots with real fire at the “Karavia” shooting range between Crete and the Peloponnese.

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The message of the presence of the F-35s in Souda not only reached Ankara but it seems that it is already causing irritation to the neighbors. Who saw within a few years being kicked out of the Joint Fighter Striker program while at the same time Greece was rapidly entering the closed F-35 club. And the Americans should almost immediately send a full Squadron with ten Stealth fighters and fourteen more powerful F-15s for training in Souda. Which in the next few days will fly together with HAF aircraft in the area of ​​the illegal Turkish-Libyan memorandum essentially accepting Greek Sovereign Rights where Ankara wants to paint the map from blue to gray.

At the same time, some other messages reaching Turkey from the US and the F-16 front are far from encouraging for the neighbors. The block against the possible sale and upgrade of TuAF fighters is getting even stronger. With the Jewish lobby taking a clear position in favor of the Greek positions. And the relevant announcement of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) to be a bellwether for Ankara.

“Turkish violations of Greek airspace and armed overflights over Aegean islands have reached dangerous levels, creating a real threat to peace and stability in the region. In addition, Turkey conducts provocative and dangerous naval exercises, sometimes with live fire, in Greek territorial waters and around inhabited islands.

Despite Turkey’s aggression, the US government has expressed its willingness to consider Turkey’s request to buy 40 Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets and 80 modernization kits for its existing massive fleet of warplanes.

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Upgrading and selling new F-16s to Turkey would undermine American law, American values, and American interests. Turkey is already using its fleet of American F-16s to violate Greek airspace. A large number of analysts have repeatedly expressed concern about co-locating upgraded F-16s with the S-400s.

Chris Pope’s amendment prohibits the United States from selling modernization kits and new F-16s to Turkey unless Congress receives certification that Ankara has not violated Greece’s sovereignty – specifically through territorial overflights or violations of the Athens FIR. We hope you will support this important amendment.”

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