Greece expects to receive the first F-35 jets from the United States by 2028, former National Defense minister Nikos Panagiotopoulous told Real FM on Friday.
He spoke of a change of balance in the air between Greece and Turkiye, as the latter will not acquire the French-made Rafale jets and its negotiations on the refurbishment of the Viper jets is behind that of Greece. In addition, Turkiye has been blocked from purchasing the F-35s. “We are at a very good place in air” defenses, Panagiotopoulos said.
Speaking later to Skai TV, he said that Greece’s caretaker Defense Minister Alkiviadis Stefanis has been keeping open a communication channel with his counterpart, new Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler.
In terms of the Evros border regions, the caretaker ministers of foreign affairs and civil protection are also very experienced and keeping in touch with their Turkish counterparts, Panagiotopoulos noted. The Greek police and Armed Forces infrastructure “know how to carry out their obligations very well and to defend national sovereignty and national interests,” he added.
