“Instead of resting in this effort and in the role of a “given ally” that satisfies every American request, the Government must demand concrete measures from the USA to defend Greek interests and answer honestly whether they are ensured or not” says the SYRIZA-PS in a statement regarding the sale of American F16 fighters to Turkey.
With regard to an article by the “Kathimerini” newspaper regarding the “conditions” for the sale of American F16s to Turkey, Koumoundourou speaks of “serious questions regarding the “conditions” set for the sale, in the letter sent by the State Department to the Committees of International Relations of the Senate and Foreign Affairs of the Parliament, on Friday January 26″ and emphasizes that “the Greek-American organizations have given and continue to give an extremely important fight – which SYRIZA-PS fully supports – for the defense of national interests, between others and for the sale of F16s to Turkey”.
The announcement of the Press Office of SYRIZA-PS:
An article published in the newspaper “Kathimerini” not only confirms that the process of selling F16 from the USA to Turkey is being completed with steady steps – contrary to the assurances given by Mr. Mitsotakis to the Parliament – but leads to serious questions regarding the “conditions” put up for sale, in the letter sent by the State Department to the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs Committees on Friday, January 26.
We underline that the Greek-American organizations have given and continue to give an extremely important fight – which SYRIZA-PS fully supports – for the defense of national interests, including the sale of F16s to Turkey. The Government, instead of resting in this effort and in the role of a “given ally” that satisfies every American request, must demand specific measures from the USA to defend Greek interests and answer honestly whether they are ensured or not.
In this context, we expect immediate information from the Government about the letter:
First, the general and vague reference to the need not to use US defense material “to conduct military activities against other NATO allies” means nothing without reference to the procedures that would be followed if it were used. It said that if there were “repeated incursions into the internationally recognized borders of another NATO ally”, the US would “try to resolve the situation diplomatically”. “If the situation could not be resolved through the normal diplomatic channel… they will use additional political and economic tools to resolve the situation – including if necessary – the application of provisions in relevant defense material transfer agreements with the country involved, to suspend or the cancellation of all or part of the delivery of the relevant defense material, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the agreements in question.”
It is unknown how many and which violations of Greece’s sovereignty and sovereign rights constitute “repeated invasions”. It is also unknown whether there will be provisions that the US will impose and Turkey will accept in the US-Turkey F16 agreement that would provide for a postponement or suspension of sales if there are violations against Greece. Finally, it is unknown what “prudent” use of these measures means based on American interests, as the letter states. All that is known is that the Turkish side categorically denies that it has accepted any terms.
Second, it is recalled that a previous 2020 State Department report to Congress emphasized that “The lack of demarcation of the Greece-Turkey border means that there is no clarity as to the extent of Greece’s territorial waters and the corresponding airspace in these areas, making it impossible any assessment of the total violations of the airspace of Greece”. Extremely important to evaluate the January 26 letter and what “invasion” means for the US, is the question of whether the State Department continues to support the above positions on Greek sovereignty.
Third, the letter is not limited to Turkey but also calls on Greece not to engage in “provocative military activities against other NATO allies,” using the F35, stressing that otherwise it will “vigorously consider the full range of options we have in our disposition….and inclusion of additional provisions in future sales”. It is clear that there should be an update on what this entails for Greek defense and the F35 market.
Finally, the above article does not refer to conditions related to the respect of the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus. We are waiting for information if there are relevant conditions”.
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