"Greece will get what was agreed" – Athens satisfied with Mitsotakis-Blinken meeting

“Greece, as a consistent and reliable partner and ally, will get what was agreed upon,” government sources said after a warm meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday.

Exchange of views and discussions

This reference to what was agreed refers to the approval of the sale to Greece of the US F-35 aircraft, while during the meeting a comprehensive review of Greek-American relations was carried out and it was confirmed that in the context of their “excellent” level” in the next period further positive steps will be taken in the field of defense cooperation,” according to the same sources.

“In the next period, further positive steps will be taken in the field of defense cooperation” between Greece and the United States, government sources said. What about the F-35?

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who received the US Secretary of State at his home in Chania, exchanged views with Antony Blinken on international and regional issues, paying particular attention to events in the Middle East.

The Prime Minister expressed his growing concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the risk of the crisis spreading with all the ensuing consequences for regional stability and security, and also reiterated the need for the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, emphasizing that the solution can only be political, based on a two-state solution in accordance with UN resolutions.

“Greek-American relations have never been stronger,” Blinken told Mitsotakis.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Antony Blinken also discussed developments in Ukraine, with the US Secretary of State expressing gratitude for Greece’s support for Ukraine from the very beginning. The situation in the Eastern Mediterranean was also discussed. Kyriakos Mitsotakis reaffirmed Greece’s strong and long-standing position in favor of the peaceful resolution of disputes and good neighborly relations based on international law – principles that ensure regional stability and security.

Dialogue on camera

“In these difficult and challenging times for the region, it is extremely important for us to stand shoulder to shoulder, not only to work to further strengthen our relations, but also to act as allies, ensuring the return of peace and stability to our troubled region,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

Antony Blinken, for his part, said that he does not remember that “the partnership, the friendship between the United States and Greece has ever been stronger,” adding, turning to Mitsotakis: “Of course this is due to the close relationship between our peoples, but it is also has to do with leadership and your leadership in particular.”

“We stand united in the face of the powerful challenges that we face. But the fact that we stand together, that we work together, whether it is the defense of Ukraine, whether it is peace and stability in the Mediterranean, whether it is resolving the situation in the Middle East, in Gaza or in many other areas, is a huge source of strength and confidence for the United States,” said the head of American diplomacy.

Gerapetris: We will participate in the F-35 program
Foreign Minister Georgios Gerapetris, who attended the meeting between Mitsotakis and Blinken, spoke out on Saturday morning about issues relating to Greek sovereignty and the Lausanne Treaty, saying they would never be discussed or renegotiated.

In a conversation with SKAI, the Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized that “the strengthening of the armed forces has also strengthened foreign policy. The country is gaining special weight, an important issue is the modernization of the armed forces. There is a request to join the F-35 program, I think we will have positive changes.”

“I feel that this issue will end, Greece joining the program is a matter of time. No matter what Turkey does with the US on the F-16, we are not heteronomous,” he added.

Blinken meeting with Erdogan and Fidan
Before his visit to Crete, Antony Blinken traveled to Ankara, where he met with his counterpart Hakan Fidan, as well as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

During the meeting with Blinken, Fidan said Turkey was awaiting completion of the F-16 purchase process from the US, and that the final decision on Sweden’s NATO membership – a matter of particular interest to the US – rested with the Turkish National Assembly, Turkey’s Anadolu Agency reported.

From these statements by the head of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, we can conclude that both sides “parted ways” without getting what they wanted – neither the United States received a definite answer from Ankara on “unblocking” Sweden’s membership in NATO, nor Turkey received any commitments to sell American F-16s Erdogan’s government.

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