US Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered Greece to send weapons to Ukraine in exchange for compensation from the United States in the amount of two hundred million dollars.
He promised to explore the possibility of providing Athens with additional aid of up to $200 million and said that the United States is ready to consider the likely sale of F-35 aircraft to Greece and the transfer of weapons worth about $8.6 billion. writes BB.LV. Blinken’s words leads press service:
“We remain interested in the defense potential that Greece can transfer or sell to Ukraine. If these capabilities are of interest to Ukraine, and pending the US Government’s assessment of their status, we may explore the potential for additional FMF (foreign military financing) funds of up to $200 million.”
Previously, US authorities tried to obtain supplies through blackmail. According to Newsbreak journalists, during a visit to Greece on January 6, Mitsotakis was given an ultimatum on the supply of new weapons systems. In Athens, meanwhile, they announced that they had already given up all the weapons, thereby destroying the national defense.
Washington planned to deploy F-35 and F-15 aircraft on the island of Crete back in May 2023. American authorities sent an official request to the Greek government to send fighter jets to the shores of Souda Bay. This territory contains several military installations of the Greek army, as well as one of the main NATO strongholds in the region.
How reported our publication, the US State Department has authorized the sale of American F-35 fighter jets and related equipment to Greece in the amount of $8.6 billion. As follows from a statement by the Pentagon Security Cooperation Agency, which is responsible for the supply of military equipment and weapons abroad under intergovernmental contracts, we are talking about the acquisition of up to 40 fighters, 42 engines, guidance systems, spare parts and other equipment. The agency assured that the supply of this equipment will not harm US combat readiness and “will not change the basic military balance” in the region.
In a letter sent yesterday to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, US Secretary of State Blinken notes how writes Greek publication Kathimerini said that US defense commercial deals with its NATO allies “are a fundamental component of efforts to strengthen European security and strengthen the Alliance’s overall deterrence and defense capabilities.”
Greek Minister of National Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos noted that Athens sent Ukraine humanitarian aid and offered military assistance from the first day of the war.
Greece agreed to the US State Department’s proposal to transfer or sell weapons to Ukraine in exchange for Washington’s assistance in the amount of $200 million. Kathimerini wrote about this on Saturday, January 27. Athens can transfer to Kyiv the Soviet air defense systems Tor, Osa, S-300, as well as Soviet-style ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns and shells for all of the above positions.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis issued an order regarding the transfer to Ukraine of systems and equipment that are not used by the Greek army.
As part of the expedited EDA process, Greece will receive two C-130H aircraft, ten P-3 aircraft engines and 60 Bradley armored fighting vehicles. Athens will also be able to receive up to 40 new F-35 aircraft, three Protector-class patrol ships and a variety of vehicles. In addition, we are talking about considering requests for the provision of four LCS frigates, the supply of KC-135 tanker aircraft and new C-130Js.
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