What's up with F-35 deal after the Mitsotakis-Blinken meeting - The next steps

The relevant procedures will start in the coming weeks and according to information the Greek side estimates that by mid-February at the latest the Greek request for the purchase of one plus one F-35 squadron will be forwarded by the White House.

 The official Greek request was signed and sent to Washington in July 2022, and the Greek side then asked for 20 aircraft to be committed and another 20 conditional. Although the relevant Senate committees had gradually over the next year signed the relevant documents, two very important steps remained to unlock the process. These will be done in the near future, with the first being the US government's mission to Athens to accept the offer and the second being the letter to Congress to approve the start of negotiations, which is taken for granted.

Although the American leadership was from the beginning positive for the sale of F-35s to Greece, the process was significantly delayed by the attempt to maintain balance with Turkey and the ongoing bargaining for Sweden's entry into NATO and the purchase of F-35s. 16 from Ankara, for which Congress has not given the green light.

Athens, for its part, a few hours before the arrival of Mr. Blinken in Souda, explained that "the armament programs of Greece, a reliable partner of the USA and a consistent ally with an offer to NATO, cannot be connected with the programs of other countries", requesting that the procedures for the F-35s be immediately unlocked and that the reinforcement of the Greek air force is not held hostage to the bargain with Ankara. What was said, according to information, in the meeting between Mr. Mitsotakis and the American Foreign Minister confirmed the legitimacy of the Greek request and expressed the American will to put an end to the delays and for everything to run at a much faster pace. "Greece as a consistent and reliable partner and ally will receive what has been agreed," government sources said immediately after the meeting, confirming the response from Mr. Blinken.

According to the plan that exists, the first F-35 is expected to be delivered to the Greek air force in America in 2028 and by 2033 - according to the plan - Greece will have the first 20 "invisible" and state-of-the-art 5th generation fighters, which will be added to the Rafales that our country has already procured and are changing the balance in the Aegean.