Turkey was removed from the F-35 programme in 2019 after purchasing Russia’s S-400 air defence system
Greece will not welcome Turkey’s return to the F-35 fighter jet programme, as suggested by Donald Trump at the NATO summit in Ankara, Nikos Dendias, the Greek defence minister, said on Thursday.
Trump praised Turkey at the summit, saying Washington was prepared to lift sanctions and pave the way for Ankara’s return to the F-35 programme.
Turkey has been excluded since 2020 following its purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system, which triggered sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
The issue has attracted significant attention in Greece, which has ordered 20 F-35s and is keen to preserve its military edge in the region, alongside its close ally, Israel.
