Greece-Turkey scored 1 | Capital
By Kostas Stoupas
Greece-Turkey scored 1
A firm position of those who criticize the foreign policy of the country is the view that a more independent and opportunistic attitude towards the West and especially the USA, which yielded more in relation to our aspirations and consequently security.
The most common example in this direction is Erdogan’s Turkey, which balances performance in the US, Europe, Russia and China by blackmailing from everywhere.
Judging by the results, the “harvest” of the Erdogan regime’s tactics to date is meager. In the field of security e.g. Greece, after more than a decade of inaction, which had left far behind equipment against Turkey, has regained the initiative of the moves.
Greece has already started receiving the Rafals while by 2027 the upgrade of the F-16 to Viper has been completed. From 2028, the country aims to acquire a squadron of F-35 fighters.
The aspirations of the Greek side are to ensure participation in some of the strategically important armament programs both in Europe and in the USA. According to information, there is interest in acquiring Lockheed’s participation in ADA, something that would ensure for the state-owned company better management and income from activities outside Greece.
At the same time, the first French of the 3 + 1 Belharra frigates (FDI) has started to be built in France, while in the final stretch is the program for the corvettes.
A few years ago, Turkey was ordering more than 100 F-35s in which it participated as a co-producer.
After the acquisition of the S-400s by Russia, it was expelled from the F-35 program and the approval of the upgrade of its F-16s has now become a key highlight.
Five years ago, the prospects of Greek deterrent power against Turkey were heartbreaking. Today, in addition to armaments initiatives, Greece has defense cooperation agreements with France and the United States. In addition, it has the grids of cooperation with the countries of the region such as Israel, Egypt and the UAE.
Even if the government changes in Turkey and the pro-Western Kemalists prevail, until the negotiations start and are completed, the upgrade of the F-16s is not foreseen before Greece acquires the F-35s.
A few years ago, Turkey started the construction of the aircraft carrier “Anatolou” with the aim of being ready when it receives the F-35s.
Then, when the regime was expelled from the F-35 program, the need for self-respect changed the use of the aircraft carrier to a helicopter carrier …
Throughout the last few years Turkey has threatened the West As for the replacement of the F-35s it will resort to Russia or other suppliers.
Requests on the Ukrainian fronts, however, show that Russian fighters 5ης generation is probably still in models.
These reports show that despite the bargaining power due to population, economic size and the value of the geostrategic position, Turkey’s opportunistic tactics in recent years have not met expectations.
The West “short-circuited” the importance of the Bosphorus Straits with the port of Alexandroupolis and the role of Turkey as an energy hub with the LNG units of Revythousa, Alexandroupolis, etc.
Given the data so far, Greece’s strategy seems to be better for national interests.
“The Mitsotakis meetings are a show of strength, and show the weight of Greece in the United States,” the Turkish press wrote yesterday.
Experts in the Turkish media are increasingly reporting on the power difference that will occur when the ongoing Greek armaments programs are completed.
If Turkey had not followed the routine tactical approach of Russia in the context of its emergence as a regional power, at this time the over-armament in air, land and sea that was bridged …
Let this be borne in mind by those who see lost from the narrow horizon of the … keyboard and do not belong to the hostage that is guided by the services of the Kremlin.