Trump Leaves Turkey’s Return to the F-35 Program Open, Athens Voices Concern

The NATO summit in Ankara brought back into focus one of the most delicate issues for the balance in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean: the possibility of Turkey once again being included in the American F-35 fighter jet program.

After meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, U.S. President Donald Trump signaled that the issue remains open, stressing that Washington will review it. He used notably positive language toward Erdogan and praised Turkey’s role in NATO.

In Ankara, this stance was seen as an encouraging development. Erdogan said he expects a positive decision and criticized Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, saying he should not oppose Turkey’s purchase of F-35 aircraft.

On the Greek side, reactions have been cautious but clear. Mitsotakis said Greece cannot dictate to the United States whom it should sell weapons to, but underlined that there are legal obstacles for Turkey because of the Russian S-400 ballistic missile system it possesses. He also added that Greek pilots will begin training in 2027 for the F-35 aircraft that Greece will buy from the United States.

Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis also took a firm stance in his statements. According to him, lifting the restrictions on Turkey is not currently under discussion, as any change would require a new decision by the U.S. Congress.

More direct was Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, who said openly that Greece would not be pleased if Turkey secures F-35s or engines for next-generation aircraft. He called on Washington to reflect on whether such a step would truly serve American interests.

In the background remains the issue of casus belli, the Turkish threat of war if Greece expands its territorial waters in the Aegean. Mitsotakis described this as a “historical anachronism” which, according to him, does not fit with the climate of dialogue between the two countries.

Although Athens and Ankara have recently spoken of calmer waters in the Aegean, the F-35 debate shows that the balance between them remains fragile.