The Greek delegation, which has been participating in the NATO Summit since Tuesday, is determined to secure and preserve Greece’s pivotal role in the Mediterranean. Athens remains on high alert, with its attention firmly fixed on Turkey’s moves — and in particular on the meeting between President Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
First international reactions to Trump’s overture toward Turkey on the F-35s
Donald Trump’s statements on Tuesday — signaling a review of the possibility of reinstating Turkey into the F-35 program by lifting the CAATSA sanctions imposed after Ankara acquired the Russian S-400 missile systems, which are incompatible with the F-35 — have dominated the NATO Summit. The Turkish newspaper Hürriyet reports that lifting CAATSA sanctions does not require a new vote in Congress. No legislative approval or waiting period is necessary. All that is needed is for the U.S. president to officially certify that the S-400 systems are no longer operational, are no longer under Turkish control as an active weapons system, and that no similar defense purchases from Russia will be made in the future.
Furthermore, Erdoğan’s statement that the United States has committed to delivering five F-35 aircraft strongly suggests that these negotiations are already at an advanced stage.
The issue of the deepening U.S.-Turkey alliance has also captured the attention of the European press. France’s Le Monde, under the headline “Turkey, a problematic ally, has become an indispensable partner within NATO,” noted that “The NATO Summit in Ankara on Tuesday and Wednesday underscores the high regard Western nations have for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, despite the increasingly authoritarian nature of his regime.”
Mitsotakis at the NATO Summit: Positioning Greece as a reliable ally
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrived in Ankara on Tuesday afternoon to attend the leaders’ dinner, and is expected to highlight Greece’s critical role on the Eastern Mediterranean geopolitical chessboard, emphasizing that Athens is a strong and — above all — reliable NATO ally. One of the central arguments put forward by the Greek side is the country’s longstanding consistency in meeting its alliance commitments, having remained faithful to its obligations to the Atlantic Alliance even throughout years of severe financial crisis.
Athens responds to Turkey’s F-35 bid — and the role of Congress
According to NATO data, Greece stands at the forefront of defense investment, ranking among just five member states that have already exceeded the 3.5% of GDP threshold for defense spending, with a target horizon of 2026. This strategic posture is further reinforced by a 12-year, €25 billion Armed Forces modernization program.
Regarding Trump’s declaration on lifting the restrictions that would allow Turkey to acquire the F-35s, Athens has already made its position clear. Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis stated in Parliament that any shift in the U.S. stance toward Turkey runs up against the constraints of existing Congressional legislation — legislation that would require a new decision by Congress to be repealed, something that is far from guaranteed. He also pointedly noted that, unlike Turkey — which is still striving to gain access to the F-35 program — Greece is already a participant in it, a fact that reflects the strong and enduring bonds between Greece and the United States.
By contrast, Greek-Turkish relations appear to be at a low point. A telling sign of the strained atmosphere is that, despite efforts in the days leading up to the summit, a bilateral meeting between Mitsotakis and Erdoğan on the sidelines of the NATO gathering ultimately could not be arranged.
The final day of the NATO Summit: Decisions expected
Today marks the final day of the NATO Summit, with substantive discussions and consultations expected as the leaders of all 32 member states convene in a joint session to address the full agenda and work toward issuing a common declaration. Once proceedings conclude, statements from the leaders are anticipated — statements that will reveal the degree of cohesion, or lack thereof, among alliance members, and that will help define the balance of power within the Alliance going forward.
