Pentagon sources provided clarifications on Friday evening regarding statements made by the Greek Air Force Chief about Patriot systems on Karpathos island, following his comments that “there is no order” to remove them from the island.
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Pentagon clarifications following Greek Air Force Chief’s statement on Patriot systems in Karpathos
According to the sources, the Air Force Chief, in his interview with STAR Central Greece, “chose not to elaborate on any details regarding the content or timing of orders from the General Staff of National Defense” and emphasized that the Air Vice Marshal referred accurately only to orders that have already been executed. This suggests that Mr. Grigoriades made no reference to orders that may be implemented later.
In his interview with Star Central Greece, the Air Force Chief clarified that Greek air defense has not undergone any changes in the region. “No such order or recommendation has come to me. What I knew was that we had to move the Patriot systems from Didymoteicho and that has already been done. The Patriots are in Karpathos, regarding the Mirage 2000-5s I don’t know anything” the Air Vice Marshal stated. “Do you see any Mirages going to Karpathos or the Patriot leaving? We would see it. I heard it from the media, but nothing like that has happened“, he said. “If I’m given such an order… I am an executive body, yes, I don’t make such decisions. I can recommend, I can say certain things if asked, but that’s it. There is the level of the General Staff, which will give us guidelines, and the political leadership“, he emphasized.
