(ANSA-AFP) - ATHENS, JAN 27 - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos
Mitsotakis on Saturday welcomed a US decision to approve the
sale of F-35 fighter jets to Athens. Ending months of
negotiations, the US government on Friday okayed the
$8.6-billion sale, as well as a separate $23-billion deal to
sell 40 F-16 warplanes to Turkey. "Today is an important day for
our national defence and for Greek diplomacy," Mitsotakis said
in a statement. "Greece is officially on track to acquire up to
40 new generation F-35 combat planes." Mitsotakis said he had
received a letter from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
which "showed the strategic strength of Greek-US relations". In
the letter, Blinken said: "Greece has taken remarkable steps to
modernize its defense capabilities. I look forward to increasing
our cooperation and developing a more robust strategic
relationship between our armed forces." (ANSA-AFP).
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