Ministry of Finance officials call them “the elephants in the room.” They refer to defense and pensions, where increased spending needs severely restrict the margin of maneuver for spending on other items.
DEFENSE
Turkey wants to improve its ties with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), but its priority is fulfilling its responsibilities to NATO as an important ally, Defense Minister Yasar Guler said.
Turkey is pleased with its deal with the United States regarding the procurement of Block-70 F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits, and the process is continuing as planned, Defense Minister Yasar Guler said.
The military confrontations in the wider area around Greece, extending from the Middle East to Ukraine, have prompted Athens to expedite decisions aimed at a multi-level air defense (anti-drone, and medium-range anti-ballistic).
Turkey plans to develop a multi-layered air defense system, modeled after Israel’s renowned Iron Dome, and code-named Steel Dome.
Athens is preparing for a potential evacuation of Greek nationals from the Middle East as regional tensions escalate.
Athens has extended the agreement with Washington to station American MQ-9 UAVs at the Larissa Air Base (110th Fighter Wing) for another year until July 2025.
Greece formally approved an offer to buy 20 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters from the United States as part of a major defense overhaul, government officials said Thursday.
Lockheed Martin welcomed Greece into the F-35 program on Thursday, announcing that Greece had sent the signed Letter of Acceptance (LOA) for the procurement of 20 fighter jets.
Athens has officially signed a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) with Washington for the acquisition of F-35 fighter jets, Defense Minister Nikos Dendias confirmed on Thursday.
Athens is expected to send the signed Letter of Acceptance (LOA) to Washington on Wednesday, finalizing the procurement deal for the F-35 fighter jets.
Efforts are being made to de-escalate tension between Greece and Turkey in the Aegean, due to the presence of several navy vessels and an exploration ship south of the islands of Kassos and Karpathos.
Efforts through diplomatic channels to reduce tensions in the Aegean are underway on Tuesday, as Turkey deployed warships in the maritime area of Kasos.
Police officers and civilian leaders at the Ministry of Citizen Protection believe that it was human traffickers and not Turkish army or gendarmerie elements that fired the shots that injured a 56-year-old Greek border guard Saturday afternoon.
Tensions rose in the Aegean over the past few days, something that had not happened since 2022.
A new timetable for the Greek F-16 upgrade program was set by the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (EAV) after delays threatened to derail the project, it was reported on Monday.
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