Greek Defense Ministry

Sources at the Greek Defense Ministry on Wednesday responded to recent remarks by Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler, who accused Greece of violating international conventions by exploring energy reserves in the Aegean Sea.

The US government's letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) for the Greek request for the procurement of an F-35 fighter squadron is expected to be submitted for approval to a special committee of Greek Parliament in the coming week.

Greece said on Friday that there are no plans in the imminent future for a meeting in Athens between the Greek and Turkish defense ministers, Nikos Dendias and Yasar Guler, respectively, adding that there has not been a relevant invitation.

The Greek Defense Ministry is expected to decide next week whether Athens will propose to Lockheed Martin the inclusion of SSI (security, supply, information) and infrastructure programs in the F-35 fighter jets package with the participation of the Greek defense industry.

Ankara has lodged a complaint with NATO after its jets conducting a NATO mission in the eastern Mediterranean were harassed by Greek warplanes.

Sources from the Defense Ministry informed that the incident took place in the eastern Mediterranean as the Greek jetfighters put the Turkish F-16s under a radar lock during their NATO mission.

Deputy Defense Minister Alkiviadis Stefanis said on Thursday that Greece is maintaining dialogue with Turkey but that the country's armed forces are on standby.

"Diplomacy is the first choice," he told Skai radio. "We have open channels of communication but the armed forces are ready to do what is necessary in coordination with the Foreign Ministry," he added.

Greek Defense Ministry Nikos Panagiotopoulos on Thursday stressed the government's commitment to boosting the country's flagging defense industry.

The Hellenic Navy has received its first modernized P-3B Orion maritime patrol aircraft from Lockheed Martin, the Greek Defense Ministry said.
The delivery, part of a US-Greece defense agreement that also includes the midlife upgrade of another four aircraft, was marked with a ceremony on Friday at Tanagra Air Base north of Athens.

Defense authorities in Greece have refuted reports in the Turkish media suggesting that the neighboring country had sent ships to the eastern Aegean's Imia islets which were preventing Greek vessels from approaching the area. 

Over the past few years Greece has established close ties with the United States and Israel. These ties have gained even greater depth under the current leftist-led government.

However, the country needs to be cautious. These relations must not be advertised beyond a certain point. The fact is they are more effective when they remain "under the radar," as it were.