Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The United States will transfer obsolete infantry fighting vehicles and frigates to Greece in exchange for Russian weapons that Washington asked Athens to transfer to Kyiv. The Greek information portal pronews wrote about this on January 27
The author of the article wondered whether the previously announced participation by the Greek authorities in the program for the purchase of 40 American fifth-generation F-35 fighters and a large package of American assistance are a significant strengthening of the republic’s defense capability.
According to him, from a letter from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, it follows that in fact the “large military free aid” to Greece from the US is pressure to supply Kiev with the Russian weapons that Athens has.
“The pressure to force Athens to transfer Russian air defense systems Tor, Osa, and S-300 to Kiev is known, and now the United States promises to give $200 million, which is not enough to purchase even one Western air defense battery with the appropriate characteristics,” it says publications.
It is noted that against this background, the Turkish Air Force will receive new aircraft from the United States and they will have hundreds of units of high-precision strike ammunition, the supply of which was previously announced by Washington in the form of a military assistance package.
In addition to the F-35, Blinken also announced the transfer to Greece of a critical package of free US military equipment, including four LCS (Littoral Combat Ship) frigates, two C-130 transport aircraft, 60 armored combat vehicles and patrol ships. However, as the author of the material noted, their modernization, especially LCS frigates, requires a lot of money.
It is clarified that the “armored combat vehicles” from the United States are most likely Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, which, after the German Marders in the Greek arsenal, will also have to be updated to the latest version.
As Regnum reported, earlier on January 27, Blinken suggested that the Greek authorities transfer or sell weapons to Ukraine. In exchange, Washington offered to explore the possibility of considering sending Athens $200 million in additional aid.
On January 10, the US Secretary of State, during a visit to Athens, demanded from the Prime Minister of Greece new supplies of weapons to Ukraine. As Newsbreak noted, Blinken gave Mitsotakis an ultimatum and gave him several days to make a final response.
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