Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

The United States is prepared to let Turkey back into its F-35 fighter jet program as long as the issue of its acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system is resolved, Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland has told CNN Turk. 

The American Hellenic Institute (ΑΗΙ), led by President Nick Larigakis released a statement on Monday strongly opposing the recent US decision to sell F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits to Turkey while highlighting the importance of F-35 sales to Greece.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomed on Saturday the US State Department's decision to approve the sale of up to 40 advanced F-35 fighter jets to Greece.

Mitsotakis described the approval as "an important day for our national defense and for Greek diplomacy." He also received a letter from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in relation to the decision.

The green light given by the United States to Greece's acquisition of the F-35 multi-role fighter and to the sale of F-16 fighters and upgrade kits to Turkey highlights the fact that the two nominal NATO allies are actually facing each other, vying for supremacy in the air, land and sea.

This was announced today by the State Department.
In Ankara, Nuland will meet with high-ranking officials of the Turkish government and business leaders with whom she will discuss a number of bilateral, regional and global issues on which the two countries cooperate.

US President Joe Biden's administration on Friday formally informed Congress of its intention to proceed with a $8.6-billion deal to sell 20 Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter jets to Greece.

After a long delay, Washington on Monday is expected to send a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) in response to the letter in which the Hellenic Air Force requested the start of the negotiation process to acquire F-35s and other weapon systems.

Britain will send 20,000 armed forces personnel to one of NATO's largest exercises since the Cold War, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps announced on Monday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken opened his latest Mideast tour with two stops in Greece and Turkey, with a double mission in mind: Confirming the two NATO allies' commitment to US priorities in the region - a task that is easier for Athens and trickier for Ankara - and making sure that the improvement in relations between the two neighbors and traditional foes seen in recent months continu

The connection of the F-16 sale to Turkey to the F-35 deal to Greece is something that worries Athens