«We never asked Mitsotakis why he buys weapons»
Sharp barbs against Kyriakos Mitsotakis were launched by the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, immediately following the NATO summit, targeting the Greek prime minister's positions regarding the prospect of Ankara acquiring American fighter jets. The Turkish president maintained that Greece, much like Israel, has no business intervening in the F-35 issue, while simultaneously appearing in favor of continuing the dialogue with Athens over Aegean disputes, stating that he shares the Greek prime minister's view that these issues must be resolved through political dialogue.
«We never asked Mitsotakis why he buys weapons»
Referring to the Greek reactions regarding Turkey's potential reintegration into the F-35 program, Erdogan questioned: «Did we ever ask Mr. Mitsotakis about the defense equipment Greece has procured? "Why did you buy these systems?". We could have done it, but there was no reason. They are free to buy and sell as they wish. As far as Turkey is concerned, we already produce many of these systems on our own.» He underlined that, beyond domestic production, Turkey has every right to procure military hardware from any nation it wishes, noting that Ankara is currently in negotiations with various international suppliers.
Turkish President Erdogan on Greece:
— Clash Report (@clashreport) July 8, 2026
Did we ever question Mr. Mitsotakis over the defence equipment Greece has procured by asking, "Why did you buy these?"
We could have said such things, but there was no need.
They are free to buy and sell as they wish. As for Türkiye, we… pic.twitter.com/leu1wWaPNy
«Greece and Israel have no place in my world»
In a particularly biting tone, he also commented on the pushback from both Greece and Israel regarding the fifth-generation stealth jets. «The statements made by Greece and Israel concerning the F-35 program have no place in my world,» he characteristically noted. Focusing specifically on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he remarked that «it is well known what waters he navigates,» while asserting that Kyriakos Mitsotakis «should not have made the mistake of echoing these statements.»
«I agree with Mitsotakis on the Aegean»
Despite his sharp barbs over the F-35 issue, Erdogan attempted to decouple the matter from the broader Greco-Turkish dialogue, stating that he agrees with the Greek prime minister on the necessity of resolving their bilateral disputes in the Aegean. «I share the exact same view as Mr. Mitsotakis regarding the resolution of Aegean issues. I hope that our foreign ministers first, and if necessary, we ourselves later, will sit at the table to discuss the matter. Resolving the issues concerning these waters is primarily the duty of the leaders,» he stated. His position is being interpreted as a clear signal in favor of keeping the communication channels between Athens and Ankara open, despite the persistent disagreements that remain on critical issues.
Intervention regarding European defense
The Turkish president also touched upon the European Union's defense initiatives, arguing that they should function defensively to complement NATO rather than compete with it. Concurrently, he called for the complete lifting of restrictions and sanctions that still apply to military exports destined for Turkey, emphasizing that the participation of nations like Turkey in European defense initiatives is absolutely vital for their ultimate effectiveness.
What K. Mitsotakis had stated
Erdogan’s remarks came as a direct rebuttal to the statements made by Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the conclusion of the alliance's summit. The Greek prime minister had pointed out that Greece does not dictate to the United States which countries it should supply with defense systems, while reminding, however, that substantial legal hurdles still block Turkey's return to the F-35 program due to its purchase of the Russian S-400 system. At the same time, he had emphasized that the first Greek pilots will begin training on Greece's own F-35s inside 2027, while reiterating that the Greek Air Force has been significantly bolstered over recent years. Regarding Greco-Turkish relations, Kyriakos Mitsotakis had described the 1995 Turkish casus belli as a «historical anomaly,» arguing that it aligns neither with the Athens Declaration nor with the spirit of good neighborliness that both countries claim to pursue.
Turkish President Erdogan on Greece:
— Clash Report (@clashreport) July 8, 2026
I also share the same view as Mitsotakis on resolving Aegean Sea issues in particular.
Hopefully, first our foreign ministers, and then if needed we will also sit at the table and discuss this matter.
But let me say this clearly and openly… pic.twitter.com/t3py9nRVAu
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