Pyatt: The U.S. is ready to sell F-35 fighter jets to Greece

U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Pyatt referred to the alliance between Athens and Washington in a discussion he had with journalists on the occasion of the U.S. military presence in Alexandroupolis and the developments in the Mediterranean.

Answering questions about Greek-Turkish relations, Pyatt noted that "we support the efforts of the Greek side and the moves by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias in exploratory contacts."

"Now the ball is in Ankara's court to enter into a dialogue," he said, referring to U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinkek's remarks on Turkey following talks with Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

Regarding the possibility of the new U.S. president's coming to Greece, the American ambassador stated that he has no information about a Joe Biden visit, however he noted that the U.S. remains committed to the alliance with Greece.

Referring to the issue of armaments, Pyatt spoke about possible U.S. cooperation with Greece for an agreement to purchase F-35 fighters.

"The United States is ready to sell F-35s whenever Greece is ready," he said. "But this is a discussion - a negotiation that will take place between the governments."

Pyatt clarified that the sale of F-35s is a process that takes time.

Indicatively, a colleague of Pyatt stated that the delivery of F-35 fighters will take about five years as the corresponding infrastructure will have to be built.

However, the American ambassador stressed the importance of the Greek-American agreement for the upgrade of F-16 fighter jets to Viper class until there is a possible Greek-U.S. agreement for the F-35s.

READ MORE: Panagiotopoulos: The defense upgrade plan is "very ambitious and extends into the future."