Dendias speaks with Spanish FM following plans to sell warships to Turkey

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias spoke by telephone with his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares on Friday.

The phone call was following the visit of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to Ankara and the announcements that followed to sell Turkey warships, the Greek foreign affairs ministry wrote on Twitter.

“During their conversation, Foreign Minister Dendias referred to the arising issues of Greek interest,” the ministry wrote in a second tweet.

“FM Albares gave clarifications and suggested his immediate visit to Athens, for full clarification of the relevant issues. His suggestion was accepted,” the tweet added.

Dendias and the wider Greek state reacted strongly after Sánchez agreed with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to enhance their countries’ collaboration in the defence industry.

When the two leaders met in Ankara on Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan praised Sánchez announcing armament programs in cooperation with Spain.

“Our goal is to build a large aircraft carrier. Maybe we will make efforts in the submarines field too. We will take these steps. There are many things we can do together in the defence industry,” Erdoğan said.

Erdoğan added that Spain’s stance toward Turkey should be viewed as a “role model” by other EU nations and expressed his satisfaction about the investments of more than 600 Spanish companies in Turkey.

“The presence of Spanish bank BBWA is the most concrete sign of confidence in Turkey,” he said.

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