In a significant diplomatic move, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias has voiced his firm opposition to the proposed sale of Meteor air-to-air missiles to Turkey. This stance was made clear during a meeting in London with British Defense Minister John Healey on Tuesday.
Dendias’ visit to the UK was not solely focused on the missile issue. A key agenda item was bolstering defense cooperation, as Greece views the United Kingdom as a crucial player in European defense matters, especially in light of Donald Trump’s recent electoral victory in the United States.
The controversy began in January when Turkey submitted a formal request to acquire a large number of Meteor missiles. These missiles are the product of the European missile manufacturer MBDA, a collaboration between France’s Airbus, Britain’s BAE Systems, and Italy’s Leonardo Finmeccanica.
The situation has caught the attention of several European leaders. Earlier this month, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis raised concerns over the missile sale with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Reports indicate that Turkey might be aiming to reverse-engineer the Meteor missile technology to enhance its own arsenal with domestically developed air-to-air missiles. Currently, Turkey is advancing the Gokhan missile, which is said to possess capabilities similar to those of the Meteor and is undergoing testing. The Turkish Air Force plans to deploy these missiles on its domestically upgraded F-16 fighter jets.
As tensions simmer over the potential sale, Greece continues to engage with its European partners, seeking to navigate the complex landscape of regional defense and security.