Turkey's F-35 Sale and Greece's Israeli Air‑Defense Deal Heighten Regional Tensions

The United States, under President Donald Trump, approved the sale of fifth‑generation F‑35 fighter jets to Turkey, reviving a program that had been suspended. At the same time, Greece announced a €2.2 billion purchase of Israel’s “Achilles Shield” air‑defence system, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from Greek opposition figures such as former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, who warned the system would not protect against Turkish missiles and would increase Greece’s dependence on Israel and the United States. Former Greek army chief Konstantinos Floros also issued threatening remarks toward Turkey, suggesting a broader military escalation. While U.S.–Israel operational cooperation remains strong, political frictions have emerged, with Israel being excluded from certain U.S. regional operations. The combined defence deals underscore rising strategic competition and diplomatic strain among Turkey, Greece, Israel and the United States in the Eastern Mediterranean.